Experience with Mach2 Music Server?

Indeed, I think your own striking testimony comparing the Mach2 server to a $10k Esoteric component speaks volumes... I just can't conceive of investing in a CD player at this point - soundwise, it simply doesn't offer the bang for the buck you can get with a computer-based setup, and the thought of investing in some kind of overbuilt CD transport seems not only anachronistic but extravagant. From the perspective of my own budget and priorities, it's a bit of an unaffordable luxury to entertain concerns about plug and play.

My own USB DAC can't quite do some of the things that my old vinyl rig could, which is partly why I think I'm going to dabble with vinyl again. But the DAC coupled with the Mini does a lot of things amazingly well, close to vinyl and far better than any CD player in my budget, and I am also excited to hear what the future brings.

I was very interested in the Mach2 but decided to buy a mac mini 2010 and send it to OWC to increase RAM to 8GB, replace the hard drive with a 120 GB Mercury SSD, and case up the original HD for back-up with time machine.

I also previously purchased 2-1 TB Lacie hard drives on to which I recorded 1300 CDs in Apple lossless format (mirrored on the drives). The Lacie Hard drives are very quite and are Firewired 800 to an Av Nitro repeater hub and this plugs into the Mac mini firewire 800 port. I purchased an impact twin ADC converter/ microphone amp that will plug into the firewire hub along with the back-up drive. The digital output is USB 2.0 to a Wyred 4-Sound Dac2 (still to arrive). Later this week I will down load Pure Vinyl and Pure Music software, since this must be downloaded onto the mac mini directly.

01-15-11: Cardiackid
I was very interested in the Mach2 but decided to buy a mac mini 2010 and send it to OWC to increase RAM to 8GB, replace the hard drive with a 120 GB Mercury SSD, and case up the original HD for back-up with time machine.

That seems like a reasonable option. I spent a good deal of time on the OWC website before I ordered the Mach2. I never found any info about installation services or cost.

they charged me :

8gb RAM $112
120 GB OWC Mercury Extreme pro SSD $237
Icydock 2.5 to 3.5 SSD/SATA Convert $19.99
OWC Apple mini installation of parts $99.00
OWC mercury elite - AL pro quad interface $79.00
QWC ALPro elite SATA HD to FW/800/400/U2/ es $0.00

Total 546.99 plus the base price for the Mac mini.

I drop shipped the mac from apple to OWC and then they shipped to me. Everything was installed and preserved the Apple warranty, since the are approved apple installers.

The entire time was about 7 to 10days from Mac order to my house.

Everything is installed waiting the arrival of the DAC-2 and downloading of pure vinyl.

i expect this mini to scream, after talking to OWC. The OWC SSD has been highly praised by others as among the best available. That also factored into my decision.

Do I need to can the MM '09 to upgrade to the 2010 unit because it is so much better?