I made the leap to a mac mini music server. After getting all of the hardware and laboriously ripping a dozen disks with XLD I hooked it us to my music system using Pure Music. I have a very revealing Meridian based system that had been mainly HT via an Oppo BDP-83.
After tweaking the PM repeatedly, I just couldn't get the level of sound quality that I had through the Oppo with apodising in the Meridian system. It was nice but it fell short in many aspects. I was really upset that I had spent $$ on a system that I would not use.
I had initially rejected Amarra based on reviews and the price differential with Pure Music. Since they also offered a demo I downloaded the Amarra Mini. Whoa, what an improvement. Whatever their special sauce is, in my system, it is well worth the extra couple of hundred dollars. I am so thankful that they are both available for trial.
After tweaking the PM repeatedly, I just couldn't get the level of sound quality that I had through the Oppo with apodising in the Meridian system. It was nice but it fell short in many aspects. I was really upset that I had spent $$ on a system that I would not use.
I had initially rejected Amarra based on reviews and the price differential with Pure Music. Since they also offered a demo I downloaded the Amarra Mini. Whoa, what an improvement. Whatever their special sauce is, in my system, it is well worth the extra couple of hundred dollars. I am so thankful that they are both available for trial.