Help me order my new APPLE Computer

I am an audiophile addict! However, I love iTunes and the ability to instantly access all of my music. Accordingly, I have been playing around with components, software, and disc burning formats in an effort to create a true audiophile sound system that uses a mac mini as the main source component.

I feel that I have finally succeeded in my quest and have put together quite an amazing sounding system based upon the mac mini and iTunes. However, I have only been using the system for a few days now. And, since the new speakers need at least 200 hours to break in and the new DAC needs at least 100 hours of use until it is truly ready, I will not be able to post an in depth review until next month.

In the mean time, here is my setup and a mini review of my observations so far. A more in depth review will follow that will include my reasons for choosing each component of the system:

Computer Hardware:
- Mac Mini 2.0Ghz
- Newertech miniStack V2 500GB
- Drobo 2TB (for Time Machine back up)

Audio Components:
- Red Rose Music (by Mark Levinson) Model Five Integrated Tube Amp
- Benchmark DAC1 USB
- Dynaudio Confidence 1 Speakers
- Sunfire True Subwoofer Super Junior
- Nordost SPM Extruded Silver Interconnects
- Nordost SPM Extruded Silver Speaker Wire

Software:
- iTunes - CDs ripped using Apple Lossless
- Indigo Home Automation Software
- iRed IR Remote Automation Software

Initial Thoughts:
WOW!!!!! This is going to work! Already it is musical nirvana and the components haven't even broken in yet. Precise imaging, HUGE soundstage, perfect highs and tight bass, and the tube amp provides a perfectly warm sound that allows the digital source to sound less "sterile" and more musical. When this system blooms later on this month, it should be a jaw dropper :-)

Couple of things: you don't need very much ram to use a Mac running
iTunes. You can't buy a new Mac with less than 1 GB ram, and that's
more than enough. ( I've had music playing from a Mini with 1 GB ram
for now 5 days/nights straight, without a pause or hiccup ).

Mac to DAC via USB to Bel Canto DAC3 sounds every bit as good
as my $2500 Arcam CD player.

The new Mac OS : Leopard, has *really* improved the iTunes 'Front Row' UI.
It's very nice, and worth the $129 upgrade for solely that reason, IMHO.

The Mac DVD player UI is very nice too. And it does a darn good job
at DVD playback. So you have a DVD video and DVD-A player in the deal too.

Not to mention: load your photos into iPhoto, fire up the slide show,
pick the tracks you want to assign to a slide show, and there you go.

It's all kind of a no-brainer for around $700. ( Mac Mini )

I'm into photography too so I do want to max out the RAM anyway.
Can I send the signal from the computer to my integrated amp wirelessly?

Pwfletcher

I like the looks of your system. I'm leaning towards the Mini Mac for my system also. How are you handling the vidio part of your system. Do you have a monitor set up with your system so you can view what's on the Mini Mac. Why didn't you just go with a MacBook instead of the Mini Mac.

Just trying to learn
Thanks

wondering if anyone uses a Mac Pro for a media server? what are the advantages/disadvantages vs. Mac mini &/or iMac?