Should I upgrade from a Mac Mini to a dedicated server or should I upgrade my dac?

@mofojo: I agree that trying all possible combinations is simply too time consuming but I certainly will continue to use Tidal/Qobuz. through Roon....hence my question of what is the most reasonable upgrade path.

@jjss49: I am sure that everything ultimately matters to some degree but I like to move incrementally and see how the system evolves.  And since there seem to be various approaches I am just trying to get a sense from others who have more experience and expertise than I do on where they think is the best place to start.


@sns: thanks for the tip but yes this may be a little more DIYing than I would feel comfortable tackling.  And just to clarify the system is set up as follows
Router -> Switch (2 outputs) -> (1) Mac Mini
                                              -> (2) Dac (newtork/endpoint)
All these are ethernet connection- switch has separate LPS.

@yyzsantabarbara: this sounds like an option and I'll look at the white paper.  The move to optical would cost some $2-2,5k so this would open the upgrade choices to three- either mac mini or dac or optical stream ...sounds like your last option would be a better choice than changing the mac mini- would go that route also if the choice were between this and getting a better dac?

@audphile1: this is what I always thought but then several times others told me that I would get a bigger improvement by switching out the mac.  Even verdantaudio brought this up on his very extensive dac resting post when I queried him on some of the dacs he was discussing- and as a dealer I thought I should take heed because from that perspective he, or any other dealer would probably stand to gain more if there were to sell a high end dac,  I have to say I have always found his input invaluable,  In any event I was looking to get some more feedback,

And btw thanks for all the inputs thus far- all very helpful !! 

@pgastone  Moving to Fibre is at most $1500 on the Rendu lineup. I have 3 of them with LPS. Including a used one for half that price.

Baby step would be to get a network switch with Fibre output and a $1500  (or less) package of the OpticalRendu + LPS. You can get it for less and I do not think you need to get the audiophile upgrades (I have both the upgraded and standard).

https://www.smallgreencomputer.com/pages/systemoptique-certified

I have the ROON ONLY model since I do not do any else with the stream outside of ROON.

@pgastone

If you’re looking for a simpler yet high performance streaming source, consider Grimm Audio MU1.

I am using a Network DAC with Roon Core and Endpoint (all in one box) and couldn’t be any happier. If you’re interested in learning more about this amazing DAC/Roon player, check out Merging Technologies +player. 
 

@pgastone

@jjss49: I am sure that everything ultimately matters to some degree but I like to move incrementally and see how the system evolves. And since there seem to be various approaches I am just trying to get a sense from others who have more experience and expertise than I do on where they think is the best place to start.

you can start wherever you want, but based on the component list you shared in your initial post, and assuming it is set up right, your system should definitely be good enough to hear the sonic advantages of each improvement step (streamer, dac, core/network)

in my own experience, i did the dac upgrade first, it was kind of an obvious place to start... but the streamer upgrade and core/network purification/filtering steps were each quite significant in sound quality... if put gun to head to put numbers on apportion degrees of improvement to each step, i would say 50% dac, streamer 20-25%, core/network 25-30% -- so given that, if you want the full monty, you can’t really skip any of the above, especially as the improvements are cumulative in nature

longer version of what i was trying to say earlier...

You could benefit from dedicated server vs stock mini, but with no rendering things aren't as bad as they could be. Stock mini is noisy environment for a streaming component so there are some losses you'll never recover further down the chain, this even though doing no rendering. Certainly, there are nice benefits with a quieter network, but optimizing rendering is bigger bang for buck. You could continue with a streamer/dac combo or separate the two, either way has potential to be greatest improvement over what you have now.

Personally, I think you're on right track not doing any rendering within server, continue this into future. Still, after upgrade of dac or streamer this may become weak link in chain. Your mini is noisy, could be bested with dedicated server, but cost/benefit ratio is relatively low since you're not doing rendering. If I was in your position at this point, I'd think about bypassing switch with server with two network ports, second network port goes directly to streamer or streamer dac. Benefits would be twofold, simpler more direct network path best for eliminating noise, dedicated server with lps quieter environment vs mini. As I mentioned above, any dedicated server WITHOUT TWO ethernet ports would provide much less benefit.

The Roon Nucleus wouldn't provide enough benefit being designed as rendering server, and would need lps for best performance. Of the SMG, only the SMG I9 optical would be substantial upgrade, and here paying for capabilities you don't appear to need. Custom built or Antipodes K series server way to go down the road, server designed to be partnered with streamer is what you're looking for.