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Post by novisnick on Mar 22, 2015 22:58:59 GMT -5
And this is the time I PMed you about.
Time to read,,,,,,,,,a lot. 8)
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Post by maverick74656 on Mar 23, 2015 18:30:57 GMT -5
I am going to try both programs out this week on my mid-2010 macbook pro connected to an XDA-2 to Sen HD600's.
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Post by Spike on Mar 23, 2015 20:51:35 GMT -5
Spike To do this right,you need a mac mini,screen,wireless keyboard and wireless mouse.Now for a music player software you could use itunes that comes preloaded but most probably people prefer other players. Here is my setup.Macmini i5 mid 2011,usb out to Emotiva Stealth DC-1 then from DC-1 RCA out to my preamp. Music Player is JRiver MC20. 50 dollars to buy the software. Music files are mostly flac.but also aiff and mp3 at 320 bitrate,about 1TB in external Lacie 3 Tb hard dive. The macmini doesn't have build in cd drive so I do all my roping on my other mac upstairs, you can buy external cd drives. HDMI Dacs are not very common . Best George WOW! Great post. Thank you George. I'd like to ask some questions. Please help educate me. You said that most people prefer other players. May I ask? Why? and what is the Stealth DC-1? What does it do? I have tried to read about hardware, but..... my disease affects my cognitive functions, and I just can't wrap my mind around Emotiva's explanation of their product. In simplest terms, what does it do? I have a master's degree, so I can comprehend things. It just takes me a while with my disease process. Please help me understand. |
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Post by Spike on Mar 23, 2015 20:56:34 GMT -5
Im not hijacking, trust me. But with Audivarna can it allow me access to my external hard drive?. Can I access it and create play list from the HD? I'm a pc audio newbie. Thanks All my media is on a external 3TB drive, Audirvana is only for Mac though, Jriver will work on PC if I remember correctly  If I am reading correctly about the Audirvana, it also sorts the library, Correct? If so, does it do playlists? And what other features are available? $74 is a Whoa! for a software library. Yet, I am definitely willing to pay for it. As you said it helps improve sound quality, so I am all in. |
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Post by Spike on Mar 23, 2015 20:59:26 GMT -5
Audirvana is great as is Pure Music but I prefer the sound of Amarra. Recommend trying all the add-ons and then buy. Down the road, consider a USB DAC. I like Peachtree, Schiit and Emotiva. What makes Amarra stand out so as to be your preference? |
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Post by creimes on Mar 23, 2015 21:03:34 GMT -5
I haven't explored it immensely and really just use it integrated with iTunes, it does have a library layout but not sure about playlists though, I basically bought it to actually see what changes it can make, IMO it does make the music a little more 3D sound if that's right lol, you can trial the software as well.
Chad
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Post by Loop 7 on Mar 23, 2015 21:18:18 GMT -5
The add-ons all replace OS X's Core Audio with their own engine and they each work with files and iTunes differently.
Comparing the add-ons is SO subjective but I prefer Amarra because it seems to remove glare and digital edginess. I did think Pure Music revealed more from recordings, presented a wider sound was really exciting but a bit fatiguing at times (I'm overly sensitive to listener fatigue).
Since 80% of my listening is to orchestral music that can be very forward and crass, Amarrra smooths all that out to my ears. Sacrifices detail but I enjoy music more than ever.
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Post by bub on Mar 23, 2015 23:21:51 GMT -5
I bought universal edition of JRiver Media Center 20 last month and it has worked flawlessly with Tidal ..Ive only used it on Windows so far but you never know what the future holds so I went universal that was on sale for $69 ..good luck.
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Post by Loop 7 on Mar 24, 2015 0:16:49 GMT -5
My Mac Mini is not connected to a display, keyboard nor mouse. Its solely for music and managed via screen share. Playback control is via tablet.
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Post by AudioHTIT on Mar 26, 2015 13:20:38 GMT -5
My Mac Mini is not connected to a display, keyboard nor mouse. Its solely for music and managed via screen share. Playback control is via tablet. What are you using for this? I've been using iSSH (setup for VNC) for some time and lately it's been giving me a skewed screen, their support hasn't responded so I might try something new.  |
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Post by Loop 7 on Mar 26, 2015 13:56:18 GMT -5
I'm just using the native Mac to Mac screen sharing capability. However, I ended up buying an HDMI emulator which cleared up a lot of screen sharing issues. Almost required for a "headless" Mac mini. CompuLab Display Emulator (fit-Headless) www.amazon.com/dp/B00FLZXGJ6/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_6vffvb0AHHVKM |
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Post by AudioHTIT on Mar 26, 2015 14:13:26 GMT -5
I'm just using the native Mac to Mac screen sharing capability. However, I ended up buying an HDMI emulator which cleared up a lot of screen sharing issues. Almost required for a "headless" Mac mini. CompuLab Display Emulator (fit-Headless) www.amazon.com/dp/B00FLZXGJ6/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_6vffvb0AHHVKMSorry, I thought you were doing Mac screen sharing via an iPad, that's what I do with iSSH (also does ssh and x-windows to Linux boxes, and RDP to Windows). |
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Post by ncred02 on Mar 26, 2015 19:03:25 GMT -5
My Mac Mini is not connected to a display, keyboard nor mouse. Its solely for music and managed via screen share. Playback control is via tablet. this i need to figure out how to do Keep this thread going Spike I'm learning right there with ya |
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Post by Spike on Mar 26, 2015 19:09:34 GMT -5
My Mac Mini is not connected to a display, keyboard nor mouse. Its solely for music and managed via screen share. Playback control is via tablet. this i need to figure out how to do Keep this thread going Spike I'm learning right there with yaThanks, I will. I have so many questions. See, I want to put that mac Mini in my Home Theater cabinet, yet, when my CRPS (Disease) pain gets bad, I don't want to have to grab a keyboard and a mouse to listen to music. So, I'm not yet at the point of being able to purchase that mac mini yet. I've learned a ton, especially about the importance of a good DAC. My goodness, I never realized how VIP that device is. I'm definitely going to have to get one of those!!!!! But, what to do in order to not have to pull up the keyboard and mouse all of the time, I am still struggling with. I don't have a clue. |
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Post by Loop 7 on Mar 26, 2015 19:18:56 GMT -5
My Mini is completely out of sight and I've never been more content with a source. This dedicated "headless" Mini exceeds all the CD players I've owned including the Oppo BDP-103 which I ultimately sold.
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Post by ncred02 on Mar 26, 2015 20:26:08 GMT -5
My Mini is completely out of sight and I've never been more content with a source. This dedicated "headless" Mini exceeds all the CD players I've owned including the Oppo BDP-103 which I ultimately sold. Spike, This is the setup we need. I dont want a keyboard or screen either. Well maybe the screen to see whats playing,but no keyboard. Loop tell us how you what/how you did this ? Thanks |
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Post by Spike on Mar 26, 2015 21:29:58 GMT -5
My Mini is completely out of sight and I've never been more content with a source. This dedicated "headless" Mini exceeds all the CD players I've owned including the Oppo BDP-103 which I ultimately sold. Spike, This is the setup we need. I dont want a keyboard or screen either. Well maybe the screen to see whats playing,but no keyboard. Loop tell us how you what/how you did this ? Thanks One thing I saw today, as I was reading about the Mac Mini's use in Home Theaters was that some people are using either a Logitech Remote or even an Apple Remote to operate their Mac Mini's. So, I'm getting closer. At least I know it is possible. *GRIN* |
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Post by AudioHTIT on Mar 26, 2015 21:40:16 GMT -5
Spike, This is the setup we need. I dont want a keyboard or screen either. Well maybe the screen to see whats playing,but no keyboard. Loop tell us how you what/how you did this ? Thanks One thing I saw today, as I was reading about the Mac Mini's use in Home Theaters was that some people are using either a Logitech Remote or even an Apple Remote to operate their Mac Mini's. So, I'm getting closer. At least I know it is possible. *GRIN* Yes, the Apple Remote app for iOS will let you play your music from the mini using an iPhone or iPad. This however won't let you configure the Mac, this is when you need a keyboard, mouse, and monitor; but basically once you have it set up you can use the Apple Remote app to play your music. |
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Post by Loop 7 on Mar 26, 2015 22:18:40 GMT -5
The music only server I setup is overkill but based on advice from DAC manufacturers who recommend using an SSD drive for the OS and a separate Firewire or Thunderbolt drive for media in order to not tax the USB ports which they think should be used solely for DAC connection. Definitely a questionable practice but I wanted to do this once and not be tempted to tweak. Process: - Purchased a base Mac Mini
- Removed the platter based hard drive and installed a small SSD drive (64 gb - just large enough to run the OS)
- Installed OS X from scratch
- Installed one of the readily available scripts that disable non-essential background services in OS X (Bluetooth, automatic updates, notifications and many others)
- Installed Amarra
- Set up the Mini using a mouse and keyboard connected to a desktop display (updated software, authenticated Home Sharing, etc)
- Configured iTunes so that the library would be on an external Firewire drive
- Setup iPad remote
- Imported my music to the external drive (about 6 hours)
- Shut down the Mini and moved it into my AV rack (minus keyboard and mouse)
- Inserted the HDMI port emulator
- Connected the USB DAC
- Powered up the Mini
- Connected via screen share to launch iTunes and confirm Amarra's output was set to USB DAC
BTW, there are now two very good Android apps for controlling iTunes. In fact, the one I use actually offers a few advantages. |
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Post by yioryos on Mar 27, 2015 2:04:59 GMT -5
Spike
I am sorry for my delayed response. The Stealth DC-1 is digital to analog converter, that I own and find very enjoyable in my setup and I highly recommend to you since you are going to need a dac anyhow if you go forward with the mac mini,then get this one and it won't dissapoint in terms of sound.
The JRiver is a third party developed music software that you need to purchase and install in your mac mini.
Itunes is fine too but a little bloated.
Last year I tested most music player software for Mac, Clementine,VLC,Audirvana,Decibel,Vox,Ecoute,Fidelia,Ammara,JRiver,Pure Music.
I preferred the JRiver and Fidelia. But JRiver gives the user more options in settings and most importantly to me very nice sound as well as gapless playback that actually works as well as smooth transition to next song without a skip or click. In fact you can adjust the time from seconds down to milliseconds.
The mac mini set up for me is very convenient and musically satisfying but not the best sound possible.
My most resolving music server is the Bryston BDP-1/BDA-1 combo and also the Olive 06HD and 04HD in that order.
Of course I haven't done any tweaking or other additional modifications to the mac mini as other people did so not sure how high you could take the mac mini in terms of sound quality.
Also although I understand that a led display, a keyboard or mouse could degrade the sound by polluting the signal to me are essential in my set up.
I constantly add / remove / change files and need to be able to see what's playing in my playlist and enjoy the artwork on the display.
I hope my response will be of help to you.
George
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