Bitperfect, playback, minimserver, my head is spinning

Posted by: stpierre76 on 23 March 2014

Hi guys,

 

I just acquired a new Mac mini and the idea of it is to have all of the kids movies downloaded from itunes on it, have the family home videos and music. this way I ll bypass and not usethe Apple TV  but still be able to download movies, watch my home video with the mini.

The problem is I beleive that itunes is not a reliable audio device, nor can I stream from it.

Third party apps/software are needed to either play directly from the mini to a dac via usb or toslink or to be able to stream to a naim streamer.

So I read and search the forum but by now I m even more confused than ever. 

I am not going to ask you which streaming software is better as I guess it s entirely dependant on the end user, but could somebody please explain what are the differences between playback and minmserver, which one is easier to integrate and work out ( never had a mac before).

Is bitperfect needed if I stream from the Mac mini or just needed when you using itunes directly to a dac. 

To throw another spanner in the works, I read that itunes cd ripping is not 100% and may need another add on.

Can anybody point me in the right direction or tell me if there s a been thread covering This topic or at least a "streaming from a mac thread" for dummies?

thanks a lot for reading and my apologies if this has been covered before.

Regards

Posted on: 23 March 2014 by Damon

stpierre76,

 

I used Playback as a UPnP server, but it does not exist anymore; or at least, the Yazsoft operation is closed, according to their single-page website. I've now started using eLyric by PS Audio. I seems quite good. There are others. 

 

I don't know why you think iTunes is not a reliable playback audio 'device'. It works very well for many of us, and apart from some care needed with the metadata, it is very clear and easy to use. I think it also makes fine rips, depending on settings. You and certain find or buy other software to do a different, or possibly better job of ripping CD's. 

 

I think there are many threads on this topic. 

Posted on: 23 March 2014 by Tog

Pour a glass of wine, take a deep breath and either install Minimserver on the Mac or use Audirvana

+ with iTunes and a decent dac like the V1. 

 

Sit it back and enjoy.

 

Tog

Posted on: 23 March 2014 by james n

ITunes ripping is OK for most CDs. I buy a lot of used CDs so like the extra security of XLD on the Mac. Very easy to use and integrates well with iTunes. I posted some screenshots from my XLD settings here so these should get you going 

 

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...ly=16631269493278782

 

 

Posted on: 24 March 2014 by stpierre76

Hi Damon,

you r right, itunes is a decent ripper and playback option,it s just that in the past I had a few issues with ripping and itunes, but it does not mean itunes is not good. Probably just me as not really tech savy. 

i mean no offence. Itunes was a very simple interface and that I quite enjoyed and that s why m going back to it, for the ease of use for myself and family...

after reading a few threads, it appears that many people are using third party software with itunes. Will have to dig a bit more wh they do before making more comments

 

Tog,

I like your advice very much. I may indeed invest in a dac v1 further down the track as my intention is to buy a server/av rack and fit all my av, hifi components from both the theatre room and living room, with an integration system for both room. I will probably have a Mac mini for the living room with music  and few more things on it but keep it as simple as possible and one for the ht room with the kids movies, home videos and this way not use an Apple TV anymore.

of course it will depend on how I get on with the dac v1 and matching nap 100 compared to my curremt qute.

in the meantime , I will definitely get minimserver, but what format should I rip my cd collection? I am not sure I will hear any difference between format but more what works best with qute and minimserver.

 

james n,

thanks for your reply. Is there a lot of settings to tweak with XLD? Like I said, m not really computer savy so the less settings to change the better for me.

regards

Posted on: 24 March 2014 by Jassman

Mac Mini runing JRiver....use an app, like Gizmo on all your devices to browse your library.

 

 

Posted on: 24 March 2014 by james n
Originally Posted by stpierre76:

james n,

thanks for your reply. Is there a lot of settings to tweak with XLD? Like I said, m not really computer savy so the less settings to change the better for me.

regards

Did you look at the link ?