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Mac mini v server

After lurking these threads for some time I decided to post as I need so e advice. Currently using a Mac mini 2012 with ssd and 8gb ram running audirvana plus as a server and with the outlay of a linear PSU the next logical step in that journey I've read a few articles by John Darko and the like stating a significant difference in sound quality with an entry level Antipodes server v a modded mini. I guess I'm at a crossroads on this and wondering what you guys have experienced?

I'm currently running a lampizator big 5 with dueland caps into a New Audio Frontiers 300b supreme limited edition into sierra 1 speakers(to be replaced by bastanis matterhorns) shortly.

Any advice or personal experience greatly appreciated :)
kiwicol

Showing 2 responses by mitch2

mitch2
4,281 posts
 
You might try the linear PSU and also an outboard AV HDD to store your tunes. Run the system and player from the SSD.

FWIW, Srajan Ebaen with the on-line review e-zine, 6moons, has reviewed a number of servers and concluded with this;
If Aurender's €15'000 W20 is representative of the best current servers—I don't know—it would seem to take a lot of engineering effort to improve just minorly upon a current quad-core Mac computer properly set up to do only music.
and, I don't believe Srajan's mini even has a linear PSU. I was pretty happy with a linear PSU and work performed by Mojo Audio.
mitch2
4,281 posts
 
Rhanson, my mini set-up is almost the same as yours except I run the USB cable into an ifi iUSBPower and then run the dual Gemini cable with only the power side going into a Metrum Hex DAC. The Hex powers its asynchronous USB input from its internal power supply, so I am able to completely isolate the power component of the USB cable from the DAC. I also use the ifi USB filter.

In addition to my reluctance to spend a bunch of money on a server that may be technologically outdated in a couple of years, especially for a debatable, marginal improvement in sound quality, another reason I continue to stick with a computer as my music server, for now, is the variety in available player choices and the ability to take advantage of improvements in player software that continue to occur.
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