Mac mini and naim dac ( spotify)

Mark

Why not a second-hand NDX? It will do all that you require and more. It will also fit better into your system.

I happen to know one, but this is not a trading site, so you'd have to email me directly - email is in my profile.

Adam

Adam Zielinski posted:

Mark

Why not a second-hand NDX? It will do all that you require and more. It will also fit better into your system.

I happen to know one, but this is not a trading site, so you'd have to email me directly - email is in my profile.

Adam

I was thinking along the same lines, with that quality of amplification, an NDX would be an easy solution. Having said that, with that quality of amplification, Spotify's compressed audio isn't going to sound great - but if it's just for convenience, and sound quality isn't a priority, maybe just get a Sonos Connect. Either use it direct into the preamp, or add an external DAC.

Sonos will not handle high-res audio unfortunately....

Secondhand late 2012 Mac Mini is probably the best - with later versions Apple started doing things like soldering in RAM making upgrades very expensive. Thinking of any future upgrades, if you're a DIY kind of person it is quite easy to upgrade RAM and HDs in the late 2012 version (iFixit gives good info and step by step instructions). I put two 1TB SSDs in mine and RAM to max (8GB).

And if you have MM you can try Audirvana rendering software - beats at least ND5XS, and a free trial means nothing to lose to try (however if you do go that way and want the best out of MM you'll want to use a dedicated USB output not the MM's soundcard, when you'll need an convertor with non-USB DACs like nDAC, and an isolator if you went for the Hugo as an alternative (quite a few people prefer the Hugo).  The inexpensive Gustard U12 USB/SPDIF isolator/converter discussed on other threads performs well in both situations.

Audirvana integrates various online streaming options like Tidal and Qubuzz, though I can't advise further on them as I don't use them, and I don't know about Spotify.

Adam Zielinski posted:

Sonos will not handle high-res audio unfortunately....

That would make it a perfect match for Spotify, then!

IME a good DAC would make something like Spotify sound better.

Going down the computer and DAC route, you would need to think of how to control the computer and control playback and music selection. This means using in something like an iPad and some apps.  Also not sure what Audirvana or any other software player would bring to the SQ party as their  main function is to get the best out of music stored on a computer.

Going down the Naim streamer approach means that Spotify is integrated. I would consider an ND5X (as well as a second hand NDX, mentioned already).  

The Sonos is probably the simplest with a second hand Naim DAC to match your     kit downstream and give a similar presentation to the CDS3. Probably a similar cost to a second hand NDX or new ND5X. 

None of these options close the door on higher resolution music playback, but depending on option, would need some additional stuff.

Jude

Audirvana does more than play music that is on the computer, not least because it now integrates online Tidal, Qobuz and Highresaudio online streaming (though apparently not Spotify), it can play from a networked UPnP server (NAS or whatever), just as any all-in-one "streamer", and all with very high SQ when optimised (e.g on a dedicated headless computer like Mac Mini and bypassing the computer's soundcard, though with suitable isolation if the DAC doesn't have). 

So Mac Mini provides an excellent platform, capable of competing favourable with far more expensive gear, at minimal additional cost to get there, though at least at present Spotify would need to bypass Audirvana.