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Moving from CD Player to MAC Book Pro Music Server

Based on my research, I will be selling my Ayre CX-7e CD player (Magnum Dynalab MD-102T FM Tuner already sold) and getting a computer based music server. I ordered the MAC Book Pro computer, 2.66GHz processor, 4GB RAM and a 128 GB solid state drive (SSD). The cost for an additional 4GB of RAM is $800+ so I decided to wait for the cost go down. All my music will be stored on an external hard drive using the AIFF format. It will sound better if it is on a different controller than the DAC so I will use a FireWire hard drive. The Seagate portable 2.5” external drive will be much quieter and will run off the power provided by the bus. The Seagate model info is below. I ordered the Ayre USB DAC and it will run balanced into my Ayre AX-7e integrated amp. I would like to thank the many people (on this site and other sites) including Music Lovers Audio and Steve Silberman (Ayre) that helped me with the computer configuration. Ayre also recommends the Furman AC-215 as a power filter for the MAC to prevent it from interfering with the sound quality. I ordered the MAC on Thursday (9/3/2009) from an independent Apple reseller (delivery in about 7+ days). Music Lovers Audio will install my Ethernet line from my living room to my router in my home office on September 16th. Based on estimated delivery times, it will take 6+ weeks for everything to be completed. The web site for the external drive is:

http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.jsp?name=ST905003FJA205-RK-fa-gopro-mac-500gb-hd&vgnextoid=13530c1001c11210VgnVCM1000001a48090aRCRD&locale=en-US
hgeifman

Showing 3 responses by hgeifman

hgeifman OP
2,310 posts
 
Hi Sfar: Thanks for your suggestions above. I forgot to mention in my post that I ordered two Seagate FreeAgent Go™ Pro for Mac (500gb) external drives. Drive #1 is the main drive connected to the computer by Firewire. Drive #2 is the backup drive connected by USB cable. If something happens to drive #1, I have a backup in drive #2. I am checking on your iTouch suggestion.
hgeifman OP
2,310 posts
 
As I described above, I am using the Seaport Free Agent Go Pro 500GB external hard drive to store my music files. I also purchased a 2nd Seaport drive for backup purposes. I have about 65 GB of music stored and completed by first backup. Seaport drive #1 is using the Firewire connnection and Seaport drive #2 is using the USB connection. The backup took 23 minutes. The system sounds great.
hgeifman OP
2,310 posts
 
I picked up my Ayre USB DAC last Saturday and hooked it up. Wow! I was very impressed with the way it sounds. It is better sounding then my Ayre CX-7e CD player. The highs are better and so is the bass. The music seems to be clearer and more engaging. The unit still has to burn in and so do my new Synergistic Research TESLA Quad speaker cables. Music Lovers Audio (Berkeley, CA) said everything will sound better after some time.

I have about 25 CD’s loaded into my MAC Book Pro computer and many more to go. It takes between 3 to 5 minutes per CD using the AIFF format. This is a very boring time consuming process.

My MAC Book Pro is connected to the Furman AC-215 power conditioner. The MAC has 4 GB RAM and the 120GB solid state drive. I am using the Seaport Free Agent Go Pro 500GB external hard drive to store my music files. The Furman is required so the MAC does not interfere with the audio components. See http://www.furmansound.com/product.php?div=01&id=AC-215_PRO

I followed Ayre’s MAC Book setup instructions and they worked. The Audio MIDI setup was a little different from their instructions but we finally figured it out. The QB-9 is connected (balanced cables) to my Ayre AX-7e Integrated amp connected to my Sonus Faber Auditor M Speakers.
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