It is very nice to see so many experienced Mac users here!
If you don't mind, I have few questions:
1. In your opinion, what are the advantages of Mac Mini (or any other Mac computer product) over PC laptop or HTPC running Win 7, 64 bit? Since I am aware how switching power affects audio, I am not interested in comments on that subject. Also, the usual laptop display noise is not an issue for me.
2. In your experience, is there any audio quality difference between files stored on the internal HDD/SSD, and the same stored on external USB and Firewire HDD?
3. Is there Apple audio playback software available that can let you use the audio device internal buffer in pull mode? Can you adjust device buffer offset and latency? Down to how many samples?
4. In your experience with Mac, is it better loading the audio file to the RAM and play it from memory or not? What difference do you hear?
Thanks!
Alex Peychev |
Come on guys, I got so excited about your advises that I bought a Mac Mini. Now I cant wait to receive it and experience its glory!
Well, worse comes to worst, I can always load Win7, 64Bit and JRiver to it. :-)
Stay tuned!
Best,
Alex Peychev |
FYI Im Pro Mac so very much look forward to Alex realizing the superiority of the Mac:-) What a dreamer! :-) Alex |
Tvad, I'll be interested to know your experience with the iPad. I suggest buying the version with the better battery life. I am using iPad with iTeleport from Jaadu. It works extremely well for Win7 remote desktop. I love it! Best, Alex Peychev |
Update:
Got my 2010 Mac Mini yesterday (very nice built, I must say). Thanks to some very generous advices from people reading this thread, I did some OS X tweaks and installed the latest Pure Music version (set for purity, which means no DSP effects and no volume control enabled + device exclusive access, Hog mode, etc.).
I have 8GB mem on order and other tweaks to do but, so far, with my system and to my ears, my Toshiba Core i3/HM55/4GB + 1GB dedicated for ATI video laptop, with Win7 64bit + JRiver and ASIO4ALL is far superior to the Mac Mini with PM v1.74, sorry to say.
In both cases my highly hot-rodded M2tech hiFace was used (clocks and data path tweaks + ultra-low-noise MOSFET linear power). Please dont get me wrong; the Mac sounds good, but it fatigues me over short period of time in comparison.
Of course, this is preliminary, so there is still hope, and still more to come, so stay tuned!
I will be also loading Win 7 (64bit) to the Mac Mini using bootcamp, so we can compare apples to apples. I am also thinking about borrowing some local San Francisco Bay Area Audiophile golden ears for a blind A-B testing. Volunteers are greatly appreciated, as always!
BTW, if someone here has experience with a better/purer sounding playback soft than PM, Id be more than happy to try it too.
Best,
Alex Peychev |
So any conclusions yet on Mac as a music server/transport running OSX or W7 vs. PC running W7? Well, I installed Win7 (x64) on the MacMini and setup everything exactly the same as with my Toshiba Satellite Core i3 laptop. Though MacMini got a lot closer, it is still not up to the Toshiba, sorry to say, IMO! Difference is not "huge", but the MacMini does not have as deep bass, there is a fatiguing glare in the midrange and highs. Piano notes (for example) sound somewhat colored/metallic and with less air/decay. The difference is (to an extent) comparable with CD vs. SACD, especially when it comes to ambience micro-detail information retrieval and tonality/naturalness. Overall, to my ears, the Toshiba sounds more natural and relaxed, while the MacMini fatigues me after short period of time. After spending so much money, time and effort, I am not sure whether I will try removing the cheap LiteON switching power supply from the MacMini and use external low-noise linear power (or battery), because this will be its last chance, really! Will see! Best, Alex Peychev |
Alex, you're depressing the hell out of me. It depresses me too because I like the MacMini, and because many of my customers are Mac users. I hope MacBook Pro sounds much better since it runs from a battery. One local customer is willing to bring his MBP so we can experiment with it. The Mini is basically a laptop in a cute little enclosure, so it might get a lot better with battery or linear power. Question is whether it will be worth the trouble trying that. At least this one is a lot easier to disassemble compared to the old model. Stay tuned. Best, Alex Peychev |
Alex, are you running the MacMini into your APL DAC? I am using both NWO-M and DAC-S for the evaluation. The Hiface is highly upgraded in both cases so it is more comparable to the M2Tech EVO. Best, Alex Peychev |
Alex, I've tried the MacBook Pro in my system and the Mini sounds better This is not very encouraging. :-( Now, the last thing I need is some junky Toshiba laptop running Windows making me feel insecure about my sleek, Apple-based audio setup. Well, compared to MacMini, the "junky" Toshiba laptop comes with a lot better hardware configuration. Apparently, being one of the semiconductor manufacturing leaders, Toshiba has done a very good job designing their laptop motherboards. And don't forget that the best sounding audio equipment uses Toshiba devices (JFETs, MOSFETs, BJTs, etc.). In all seriousness, I wonder whether there's some kind of issue with the Mini and the Hiface. The MacMini is nothing else but Intel based laptop, so I dont see any compatibility issues with hiFace or any other USB audio device. I think my Mini paired with a USB DAC sounds pretty good. Sure, I agree, it does sound pretty good. It is always like this with audio; you are very happy with something until you hear something better. :-) Best, Alex Peychev |
Is this highly upgraded HiFace a separate device from the DAC? Sorry about the confusion! I meant that is comparable to the EVO when it comes to linear power, sound quality, etc. The DAC-S comes with the M2Tech built-in. It is an option for the NWO-M. Best, Alex Peychev |
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Tvad, Listening to Peter Gabriel's "Plays Live" recording o the MacMini. I have to admit that the best this ever sounded was on my ~$2000 analog front end. Nothing super fancy: Technics SL1200 with KAB upgrades, Dynavector XX MK 2, Heed Audio Quasar. It was dynamic, open and incredibly extended top to bottom I can relate to this because I also have Technics SL1200M5G (slightly better than 1200MKII, and with some very extensive re-designs, of course :-)), and I have Dynavector DV XV-1S with specially tuned for it phonostage. I love the sound! Listening to the ripped CD on the MacMini>M2Tech HiFace>Modwright Transporter is the worst of the bunch. Flat, lifeless...blechhh The AK4396 in the Transporter relies on the Master Clock provided by the S/PDIF receiver (unlike when you play from wi-fi, although there are many problems there as well). This said; MacMini sounds a lot better than that, especially when loaded with Win7 (x64), Jriver and Asio4all. :-) Best, Alex Peychev |
