Gerry_the_Merry
Well-Known Member
Since most of my music is digital, have decided to get serious about computer audio. All these days I was running a optical SPDIF from a media player into Accuphase DAC. The sound was laidback and soft, though quiet.
I have now introduced an i7 quad-core mac-mini with 4GB ram (2012 model). Am currently trying out different digital USB cables. They do seem to change the sound, but the basic sound is not settled as of now (it is quieter, but am just playing wav files through iTunes). I am connecting to a TV through HDMI, and using 3 USB ports (mouse, keyboard, DAC).
A few things to do:
- get rid of the monitor and use a Windows laptop (which is in the same room) as controller. I have experimented with Chrome Remote Desktop. Takes 5 min, but very slow. Also fuzzy. Cant see the full Mac screen (especially dock) in the PC window. Will complement with control through iPad remote. Problem is making playlists is not very easy. Must experiment with better remote software. Am gambling that better software will start happening in 2013.
- with the above, one can be rid of the USB mouse and keyboard as well. Will stick to apple Bluetooth Mouse and Keyboard (which I already have from my other Mac).
- download trial versions of Amarra, Pure Music and Bit Perfect. Will stick to flac for now. Will if needed, batch convert using DBpoweramp or XLD to AIFF. Will choose one - obviously this is not the only factor, but Amarra seems to be thankfully able to play flac off its own playlists.
- Improve isolation from vibrations (have no clue if it matters, but will do it in a minimalist manner).
- make sure by disabling various functions (which all???) that bit perfect feed is given to DAC. Am pretty sure the DAC is not asynchronous. I am hoping that the internal buffer is sufficient for re-clocking on the fly. The DAC has other strengths (fits into the amp itself instead of cluttering the space with interconnects).
The music belongs to many genres - Indian / Western classical, musicals, rock, a bit of jazz, sufi/qawwali/ghazals. Let us see what goes best.
I have now introduced an i7 quad-core mac-mini with 4GB ram (2012 model). Am currently trying out different digital USB cables. They do seem to change the sound, but the basic sound is not settled as of now (it is quieter, but am just playing wav files through iTunes). I am connecting to a TV through HDMI, and using 3 USB ports (mouse, keyboard, DAC).
A few things to do:
- get rid of the monitor and use a Windows laptop (which is in the same room) as controller. I have experimented with Chrome Remote Desktop. Takes 5 min, but very slow. Also fuzzy. Cant see the full Mac screen (especially dock) in the PC window. Will complement with control through iPad remote. Problem is making playlists is not very easy. Must experiment with better remote software. Am gambling that better software will start happening in 2013.
- with the above, one can be rid of the USB mouse and keyboard as well. Will stick to apple Bluetooth Mouse and Keyboard (which I already have from my other Mac).
- download trial versions of Amarra, Pure Music and Bit Perfect. Will stick to flac for now. Will if needed, batch convert using DBpoweramp or XLD to AIFF. Will choose one - obviously this is not the only factor, but Amarra seems to be thankfully able to play flac off its own playlists.
- Improve isolation from vibrations (have no clue if it matters, but will do it in a minimalist manner).
- make sure by disabling various functions (which all???) that bit perfect feed is given to DAC. Am pretty sure the DAC is not asynchronous. I am hoping that the internal buffer is sufficient for re-clocking on the fly. The DAC has other strengths (fits into the amp itself instead of cluttering the space with interconnects).
The music belongs to many genres - Indian / Western classical, musicals, rock, a bit of jazz, sufi/qawwali/ghazals. Let us see what goes best.