Mac Mini pretty much dead as a Streamer?

[al210]

I've been running a 2012 mac mini using Audirvana thru a Micorendu to my Chord DAC for like 8 years. The system has worked well for the most part except for occasionally having to reboot the Mac Mini and Microrendu at times.

 

I've been reading rave reviews for a few years now about how good these dedicated streamers have become from the likes of Auralic, Aurender. etc...

 

I'm thinking of retiring from the Mini and adding one of these streamers in its place. I would eliminate the Mac Mini, Microrendu and Linear PS for the Rendu. Less clutter and maybe better performance now since these streamers have matured?

 

I would love to hear your opinion on this.

 

[PeterG]

I started with a Mac Mini (probably a 2012!), and switched to a Naim Uniti Core--better performance, plus so much easier, more robust, less mental clutter.  I think if someone's just starting out and has a PC available, that's a great economical entry.  But once you're committed, the PC needs so much decrapification that it's a false economy.  Much better to go with Auralic, Aurender, Naim...Good luck!

[AudioDoctor]

I still have a 2011 Mac mini with a dual core i5 that I put Ubuntu on and it runs HQPlayer up to 24/192 without breaking a sweat. With my house ~70 degrees F it hovers around 60C. More upsampling puts enough stress on it that it gets considerably warmer, likely to the point of throttling, but the Yggy it's sending music to only goes up to 24/192 anyway.

[bobfa]

@al210 I would not say that the commercial servers have matured, they are in constant flux.  Some for the better and some for the worse!

 

I just saw this thread and I have some things to say, but it is late here.  I have a 2014 Mac Mini with Audirvanna Studio I sometimes use as a server. Getting UPnP working has been a problem for me.

 

I have chosen another route for my day-in-day-out music system.  It is two Raspberry Pi's one as a server and the other as an endpoint.  I will write up more tomorrow.

 

Check out PiCorePlayer!

 

 

[bobfa]

I have used multiple server systems.  Small Green Computer, Antipodes, Auralic, Aurender, and Naim Unity.  I have built multiple servers and streamers using Windows, AudioLinux, Gentoo, Euphony, RoonOS,  and more.  I have reviewed several of these systems here on AS.  There are so many paths to try.  

 

Do not get lost in this.  Have you been able to listen to another system that impresses you?  Is there something that Audirvanna does not do that you want?  Change can be fun and it can be frustrating.  

 

As you might be able to infer from my journey, I love to play with technology. 

 

For the last three months, I have been re-visiting my research on the Raspberry Pi computing platform.  I was very impressed with the Allo USBridge Sig.  Ioan @Alloand his team designed and built a great-sounding cost-effective Ethernet to USB platform.  When I reviewed the USBridge Sig, I was impressed.  

 

Wind the clock forward about a year, and I am using both of my USBridge Sig devices with the Shanti power supplies as Squeezlite endpoints using PiCorePlayer.  My server is a Raspberry Pi 4 with a HAT that connects and powers a 4 TB SSD.  The server runs PiCorePlayer with the Logitech Media Player server.  It is powered by an LPS. (I am testing two of them). I use the Material Skin UI on LMS, and for control point software I use the web browser on any of my devices in the house.  

 

This design has supplanted thousands of dollars of equipment.  It is a bit more on the "techie" side to set up. Well worth the reward.   I wonder if this will stick for me?  I am still tweaking a bit, but so far, no need for change. 

 

This is my journey.  I hope that it helps you!

 

RJF

 

[bobfa]

Here is all the "gear" in the main system.  There is a Puritan Audio Laboratories PSM156 on the shelf below.

 

 

[bobbmd]

I still use a late 2012 Mac mini i7 with 16GB RAM and 4TB Samsung SSD  as a ‘streamer’(of sorts) using TIDAL Qobuz desk top apps and through ROON&Audirvana Studio via  Catalina

BTW @bobfa has anyone told how much you(or your avatar) look like Jim Boeheim

[bobfa]

Bob,

 

The Mac mini is a real jack of all trades machine. I use them in my work a lot.

 

 I  have moved away from Windows and macOS in my audio systems for several reasons.  OS complexity of management and sound quality.  I added a system to the basement office yesterday.  Pi4 + Topping D10Bal + a pair of older M-Audio BX5a monitors.  Oh, and a Wemo Switch to turn it all off; the amps in the monitors do not power down.

 

RJF

 

[lwr]

Looks like your cat is not welcoming you to what he now must consider his former fortress of solitude.

[Superdad]

7 hours ago, bobfa said:

What’s with the mini fridge between the speakers Bob?

Probably spoils the imaging a bit, though depending upon what you chill in it it might be improving things…

But that’s one cool cat!

[bobfa]

Nora hangs out with me a lot!  We have space issues in the room till I process 15 bankers boxes of paper on three projects I have.  Imaging is a small problem!

 

 

[bobfa]

2 hours ago, lwr said:

Looks like your cat is not welcoming you to what he now must consider his former fortress of solitude.

Nora just hangs with me a lot.  I am not playing with her so she is pouting and working on some way to punish me.