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Need help moving from CDP to Mac Mini music server

I've decided to move try a music server solution because my listening habits have changed (maybe the ipod lifestyle has ruined me). So the time has come to sell my beloved Sony SCD-1 and I need some help figuring out how to implement a sonically comparable (or better) music server solution. My system is an Aesthetix Janus with a BAT VK-250 feeding a pair of Totem Forests. I'm currently thinking of getting a Mac Mini with a 500 GB HD and streaming ALAC to my airport express, then using the toslink out to feed a D/A (likley a Benchmark DAC-1) which would run balanced to my Aesthetix. I'd then use my powerbook to control the mac mini through bonjour (although I can also use my plasma as a display).

My first question is, can anyone familiar with using the mac mini server solution comment on the sound quality, especially in comparison to a quality CDP such as the Sony. I want the convenience of having my whole library be accessible, but I want to definitely don't want to sacrifice the sound quality to do it.

Secondly, I've read that the digital out on the mac mini has higher jitter and that using the usb to output digitial is better. Is it also preferable to utilize the usb method instead of using the Airport Express's optical out?

Thirdly, does anyone recommend a specific external hard drive to use with the mac mini? There seem to be a bunch out there.

Lastly, how do people feel about the Benchmark DAC-1 in this setup? I want to keep the whole budget under 3000 w/computer, external drive, DAC and wires, so any suggestions on DAC would be welcome (heard Stello makes one with a digital input).

Thank you so much in advance for your help,

Matt
mimberman
edesilva
768 posts
 
I have not had good luck with consumer drives (Maxstor, LaCie) in a environment where they are on 24/7. I'd suggest looking at something like the 1TB Buffalo Terastation or a similar thing called the Big Yellow Box or something like that. You get NAS and RAID in the same small footprint and its quiet...
spiritualized
138 posts
 
You may also want to take a look at the Wavelength Brick USB tube DAC $1750.00
edesilva
768 posts
 
Whups, not Big Yellow Box, the other terastation-like thing I found was the "Yellow Machine."

Here's links to both:

http://www.yellowmachine.com/products/index.htm
http://www.buffalotech.com/products/product-detail.php?productid=97

Both seem to run about $1K for 1TB, which gives you about .7 TB of actual storage if configured for RAID5.
edesilva
768 posts
 
In this vein, just saw a dealhack note--the 1TB terastations are available from http://www.buy.com for $670, shipping included.
snipes
119 posts
 
Mimberman, the storage recommendation by Edesliva is a good one. If you can get 1TB or .7 TB (700GB) usable of RAID 5 storage for $670 you should jump at that. The RAID 5 setup basically means you can have one hard drive fail and not lose any of your data until you can get around to the replacing the disk. As others stated, don't skimp on non-redundant storage. I've just setup my AE based wi-fi music server, but haven't listened to it much so I can't comment on the sound quality between it and my cd player. One thing that I did find, that I feel every AE owner might want to jump on in is a high quality optical cable. I picked up a Van Den Hul Optiplexor II for ~ $80. You can order it with the digital-mini on one end. It looks to be much better quality than the old monster cable that Apple touts and many others use. As an FYI, if you have an optical cable you like, you can order the optical-> digital mini converter from Parts Express for ~ $6. Of course they hit you up for another $7 in shipping charges.
Good luck and let us know how it works out.
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