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Apple Mini 'puter as a CD jukebox?


I've ripped all of my CD's as WAV files on to two 160gb WD external drives and I'm thinking it would be cool to use a 'puter as a "CD Player". It would be really easy to use iTunes as a master play list, scroll, click, listen. The entire system ought to come in under $1000 all told.

The new Mac Mini would be a logical choice since it has two USB 2.0 ports for my hard drives and it's quite small and inexpensive. A small flat panel monitor would be required, and of course a wireless mouse and keyboard. The thing I'm not sure about is the audio output on the Mac Mini; not much info at all on the Apple site. Could you simply run a Y-cable from the Mac Mini to your preamp, or does it require an external DAC?

So, what would the system end up loooking like? I'm guessing:

- two 160gb hard drives ($110 each)
- Mac Mini ($499)
- BenQ wireless mouse ($25)
- Small wireless keyboard. Suggestions?
- Small flat panel monitor.. less than 15". Suggestions?
- DAC (I'm assuming it's required). Suggestions?

When all is said and done this could be a nice alternative, I'm not sure it'll rival $1000 CD players though. I'm intrigued with the concept of using a computer as a dedicated jukebox and would love some feedback/ideas/opinions. Thanks, Jeff
hack
edesilva
768 posts
 
Do you need to go wireless? If you don't, I'd skip the AE and use a USB audio output device like the Waveterminal U24 or the Edirol UA-1D or M-Audio Sonica. Wireless is subject to a lot of variables that are environmental. I use the Mac Mini -> Waveterminal -> dCS Purcell/Delius -> ARC amplification -> ProAc speakers. Its stunning.
vegasears
1,173 posts
 
http://www.apple.com/imac/

All in one with Digital out and it's looks cool too.
victhecat
1 posts
 
ghbdtn rfr ltkf
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Hmtc - you can get Toslink out of an AirPort express and with a good glass cable, it is not bad, but dont expect it to be as good as a CD transport. The chip and clock in the AE are just too jittery.

One solution to this is to use a Pace-Car reclocker from Empirical Audio. This allows you to drive the toslink from the AE to the PAce-Car and then an ultra-low jitter S/PDIF signal is driven out of the Pace-Car to your DAC. The jitter from the AE does not matter. You can even use a really cheap plastic Toslink cable. The Pace-Car output will outperform even the best transports. No mods to the AE are necessary. You can even select a variety of clocks, including the new Ultraclock.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
bongofury
1,160 posts
 
Try the new Blue Sky Audio EXO or Audioengine 5s enclosed speakers. Just cable it in and you are good to go.

Red Wine Audio can also "hotrod" an iPod, eliminating the more expensive computer.
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