mac mini and rega dac .......or uniqute??

Part answer is  that I compared the Rega DAC to the Unitiqute's with a separate cd transport.

Fine as it is, the Rega was simply no match for the Naim.

Assuming you were planning to use a wired connection between the Mac mini and the Rega dac,

a) Mini-toslink to toslink cable in one of Qute's optical inputs.

b) USB to SPDIF adaptor (M2tech or Halide for example).

sorry i meant how do i connect a mac or harddrive into the uniqute ignoring the reg a  

thanks

Neither would be my advice ... Get a Mac Mini with the new Naim DAC V1. It'll just work and given that Naim has created a great mid range DAC ... then i'm convinced the new entry level DAC V1 will be a winner. 

Hopefully we'll see the reference DAC soon and that'll will be the definitive statement in digital audio.

i do wonder if streaming UPnP in particular, is just a fashion like quadraphonic, AV surround sound and that a computer audio route is the more sustainable future ... the DAC is first real deterining factor in the audio SQ chain and this where Naim really comes in to its own .... 

How is surround sound a passing fad?  Nearly anyone with means has a 5.1 set-up in their home.  EVERY theater around uses it.

UPNP has been around for at least 5 years now.  And it simply codifed what many others had been doing for years prior with proprietary methods. 

Only in this specific circle, the Naim Forum, does it seem new.  You guys waited a decade for CDPs and years for file replay.  You guys spent too much time on your turntables.

I will put a significant wager that UPNP will FAR outlive Airplay and have the longevity of something like DIN, RCA, spdif etc....

Most of the world wants a method of streaming everything everywhere.  Apple offers you the iCloud in an attempt to do this, and maybe that is the future.  But it is far from dialed at this point and quite expensive if you have any sort of decent sized collection.

For now the way to go is UPNP serving of ALL media types from your own personal cloud.

Of course that does not entail that if I had a Qute I would use UPNP.  I wouldn't.  I would simply direct connect via spdif as I do now for for nDAC. 

I would only use UPNP to server media from my office PC to my HTPC connected to my nDAC, my iPhone on the road, my PC at work, my iPad wherever etc....  Plus multiple people can stream multiple things to multiple places all at the same time.

$$$$

-Patrick

Patrick,

With all due respect, this may be true of individuals of a certain generation, but within my baby-boomer demographic, I don't know anyone "of means" who has a 5.1 home theater installation.  Lots of CD players and some turntables, but no 5.1.

Oh come on. Surely everyone has both a stereo system for playing music and a 5.1 system for visuals.

My music is played 2.0 and my video is 2.1 (sound bar with wireless sub).  It suits my purposes.

I abandoned a full-blown 5.1 set up and returned to 2 channel. Two reasons - firstly, nearly all of the movies I enjoy are older ones and are either mono or stereo. Secondly, even with 5.1 discs I didn't feel that the surround experience added to my enjoyment of the movie. It was rather distracting in fact and I would not go there again. It was an interesting couple of years but the novelty soon wore off. I could very happily watch every movie in mono.

I also am inclined to the view that streaming is not something that will stay long-term, except for multi-room applications. which really is what it is most suited for. It is relatively complex and is prone to all sorts of difficulties. The computer/DAC option, as Guido says, just works - no hassle, and doesn't require additional control devices to satisfactorily navigate playback. It bemuses me why anyone would want the added complexity of network streaming (other than for multi-room use), but then we live in a gadget-hungry society where it seems that many people must own every latest gizmo to 'keep up'.

Peter

I'm in my mid fifties and hate computers and gadgets. I love multi-channel (music and movies), stereo and streaming. I think both are here to stay. Then again, who cares ? It will be what it is I guess.

companies lost money on surround sound from the 70s .  3D tvs are also a waste of energy. they will disappear too .   cds didn't last long either. now vinyl stays the same

always amazing how a question/request for advice turns into posts about nothing to do with the original question.......... 

I had 5.1 surround starting in the mid 1990's, with a Laserdisc player and rear-projection Mitsubishi tv.  Then had it built into a new home's family room in 2001, with a 42 inch plasma that had a list price of $7000 back then!  It all passed for me, and now I have no interest in "home theater."  But plenty of people do.  It's just not of interest to me.  I am guessing that my local dealer makes more money doing home theater installs than selling 2 channel hi fi.

When we moved into our current townhouse, I made the conscious decision NOT to have a tv on the main level.  That started the thinking that I'd like to get back to hi fi, and thus the Naim system in the living room. 

I need a tattoo that says "2 Channel 4 Life" eh?

My UQ is hooked up to my Nait XS. From its pre-out jacks to the XS's cd input using a rca-din cable.

Remaining firmly OT, there are plenty of dealers who would not have survived without the AV side of the business.

This in fact is what often happens when having a face-to-face discussion. People digress and interesting asides develop. It is no bad thing and adds richness IMO, so long as the original question is not ignored of course.

In a face-to-face situation it is difficult to extract oneself if disinterest sets in without appearing rude. On this forum it is simple - just ignore what doesn't interest you. Remember it may be of interest to others even if you find it irrelevant.

Peter

Me too - yet to hear a 5.1 system that i liked. The one i had was OK, but. It didn't really enhance my enjoyment of Stingray (One of my modern DVDs). 

On topic i would still recommended the OP stays with the Mac Mini option, but goes for the Naim DAC V1 rather than the Rega. This will provide a versatile hassle free system that will just play music. Probably best to audition both DACs just in case you prefer the Rega. 

At some point in the future there might be a whole new system of storing and playing lossless and high-res music. At the movement we have two options either on vinal/optical disc or on a computer/NAS.

I did use my computer (iMac to DAC) to play my music, for a while, that was okay. Nothing wrong with that. But I didnt want the iMac to be on all the time. or even in the same room. With the UQ and a NAS I have a stand alone system. All my 400 albums are a click away. And although I do prefer to use my iPad to search my music library, its not necessary, the UQ's remote is just fine.

I don't think there has to be a fear of networking or servers... If you can get your computer to see your router/modem, you can set up a UPNP music server.

Hi

Message to/request from Guido and perhaps others

After too much time, I've decided to finally move to a mac mini based system.

Just to get a sense of how it works, I am currently using:

Macbook Air/Arcam rPac/Linn Classik

Using itunes to rip/playback.

It obviously works.

My intention is to move to a MacMini, with probably the NAC-V1 and the NAP100 as they are compact and simple.

But...

How do I operate the MacMini without keyboard, mouse or monitor.  Can you give me detailed yet simple step by step instructions.

Also, I see that you do not use iTunes on its own.  Can you please advise what I should use to augment it.

Basic principle is still to make the whole system very simple to implement and use.

Also, that I can load the music of iPod/iphone/etc.

BTW  Apart from needing to keep the screen up the whole time, is their any other reason why I should not use a dedicated Macbook Air?

Many thanks in advance

I have to agree with Guido.  I once had to demonstrate HT multi channel at the Shows on a routine basis.  Never found it convincing.  Whereas a first class two channel can be so involving.  

Personally, I dislike television, so I do not have one.  I do have hundreds of DVDs which are all on my server.  I watch them very occasionally on my iPad.  Otherwise, I listen to music.

i also agree with your suggestion to wait for the forthcoming V1 and Nap100.  I have a hunch it will be an awesome combination.

it also has the distinct advantage that it will just work straight out of the box. No network nonsense to bother with.

Richard