Digital Music

You can convert FLAC to AIFF using XLD which will load them directly in iTunes. I've got all my music in AIFF. If you are going to use a Mac Mini then please avoid its optical out; this is rather poor in my opinion as it uses the same Cirrus Logic chip found in the Mac I use (probably cost apple about 2p a chip - why they don't address this I've no idea as a TI chip with a decent clock would instantly make the Mac so much better). The way to get digital music from a Mac to a Naim DAC is using an asynchronous USB to S/PDIF convertor. I use the following Wireworld USB cable in to Musical Fidelity V-Link into True Colours Glass Optical. This works really well though there are alternatives. The iTunes interface is great, second only to the Sonus. In fairness there are probably some good PC interfaces, but I never use them. 

I believe the V-Link works so well because it reduces the jitter from the Mac. However, it may be that my set-up isolates the noisy computer parts from the DAC. I use it mostly with a UQute. I usually feed my Naim DAC with a Wired 4 Sound Sonus ZP90, which unless you simply must go hi-res then I'd thoroughly recommend. 

However, I'm in the process of going in a different direction and replacing my ageing Apple Music Server with a Vortexbox: you may want to check this out as an option. The Sonus will stay. 

Some ideas then - I'm sure others will be a long soon to give more varried opinions.

All the best, Guy

Brilliant, thanks Guy. A few things to look into then.

Regards

More varied than using:

1) A USB converter

2) Sonos

3) Vortebox

4) Wishing for better Mac digi-out?

That sounds like a lot of work to use a computer with a Qute.

Kage,

just build up a cheap-ass PC and hide it somewhere if you will be disowned by friends for having one.

-p

I'm no expert in this field but the following suits my needs and seems to fulfill some of yours.

Hardware: (see my profile) MacBook Pro > USB to BNC M2TechSPDIF convertor> nDAC> Naim setup.

I "burn" my CD's to Apple Lossless in iTunes.

Downloads WAV or FLAC.

Media player is Fidelia. This loads my iTiunes library but does not amend or influence the iTunes library. It also allows the creation of an independent library from your downloads or other music file sources in which you can convert files to FLAC if required. Downside to Fidelia at the moment is that it doesn't currently support artwork or internet radio. These updates are in the pipeline. Checkout Audiofile Engineering wed site for more details. 

pcstockton - If I was just looking at a music source, I would do something like this. I'm intending to use the Mac Mini for it's other features as well as a music source. If I had the cash, I'd just get a UnitiServe-ssd and and hidden source. Maybe one day...

sheffieldgraham - Sounds like I'm going to end up with a similar system to yourself. It's just a question of file management. There seems to be lots of options, so I guess you can taylor to your needs. I mentioned media monkey as a player as it looks like you can burn your cd's into it and play hi-res downloads in it. I now know you can convert files, thanks to Guido Fawkes' info, but I don't really want to be having to faff about.

Any way, this process will evolve as I start my purchases...

Regards

If you go for a Mac Mini you can download Apple's Remote app of the App Store and control your iTunes library via iPad or iPhone, neat...

I have not listened to the V-Link mentioned by Guy but a somewhat simpler (smaller device) option would be M2Tech's hiFace, a USB stick type USB/SPDIF converter that plugs into the USB port of your Mac and allows for unaltered digital streaming via coax cable into your nDAC. It comes in both RCA and BNC versions, with the latter apparently providing slightly better results. The Hiface was Naim's recommendation of choice until not too long ago, it may still be, not sure. It only costs a bit more than £100, so not expensive at all. M2Tech have since brought out the hiFace Evo with external PS for even better results. It's about 3x the price of the standard hiFace though, excluding the PS, which is optional.

All of the above have been reviewed by computeraudiophile.com

Hi TP, I agree M2Tech hiFace is a perfectly viable alternative to V-Link - quite a few options. Important thing is to go for asynchronous USB. My V-Link was £89, but have to add in cables. There is also the very neat Halide Bridge (more expensive) and lots of others. 

So Kage, a simple recommendation would be 

Mac Mini with itunes (files in AIFF or ALAC if you have lots of CDs) -> Async USB/S.-PDIF convertor -> Naim DAC. Rip your CDs with XLD configured to drop files in to iTunes this will usually get and embed the artwork for you. Play the music.

(This is almost the setup I use in my home office, except that its a UQ rather than Naim DAC and I have an Apple PowerMac not a Mini)

In my main system I use Wired 4 Sound Sonus ZP90 in to Naim DAC - this can play all the music stored on my Apple through the main system. There is no computer in my main main room. Again this works very well, but it will not play hi-res, which I don't care about as I have none, but others may. 

Hi Patrick, Kage is looking at a Naim DAC so he'll need a way to get the music in to one of its S/PDIF ports. If as you suggest you put the computer in another room (effectively what I've done) then a device like the Sonus ZP90+Sonus Bridge will work well. Of course, there are other ways (NDX). 

Hi Kage, as you are looking to use the Mac Mini for tasks other than playing music then the Vortexbox is one you can rule out. The Vortexbox is dedicated music server software and takes over the computer it runs on. 

Hope this helps, Guy

If you google "dcs guide to computer audio" you may find a link to a very helpful guide to the various players and configuring them - especially useful if you are thinking of going down the road that involves the USB output from some kind of computer.

Guy - didn't mean to discount the V-Link in any way, very good solution I'm sure, offers the option of connecting via optical too, which the hiFace doesn't, Evo might, not sure, but it's 3x the price. As I understand it V-Link goes up to 96khz only though, whereas the hiFace manages 192. Not that it is necessarily all that important, horses for courses, good choices all around...

Add up the cost of a Mac Mini, good cable, USB to Spdif interface, Naim Dac then compare that to an NDX and cheap PC with Asset UPnP and 1T HD.  Oh, by the way, a PC can actually do other things you know.