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Dummy Guide on What's Needed to hook up Mini Mac

I have read many post on this issue, but am still utterly confused.

Current system Mini Mac will be hooked up to:
YBA stereo integrated amp
Oppo universal player
Madisound home made speaker system

1.) What exactly do I need to buy and how do I hook up a Mini Mac digital playback system to my current system for CD playback?

2.) How do I get CD's into it?

3.) Do I need external DAC and transport?

4.) How much memory in hard drive is needed?

5.) Can it operate with a remote?

6.) Will this system act like a music server?

7.) Is the sound quality as good as high end CD player?

Finally:

8.) I don't know what questions to ask, as I'm a real dummy on this issue, so please tell me what to buy (on a budget) and what to do?
128x128mjcmt

Showing 2 responses by gonzo1

gonzo1
14 posts
 
"I did some looking at the Apple web site and saw the Mac Book laptop. It has it all. Does this seem like a good option?

I can get a Mac Book laptop for $1099 and a PS Audio Link III USB DAC for $995. Is this a good option?

Can I send a signal wireless from the Mac Book to the USB DAC or is there sound quality loss? "

That's what I have as of last friday. The PS Audio sounds great. I do have twin Western Digital 500G HDs for storage and backup. You can use a sonos or Squeezebox to get the music to the DAC wirelessly but this does add some more hardware. I found the squeezebox on its own in stock form did not sound as good as the Macbook directly into the dac. If I'm not ripping music I can not hear the Macbbok.

Next will be top get an ipod touch to remote control itunes.
gonzo1
14 posts
 
"Now a few questions for anyone:

1.) How convientient is the Mac Book for playing cds?

2.) Can you play DCDs as well with another USB cable for the picture to the HDTV?

3.) How many cds can be saved on an 80 gig internal drive in lossless?"

1. It's not. The only way I will be using the Macbook is with the music ripped in Itunes, stored on my hard drive, and replayed from the hard drive. If I need to play a disc without ripping it, I will play it on my Oppo.

2. While It will output video to a TV through the mini-dvi port, I probably will not use it for that, again, that is what the Oppo is for. I will have it hooked up though to watch tv shows downloaded from Itunes.

3. 80 G? maybe 150 to 175 albums. I'd still use an external HD though.

I really like it so far. I ripped all the new Donald Fagen discs from his new box set "The Nightfly Trilogy", created a "smart playlist" with only those songs and hit play. The monitor went to "sleep," the music kept playing through all three albums.

I haven't yet sold my Primare CD player. The sound is more full and the bass is deeper with the spinner, but there is more detail with the Macbook/PSaudio. And of course the Macbook is so much easier to use and its nice not having discs laying around.
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