Rmata,
Listen to Steve (Audioengr), and also use your critical thinking when exploring options. Steve indeed knows a lot, but also tends to steer people in the direction of his products, which is particularly hard to perceive for the newcomers. The Synchro-Mesh he recomends is his own product.
Probably the best usb to S/PDIF converter out there is Steve's Off-Ramp, but you can also get an Audiophilleo 2 for $580 which is also excellent. So not necessarily going to spend $3k if going the USB route. BTW, with the Audiophilleo you also don't need a digital cable, which is also an expensive piece.
As for the remote, you can use JRiver Media Center as the player software on the Mac and get JRemote on an iPad and be done. Check out www.computeraudiophile.com for a review of both. BTW, JRiver is $50 and JRemote is $10.
If I were you I would probably opt for either getting another computer for the other room and using the Mini for music, or getting a computer for music, have JRiver installed, maybe an iPad with JRemote (if you don't get a laptop), a USB to S/PDIF converter, and be done.
BTW, I do have a Squeezebox Touch which I love, but think I will ultimately end up with a computer and USB to S/PDIF converter into the DAC.
I hope this helps!
Listen to Steve (Audioengr), and also use your critical thinking when exploring options. Steve indeed knows a lot, but also tends to steer people in the direction of his products, which is particularly hard to perceive for the newcomers. The Synchro-Mesh he recomends is his own product.
Probably the best usb to S/PDIF converter out there is Steve's Off-Ramp, but you can also get an Audiophilleo 2 for $580 which is also excellent. So not necessarily going to spend $3k if going the USB route. BTW, with the Audiophilleo you also don't need a digital cable, which is also an expensive piece.
As for the remote, you can use JRiver Media Center as the player software on the Mac and get JRemote on an iPad and be done. Check out www.computeraudiophile.com for a review of both. BTW, JRiver is $50 and JRemote is $10.
If I were you I would probably opt for either getting another computer for the other room and using the Mini for music, or getting a computer for music, have JRiver installed, maybe an iPad with JRemote (if you don't get a laptop), a USB to S/PDIF converter, and be done.
BTW, I do have a Squeezebox Touch which I love, but think I will ultimately end up with a computer and USB to S/PDIF converter into the DAC.
I hope this helps!