Best Server - Mac Mini or Laptop Or ?

Steve,

Just so I understand.

Mac Mini - late 2009

Add 120 GB SSD (how important is brand - one place I found that has the mac available sells 128GB Apple branded Toshibas, a 160GB Intel)?

Need, external drive for music storage (any recommendations here?)

The Intel SSD will probably work fine.

For external Drive, I recommend a RAID 1 preferably removable, connected by Firewire.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

I would not characterize the 2011 mini as lacking weight or threadbare, but I do have mine heavily tweaked. And that was a big change from stock (even then it sounded better than my Macbook). And this is even without the addition of a ssd.

Lion and Snow Leopard also sounded different and in the end I went with Lion. Players make much more difference and I ha ve heard all of the contenders and feel Audirvana Plus to be the best of the bunch to my ears.

Bixby
digitalaudiodirections.blogspot.com

Steve, for your new Override SE DAC (looks great btw), what front end do your recommend? Does simple window based loptop with no additional sound card will be enough for best sound? Any USB based outout from that laptop will be input to the Override SE DAC. Correct? Are you plannning to build and sell any front end simple plug and play solution , so one can insert the CD and the device will rip it and it will play from SSD or HD and controlled by IPOD or IPAD, so one dont have to do any tweeks or software manipulatinos?
Thanks.

"Steve, for your new Override SE DAC (looks great btw), what front end do your recommend?"

Mac Mini late 2009 running Amarra 4318/19 -> USB cable to DAC

"Does simple window based loptop with no additional sound card will be enough for best sound? "

Yes, if you load XXhighend or JRiver plus Jplay on it.

"Any USB based outout from that laptop will be input to the Override SE DAC. Correct? "

Correct, but some USB ports may sound better than others. A good USB cable is necessary.

"Are you plannning to build and sell any front end simple plug and play solution , so one can insert the CD and the device will rip it and it will play from SSD or HD and controlled by IPOD or IPAD, so one dont have to do any tweeks or software manipulatinos?"

Probably not myself, but I am working with colleagues that want to offer this. They are in the prototyping stages. It's essentially a computer with all of the optimum ripping and playback software on it and some scripts to start everything on power-up.

The problem with most all-in-one solutions in the market is that they either dont have the right ripper/playback software for good SQ or they are not flexible enough to handle all devices or all file formats etc.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio