New Unibody Macbook as transport

[agentsmith]

I know people has had good results with using an mac Mini as a transport feeding a DAC.

 

But after considering a keyboard, mouse and possibly a monitor, the cost is not far off than that of a Macbook.

 

Which brings me to the latest Macbook which features unibody made of aluminum. Us audiophile always get peranoid with isolation and placement of transports and even amplifiers, the new Macbook sure seems like a pretty rigid structure as PC goes.

 

Do we think that the Macbook would make a better sounding transport due to its structural integrity?

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

Hi agentsmith - I like the idea and I like the new MacBooks, but I'm not willing to say we would hear a sonic benefit because of the new unibody build. I really hope someone can demonstrate a sonic improvement though. I am always up for better sound quality :-)

 

[garyi]

Um, a screen simply for the purpose of checking itunes, a keyboard and mouse and even a spare 500gig drive is going to set you back about 600 quid.

 

A macbook is £1k

 

Not very close, especially as you will need a big drive and back up solution for the macbook anyhow.

 

Don;t stop you wanting one though

 

[shenzi]

I'm surprised more people don't consider iMacs. My partner's new 20" alu iMac is a thing of beauty and seems to be silent. We've yet to try running disks through it but then if everything ended up on hard disk, any noise from the disk drive wouldn't matter. Now if only I could persuade her that it's best place would be out of the studio and in the music system ...

 

[darrenwm]

The iMac is gorgeous but you don't need a screen, keyboard, and mouse once the Mini is set up.

 

Mine runs iTunes as a startup item; it automatically rips then ejects any CD that is inserted; and I can control via Touch.

 

Effectively my Mini can run headless 90% of the time. I use it as a movie server too though, so it's connected to by (previously purchased) LCD TV, and a USB keyboard for occasional use will be cheap.

 

Alternatively you can log into the Mini using VNC to access it remotely.

 

 

 

 

 

[agentsmith]

Well I figure if Linn charges megabucks for the Klimax DS which features an aluminum body, and some of us Naimees pay thousands for Fraim equipment racks to improve isolation, the Macbook does look that it could be a step in that direction.

 

Of course Jobs never meant it to serve that purpose.