PS Audio, through it's Infinity IRS V speakers enjoy some of the best sound in the world. And check out our newest KZfaq channel / @octaverecordsanddsdst... Octave Records.
Пікірлер: 506
@3Cr15w3115 жыл бұрын
I have been using a Mac Mini since 2010 for playing audio on my system and use TosLink since everything I have is from CD and is 44100 samples/sec stereo 16-bit. I am one who can't hear the difference in 256 MP3 and the original WAV and I guess that is a blessing. My main system in the living room is a Rotel RSX-1560 Receiver from 2009 (which replaced a Yamaha DSP-A1 integrated amp from 1998 that started flaking out) with JPL HP-520 speakers as my mains. This system works well for me for 2 channel stereo (with the surrounds off) and for home theatre as well.
@chaeyoungshi2 жыл бұрын
Damn you’re blessed My ears can’t handle mp3 without me complaining or needing it to be on a super duper forgiving and expesnive system
@alexroot19802 жыл бұрын
@@chaeyoungshi right. I thought I was that kind of listener but once I have entered in the hi-fi realm, it was a game changer. The lossy files still sounded crisp and clear BUT totally bidimensional. No Soundstage at all. With a CD if I closed my eyes I could feel the sound to be holographic.
@rockyslay43103 жыл бұрын
I have worn out 2 Mac Mini's listening to music. I have to confess the iTunes low quality 128kbps podcasts still sounded really really fantastic with my upsampling DacMagic and tube amp. It's great listening to music just alone on the couch without the lights on in the middle of the night... after smoking a joint.
@beslemeto3 жыл бұрын
Hello sir!Did you upgrade those Mac Minis for better audio quality?Did you add linear power supply?
@Nergrettez4 жыл бұрын
I use Mac Mini and Audirvana as well (with Tidal), with an iPad mini as remote, but the Mac/Audirvana combo is a DLNA server to the SoTM sMS-200 ultra neo streamer, in turn connected to the DAC via USB. This is a huge improvement over running USB from the Mac.
@morespinach98323 жыл бұрын
To what speakers? Powered speakers don't need a DAC.
@andrehb Жыл бұрын
I'm a bit new to this -- sounds like you're using the Mini as NAS? Why it that preferable to running USB from Mac to streamer? Thanks
@MrVandype3 жыл бұрын
Thanks Paul. You gave me some great new ideas how to add my Mac mini to my audio system. Will try it and compare it with what i know about ROON.
@bubbleone65263 жыл бұрын
I swear I’ll never catch up to all the content you’ve put out. Thank you Paul. I hope someday real soon to visit you, your company and those awesome speakers. 🤝👏👌
@pawlowski61323 ай бұрын
Nobody cares
@ivanbogdaue Жыл бұрын
Paul, if you opted for Mac mini with maximum RAM possible, you surely have not paid "a little more" for the upgrade. RAM and storage upgrade cost an arm and a leg on any Mac. Only the base models Mac computers could be considered a great value. It has always been like that on Apple computers, regardless of the generation. And if you use it for playing music only, you most likely did not need that RAM upgrade. BTW: I really like your videos😁
@a.grayman6349 Жыл бұрын
Bitperfect hasn't been updated in five years and in buggy as hell on newer macs. Audirvana has now switched to a subscription model which I won't even consider. For those reasons, both are now non starters for me.
@user-oh6ev7mj5q5 ай бұрын
someone should explain what is bitperfect or audirvana.
@UAVmaker4 ай бұрын
Same for me
@thexfaceable5 жыл бұрын
Only saw the first 4 seconds and the man already convinced me. I'm getting a Mac Mini... for playback.
@ecamormex5 жыл бұрын
I regret selling my 2011 Mac Mini, since it was pretty spec-ed out and had a disc drive. Ugh. Now I want one!
@amandhillon733 жыл бұрын
I’ve just bought a new Mini (2020 model) and was going to sell my 2011 until I watched this.
@derrickgarcia3034 жыл бұрын
Paul how do you wake up the Mac mini when it goes to sleep with an IPad?
@jtee45225 жыл бұрын
Audirvana is a good product and great to hear Paul and PS Audio recommend the software's use via USB. Regretfully Audirvana's UPnP/DLNA feature does not function properly with PS Audio's Bridge II. A great shame for those who have invested in the Bridge II card which is sonically better than USB. Given PS Audio has recommended and promoted Audirvana, it would be greatly appreciated if Audirvana and PS audio collaborated to make the UPnP/DLNA function work properly with the Bridge II. So come Paul and Audirvana - please work together and sort out the UPnP/DLNA functionality!!!
@adelkharisov4 жыл бұрын
Bridge is not ps audio product isn’t it? It is a South Korean company Converse media streamer.
@bricedoan66954 жыл бұрын
I use a dedicated intel NUC loaded with Daphile for Qobuz streaming on my headphone rig, cheap and very good results.
@whatonearthamito2 жыл бұрын
isn't one benefit of a toslink the fact that it electrically isolates your source?
@EvanMcC2405 жыл бұрын
This is literally my exact setup for the MacMini in my system as well. Nice video - thanks Paul
@jordesign5 жыл бұрын
Can I ask question about your workflow.... How do you manage playlists? If you have all of your music on a main computer, how do you keep in sync with the mac mini? Ready to make the move, Just not sure the best method for music management.
@EvanMcC2405 жыл бұрын
Steve Jordan hey there - I don’t have all my music stored elsewhere - I stream from Tidal using the Mac mini - that’s it. I could store locally, or on a NAS etc if I needed to but Tidal is doing the trick right now.
@themodernhomes4 жыл бұрын
Which Mac mini? hd? Ram?
@JaiPandit19893 жыл бұрын
@@EvanMcC240 How to you connect your mac mini to your receiver? What receiver your have ?
@shahidyt5 жыл бұрын
Checklist: Audirvana 👍🏽 Curious cable 👍🏽 Qobuz 👍🏽 I have a 2015 MacBook Pro with maximum ram too At least I’m doing a few things right. I have moved on to Allo DigiOne streamer via a coax cable, the electrical noise which I didn’t notice before has gone! The sound is much cleaner
@bigdak98143 жыл бұрын
I really don't know why he suggests too much ram just for playing music.
@shahidyt3 жыл бұрын
BigDak I expect Paul plays larger DSD files and complex passages could require more memory, but I wouldn’t expect significant amounts of memory to used. Perhaps it is a headroom thing. I do trust Paul, if he says extra memory then I’ll except his judgement even though I don’t understand it. It’s not like he is trying to sell us a BHK :-)
@magnusnielsen26483 жыл бұрын
I wish someone would do a fast turorial on all of these streaming components, from start to finnish that is. there are loads and loads of tutorials on youtube that focus on single components or just software, and they tend to be lengthy videos containing lots of rambeling. I mean jeez, I am just 42 years old and I feel that i´m falling behind in this area.
@m42tyn2 жыл бұрын
Paul many many thanks for this content. I have just set up the Mac mini as you have described and it is wonderful. (Audirvana / Screens). Perfect. 👍
@dry509 Жыл бұрын
Please advise how you set your system up and how you play a song? I don’t get it.
@ahmetbozkan993 ай бұрын
Wow, A lot of great information! Thank you Paul McGowan
@rogerhudson97324 жыл бұрын
iTunes used to be great, I used it with Audio Hijack as it captured the audio as it came in (not how Windows does it) but when Apple went to become a music 'service' company iTunes is no longer simple to use. Sad.
@hifiandrew6 ай бұрын
This is 4 years old? Wow, you what? You can still get a Mac Mini for $500. I just bought one, M2 CPU, 8GB RAM. Still runs spectacularly.
@xstensl88233 жыл бұрын
i just got Rooned. loving it. running it on my MacBook pro. streaming Tidal. i need something to send flac. music files to my Roon core, but do not want to spend $1500 on a Nucleus.
@bradfordcraig62242 жыл бұрын
Beware advice coming from people whose demo audio is distorted. "This USB cable sounds excellent". That being said, thanks for the software info.
@gstanley753 жыл бұрын
Would be great to get an update from Paul on this segment.
@adams53893 жыл бұрын
I just got the M1 Mac mini 8gb ram and I’m blown away. I run it as my Roon server and player for my living room system. Haven’t heard the fan once unless I put my ear up to it, even while running DSP and higher sample rates.
@alcourtines4707 Жыл бұрын
I was waiting for you to answer the original question, because I have the same question. My older Mac mini used atoslink
@wildcat10655 жыл бұрын
I used to run a Mac laptop plus Audirvana direct into my dac via USB and it sounded dull and lacked dynamics. I had given up on computer audio until a friend put me onto what I now do. I now run an ethernet cable from my PC running Roon to a Sonore microrendu (plus linear power supply) and then connect via USB to my dac. The sound is now in another league.
@michaell24445 жыл бұрын
John why would you go through all that trouble to end up using USB still?
@wildcat10655 жыл бұрын
@@michaell2444 / Because the sound is in another leaugue. Check out the Hans Beekhuyzen channel and search for his review of the Sonore Microrendu. You don't need a streamer so very cost effective.
@michaell24445 жыл бұрын
John but can’t you run the micro rendu to your Dac using something else than USB?
@wildcat10655 жыл бұрын
Michael L / no, it's Ethernet in , USB out. Dac is USB in.
@donniewn4 жыл бұрын
can I run sonore with Audirvana?
@Ceko3 жыл бұрын
How do you switch it on and off without a screen? Just switch off the power supply?
@lgoler2 жыл бұрын
Adding a solid state drive is important if you’re going to run the MacMini as a Roon server. Makes it much faster, especially when updating the database which happens often.
@anderskongsvoll2243 Жыл бұрын
Thanks, that’s what I thought he was going to talk about👍
@luckyrocks14 жыл бұрын
Wow, A lot of great information! Thank you Paul 👍
@chriss8810003 жыл бұрын
Toslink can do more than 96. And yet i never met one single person out there who can tell the difference with any higher 😏
@derekdean75802 жыл бұрын
Wow, exactly the information I needed. Thanks for taking the time to post this!!! Happy Listening : )
@user-oh6ev7mj5q5 ай бұрын
Wow. I didnt understand anything he said. I just wanted to know where do I connect my speakers in the new macmini, since some people are mentioning that the new macmini doesnt have good audio quality like the older ones. Maybe Im the one who does not know what is high end audio. I just want good quality audio like im getting from my old (obsolete now) macmini (no DAC connected, just connected to headphone outlet) but not sure if a new macmini purchase would be a mistake in terms of audio.
@Gregor76775 жыл бұрын
My solution is a PC with JRiver 24 and a Yggdrasil DAC. I use a USB connection. I control it with an iPad using JRemote. Works great. I have 3100+ albums mostly FLAC files with some HD and mp3.
@atomicinv27 ай бұрын
Hello. Which ripping software for Windows do you use?
@dry509 Жыл бұрын
Hello. Not clear about your signal chain/connections. You have iPad, Mac mini, Qobuz, Audirvana, Screens, dac, amp-pre amp? , speakers? Where are the apps installed? iPad or Mac mini? How is iPad connected to Mac mini? What is ipad used for ? What is connected to what using usb? Confused. P,ease advise. Want to understand this. Also, if an app like Amazon Music Hd Ultra, is installed on an Apple TV or an Amazon Fire stick 4k and these are connected directly to a Yamaha Avr or to a Sony smart tv which is then connected to the avr via toslink (older Yamaha avr)…does the Apple TV or the fire stick 4k mess with sampling rate/frequencies etc like you say the Mac mini does?
@headfonic77505 жыл бұрын
You're a very helpful internet video; could not make it without ya!
@IronHorsey33 жыл бұрын
Audirvana 3.5 is great and I highly recommend it. Using some rebuilt tube mono blocks and a mac I find the sound to be best ever using Audirvana 3.5 and it's worth the one-month free trial. Disagree with Paul about toslink as it's DAC dependent. I use a modest but excellent Schiit Audio Modi 3 and for this model, the toslink is a superior sound over USB. I've tried USB and oversampling but it's not as clean. On other DACs that may differ but on the DAC I'm using, it's the toslink which produces better results. (I also have a metal weight atop the Modi 3 which is a crazy improvement tweak for that model.) Haven't used a mac mini in a while but I may do so again. I'm curious if the new Mac Mini with the M1 chip would see any improvement versus older models. The advantage of Audirvana is it bypasses the Mac OS Core Audio. So if you use Tidal or my preference as Paul's: Qobuz, you will hear the distinct audio improvement. It makes the Mac OS, mini or other choice far less important. Many are using Audirvana on Windows too. The application Paul references on the Mac OS is "Screen Sharing." It's built in with OS Mojave and Catalina. I'm not sure if older Mac OS use it but I believe earlier versions do. It works rather well so you can run a direct connection to your DAC/ audio system with a mac mini and control it using Audirvana on that mac or another one remotely. The Audirvana Remote app also allows you to control everything too, say from a iPhone or iPad. I've used those too. Very nice. Update: 2021 New DAC, RME ADI-2 and Paul is correct: go USB. The old Modi leaned toslink, but unique to it. No contest now with vast improved replacement. Audirvana went to Studio, sounds great.
@waribaa24522 жыл бұрын
Hi Roman Walter. Thank you for your rich display of audio experience. I want to add a Hi-RES streaming in my hi-fi system. my streamg platform wll be QoBuz. My worry is , Is it possible to control my Mac Mini from an Ipad ? so I can play music remotely ? thank you
@jayem18262 жыл бұрын
Have you tried the plugin by SonEQ? I love it with Audirvana
@bundles19785 жыл бұрын
I would love to hear Pauls take on Chord Electronics, and why the architecture in the Directstream would be a better choice. Genuinely interested as i am trying to decide between the Chord Dave, and the Directstream.
@BirdArvid5 жыл бұрын
What a lovely problem to have! Have you heard them yourself? At this level, it really is the best way to go
@hawaiiguykailua69283 жыл бұрын
Does anyone use VOX player? I heard it's an excellent free player that uses the bit rate of the song itself?
@keyjay_hr5 жыл бұрын
"Never use Toslink" > I use a $300 USB cable Well that's 8 minutes of my life i'll never get back, thanks grandpa
@accentontheoff3 жыл бұрын
Basic question here but do you connect the audio interface / dac to the Mac mini.
@eyx1125 жыл бұрын
Why the amount of ram should affect to the quality of the audio?
@FG-td4vs5 жыл бұрын
It doesn't
@hwccheng4 жыл бұрын
Not directly but yes it does ‘cause it makes your computer run faster by having more capacity to process the algorithms from different computer processes on the same computer simultaneously.
@donniewn4 жыл бұрын
Miguel Edo Goterris If you’re going to use a computer to play music you should probably have enough memory
@alirzabalc88345 жыл бұрын
Hi Paul, I'm from Turkey. I've been using Mac mini for 2 years and wonder which USB port should I use for audio? I got mid range setup and can easily hear the difference among the 4 ports. BTW I'm not using the other 3 ports since the interference affects the sound quality. Thanks in advance.
@zahitemremetin6065 жыл бұрын
Hocam Türkiye'den olduğunu belirtmene ne gerek vardı? Anlamadım
@alirzabalc88345 жыл бұрын
@@zahitemremetin606 Paul'la konuşurken insanlar böyle yazıyor diye yazmak istedim ben de :)
@jjhack3r2 жыл бұрын
@@alirzabalc8834 Hocam...
@cinqo74 жыл бұрын
Very helpful video! Thank you!
@julianwest40305 жыл бұрын
That's great Paul. The tablet interface is real cool, but a Mac Mini as the best value for money? No, build one. You can use a small form factor case with some kind of a low end Ryzen CPU, an SSD and large hard drive, it'll probably be much more affordable, especially in the long run as certain parts obsolesce. You could even make it a hackintosh, provided you don't have any qualms with violating Apple's terms of service.
@carholic-sz3qv5 жыл бұрын
i saw a fully spec mac mini for 5000€ who can be so stupid to buy such crappy things it doesnt even have integrated gpu wtf apple
@HiFiInsider5 жыл бұрын
Paul, macOS has screen sharing feature. You don't need a 3rd party app.
@vipingkumar5 жыл бұрын
u gotta buy an app inorder to share with a ipad.
@moonphaser33045 жыл бұрын
Roon server and a quality NAS drive is the best I’ve found, take the laptop out if you can.
@moonlight-kh6uz5 жыл бұрын
you mean Nucleus+? it costs 3 times more
@moonphaser33045 жыл бұрын
@@moonlight-kh6uz no Roon server is software, any NAS drive can be used as the hardware
@moonlight-kh6uz5 жыл бұрын
@@moonphaser3304 Nucleus is a specific server made for Roon as Roon requires a lot of processing power and low noise
@JohnTwo15 жыл бұрын
Toslink supports 192khz audio, its what I'm using atm.
@FooBar895 жыл бұрын
John Doe not if you don't change the defaults 😂
@JohnTwo15 жыл бұрын
@@FooBar89 well yeah defaults are for maximum compatibility.
@ikoplovitz8690 Жыл бұрын
Hi Paul I also use a MAC mini to stream audio from Amazon HD. You mentioned that you can't get greater that 44kHz from the USB port on the mini. I get 192kH output from my mini by using the Audio Midi setup in the Utilities folder. I connect via USB through an Earstudio HUD100 DAC into my amplifier. The DAC uses color lights to show the bitrate from 44.1 kHz to 352.8kHz. I can verify the bitrate of music I'm playing on Amazon for each song.
@dry509 Жыл бұрын
So I am trying to understand the connections and signal flow. Is Amazon HD installed on your mini? And you connected a dac to the mini via usb? And then how did you connect your dac to an amplifier? You said you are not using bit perfect or Audirvana? Do you have a keyboard and monitor connected to your mini? I do not understand how Paul hooked his system together btw? He has an IPad and a mini? I don’t get it.
@ikoplovitz8690 Жыл бұрын
@dry509 Yes, Amazon Music HD is installed on my mini. I use a USB A to C cable to connect the mini to my DAC. Then I use 3.5 mm to RCA female adapter cable to connect RCA cable to the amp. I have a keyboard, mouse, and monitor connected to the mini as well, so I can select the music I want to stream. The DAC has colored lights to indicate the bit depth/Hz, and for each song that plays Amazon can show the quality of the track, what my mini is playing at, and what the track is actually playing at. Amazon also shows the codec. I hope this clarifies things for you. Show quoted text
@dry509 Жыл бұрын
@@ikoplovitz8690 Thanks for your reply. Yes that helps. I mostly listen to jazz and classical. Would you know if Amazon music is good for that? I am listening via cd player attached via rca cables to older Yamaha avr. I can install Amazon music on Apple TV I have plugged into my tv which is connected to the avr via optical.
@marcosav54424 жыл бұрын
Why not Roon? It is GREAT!
@maesc20012 жыл бұрын
True; I experienced Windows 11 the other day and got around it pretty easy as a Mac user 😉
@avehein5 жыл бұрын
Actually that is a great mention. PS should match the Sprout to the shape of the Mini so they can be neatly stackable.
@brenmangood5 жыл бұрын
There are little mini racks you can buy that work very well for stacking out there. Other World Computing has several of them to include similar monitor stands. I will get one when I get my Mac Mini and put it on my TV stand shelf above my Sprout100. They will be separated but stacked. Also, the Sprout is already pretty similarly shaped.
@expressobike3 жыл бұрын
Thx Paul, I’ve been using mac mini (same version as your’s) for a couple of years now. Didnt know that USB sounds better. I ill try it with your application that you’ve mentioned.Question for you and I do hope you can answer this one. My streaming provider is Tidal and between songs there is always a clic with my DAC.... cannot find info on the forums for that one.. do you know anything about this? The only info I found is that important not the only one with this issue. It seams that a lot of DAC tend to do this. Its if they lost the track or stream between songs.. thank you in advance for your response. BTW I use XLR cables :)
@paulstubbs76785 жыл бұрын
Aaaah no, I'm listening to you via Toslink! (PC into a Marantz SR-14EX) My main reason for using Tolink is for ground isolation netween my noisy PC and the amp. I'm currently kind of stuck in 44.1 KHz 16bit land, as most of my source audio originated from CD's, if I ever get the money to up the quality of the reast of my system, then I may have to lose the Toslink.
@JohnTwo15 жыл бұрын
Toslink supports 24bit 192khz which is good enough for anything really.
@robmccance Жыл бұрын
Paul a little over his skiis here.
@nicolas.leger33 жыл бұрын
Do you need a monitor for the Mac Mini?
@slyfox7205 ай бұрын
How are u controlling the Mac mini .. do u have a monitor? I know dumb question
@brycejeannotte76992 жыл бұрын
Great video. Thanks for the pointer to BitPerfect and Audirvana for the Mac. I never liked the idea of the way a Mac resamples the audio. I have seen TosLink devices that will handle 192/24, but I still wouldn't use them as you are converting from copper to optical and then back from optical to copper for no reason. USB is simple. Qobuz is not available in my country, and Apple Music Lossless is difficult to work with. Currently I am streaming Apple Music Lossless from my iPad through USB to an external DAC. That works, but no remote control.
@Incountry5 жыл бұрын
Running full digital with high end components to have a Uber Clean sound then using a turntable with old recorded music that has lots of Snap Crackle & Pop within.!!! Audiophiles.!! I prefer a cleaner sound as majority of the last 2 decades of recorded music on CDs are Produced to DDD although many older recorded are DDA through its process, the total bandwidth threshold is much wider than download digital, albeit a good quality high end DAC can give a uncompressed sound but all of this is only noticeable on the type of speakers used and the processing unit within the media it’s played through... You can go crazy nuts just trying to figure what people are using...
@kiritrajayt5 жыл бұрын
Paul, I use mac mini as my music library with exact same set up as yours and love it. I am a Microsoft guy at work and a hard core Apple guy at home. I have 16gb of memory on my Mac mini. But 8gb RAM is fine too. I don't think more RAM improves sound quality. I checked the Curious Cable website and checked the price. If I get it with 90% off on the original price, I would call it cheap. :)
@auggysimcity5 жыл бұрын
Kirit Raja I think maxed out RAM and the fastest SSD will also Improve the SQ on files.
@dragonbud02 жыл бұрын
Ditto. Paul has a different budget from us
@markvalery86322 жыл бұрын
@@dragonbud0 I just watched his video, went to the curious website ready to get the usb cable and then saw the price. Does cheap, under $50, audio usb cable exist?
@pawlowski61323 ай бұрын
How does he use it without a keyboard and monitor and mouse
@MrSaggatriniboy5 жыл бұрын
Ohh yea he just opened a can of worms
@xiaobaozha5 жыл бұрын
Audirvana 3.5 just dropped 👍
@ferdinandgleinser26814 жыл бұрын
Funny thing that the guy who programmed the windows 7 audio interface said, if you play a flac at 100% Volume and your audio output is set to the same resolution as sour source file, the playback can come out bit perfect, as if you use Asio or whatever.
@mohamedtalaat34092 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much, that was very helpful
@RobertBorley3 жыл бұрын
Curious cable not that expensive? The cheaper ones are USD 350. Doesn't that pretty expensive for a USB cable? Great video though. Lots of good information here.
@tubefreeeasy6 ай бұрын
Try adding a high end power cable to your Mini Mac.
@ariefpoerniawan5 жыл бұрын
Hallo... i think it is interesting, i have mac mini and i don’t use it now cause i use my iMac.. so my question is, do u use monitor to pic song ? Cause when we use TV , i heard noise... so how ?
@donniewn4 жыл бұрын
Why would you use a Mac mini when you have a $6000 streamer/dac Paul?
@pashasnimaetproduction4 ай бұрын
screens or audirvana remote? 🤷🏼♂️
@miltoncrosbie55675 жыл бұрын
I'll take optical over usb any day. But, Paul, if you used a plastic optical cable, what do you expect? If you use a quality Optical 3.5 to Toslink glass cable, that is better than usb. And I don't care that you paid $400 for a 1m usb cable (I just searched Curious cable) Optical will pass 192/24 files. My chain: mac mini with JRiver mc24 > Borosilicate glass Optical > to Oasis Plus aptX HD transceiver > Amiron Wireless OR pass thru to Marantz sr6013/dac > hp out (DT1990) or to Parasound A21. The JRiver player passes bit perfect audio.
@baotran67893 жыл бұрын
Thanks Paul !
@alkerion755 жыл бұрын
Hey Paul. Thanks for the great video, as usual. I am too using a Mac Mini for hifi audio, with Audirvana, and an Audioquest Carbon USB cable. I have also an Audioquest Jitterbug plugged on the USB, to further prevent jitter or other electromagnetic noise. I did some tests (with and without), but I'm not sure either if i should keep the jitterbug On or not. The jitterbug doesn't have the same USB connectors quality as the USB Carbon. Audioquest themselves (I contacted them) are not sure about what's best. What do you think? Do you have a Jitterbug plugged on your Mac Mini?
@freddymcculloch68116 ай бұрын
Are running this headless? How much ram are you using? I just received the Audioquest carbon cable in the mail.
@TomlinsonHolman525835 жыл бұрын
Hi Paul, thanks for the video. What is your opinion on using VLC to listen to high-resolution music files routed to a DAC via USB on a Mac mini? That's primarily how I listen to music on mine. Also, is there a way to completely bypass the Mac mini's internal audio and volume control for a pure direct digital signal to a DAC via USB?
@tomvill5 жыл бұрын
Its quite simple. By going into the sound settings in system preferences. Make sure you select your audio interface for all audio and all of your audio will be sent directly to your interface. This is the same as setting VLC's audio output : Audio > Audio Devices > picking your interface as apposed to internal audio Effectively what you are doing is routing the digital signal to your DAC to then be converted to an Analogue signal . There is no difference in which usb cable you use, the only differences would be from anything on the analogue side after the DAC
@mustang37v65 жыл бұрын
What are those two black boxes next to the rack?
@namthai32073 жыл бұрын
Thanks for that video, Paul. I very much appreciate you taking the time to share your knowledge. I am now also using the Mac Mini with my PS Audio DAC. I hope to be able to upgrade to the DSD version, but need to save some money first ☺️ I have been using Qobuz for some time already, and it really is the best Streaming I know. Kind regards from Duesseldorf, Germany from Nam
@dv63632 жыл бұрын
Nice baby lullaby
@Beyondabsence5 жыл бұрын
Curious cables not expensive?? 300, 400?
@Mrbluesplayer433 жыл бұрын
Curiously expensive!
@jessielees3 жыл бұрын
its a con.
@christopherdarling955 жыл бұрын
Thank you Paul for your informative video. This answered some questions I had about set up and play back of digital music. Thank you!
@billwillard94105 жыл бұрын
Curious USB cable - $350 for .8 meter cable, $390 for 1 meter. Qobuz $24.95/month for high-res streaming. Audirvana HiFi mode $75.
@rikhav795 жыл бұрын
Am from India . My friend makes a USB cable which beats the curious fair and square . All his cables are absolutely hand made stuff All this at half the price of curious. We heard it extensively and he gave his cable to try it out to a curious owner and he too felt curious was beaten fair and square
@rikhav795 жыл бұрын
@WillieGreen let me speak to him and get back to you. I wish I could communicate with you via email, but I understand it won't be right to write email address in the comments section
@rikhav795 жыл бұрын
@WillieGreen you can read more about his cables on this thread The gentleman who created the thread is the one who owns the curious as well as a LUSH USB cable www.hifivision.com/threads/zen-and-the-art-of-cable-improvement.74551/
@rikhav795 жыл бұрын
@WillieGreen my first name is my ID on audiocircle. Can you PM me there if you are a member
@dnd63795 жыл бұрын
Why play music wirelessly with a high end system through apple products if they don't support aptx?
@lonelycake41144 жыл бұрын
DnD Because of airplay
@vaneast4115 жыл бұрын
Pure Music, from channel D, in "memory play" sounds really good through iTunes giving the listener the opportunity of hi res music playback. The song is loaded into ram before it plays,, less fatiguing listening👍
@alcourtines4707 Жыл бұрын
Cable going to a 5.1 Audio Gear card. My new Mac mini does not have an optical output. I’m told I need a USB sound card. I don’t know which ones to use????? I’m feeding inexpensive Logitech x-540 speakers. Could you please advise? Thank you very much, I’m l;ost in this new tech world.
@stringstorm5 жыл бұрын
$400 USB cable. Hah.
@Ozoingo25 жыл бұрын
Isn't usb a digital connection and therefore there is absolutely no difference between cheap and expensive cables anyway?
@Pyethorn5 жыл бұрын
@@Ozoingo2 many people will tell you so, but it actually makes a difference. On a really good system you can hear differences in quality between a lot of "digital" components and data, like internal vs. external harddrives and also USB cables. Blind tested it myself. Certainly not for everyone and every system however!
@emman12565 жыл бұрын
Went to wire care and made me the same cable for 30$
@FG-td4vs5 жыл бұрын
@@Pyethorn no you can't that is literally impossible for usb. It's a error correcting digital signal, it either works or it doesn't. The only quantifiable element is the source of the digital signal ie, the audio file itself.
@Pyethorn5 жыл бұрын
@@FG-td4vs It's not all about the pure data transport, which is error detecting, but also about noise in the cable etc. I'm a strong believer in science, and with "normal" HiFi headphones I can't tell a difference, but listening to a good silver usb cable vs a "normal" one brings a noticable improvement - on a true high end system! Listening in a purpose built room with thousands of hours of testing, tweaking and optimizing you absolutely hear every single detail, like noise in a cable, make a huge difference. I too have bin sceptical, and I wouldn't recommend anyone buying it, but there can be a difference without a doubt.
@Black0ysterPearl5 жыл бұрын
If I use a MacMini with a powered dac that has only hdmi or coax or toslink inputs, how do I get there? Is it true that USB is limited to 44/16? What component will I need?
@jayem18262 жыл бұрын
"I don't like winblows". Couldn't agree with you more. However win 7 was very MAC like
@juliaset7515 жыл бұрын
Paul, I wonder if you have tried the Lanrover on the Mac USB interface, and if it sounded any better.
@Black0ysterPearl5 жыл бұрын
If I use a MacMini with a powered dac that has only hdmi or coax or toslink inputs, how do I get there?
@Anatoly_Panchenko Жыл бұрын
Hello Paul, caln you tell how your mac connected exactly to the system, directly to DAC, or to streaming device?
@Dave-my2cp3 жыл бұрын
Great video! I immediately purchased bitperfect and will look at audirvana. However I use the audio out (aka headphone jack) on my Mac mini and this goes to the aux input on my amplifier. This does not seem to be mentioned. I think it sounds great but perhaps my ear is not very critical. Is the reason to use the toslink or usb in order to use an external dac?
@jordesign3 жыл бұрын
Correct. If you are using the headphone jack, you are using the Mac's cheap-o DAC..
@Damien-Lugnut2 жыл бұрын
I’m new to all high quality streaming I was wondering if I wound benifit if I used Audirvana on standard KZfaq would that be a substantial difference
@andrewsayers64902 жыл бұрын
Is streaming tidal via a Chromecast plugged to a good dac no good?
@user-oh6ev7mj5q5 ай бұрын
I dont understand 90% of what you said (youre very much technical and use words I dont understand) If I buy a macmini should I connect the speakers to the headphone jack? Thats what I do now. My speakers are connected to headphone jack without any DAC (I didnt know what a dac was until few months ago) since 2012. The sound is very good. But there are people (on the internet) saying that the new macmini has bad sound quality when connected to headphone outlet and that you should use the HDMI outlet, but speakers dont have a way to connect to any HDMI. They use headphone or RCA cables (not hdi, usb nor thunderbolt). I dont use any DAC, just my speakers dirctly to the headphone jack (to Macmini 2012) like I have been doing since my first computer (And it sounds very good). What I worry is that if I buy the new macmini the sound will not be good ( a 10 year newer mac with worse sound quality than the old) and I will have to purchase weird gadgets to get the sound I have now with no weird gadgets, DACs, etc attached. Sorry for my english and non technical knowledge. I hate itunes and just use VLC player with downloaded flac and mp3 files.
@rbnjr4 жыл бұрын
have you tried roon on the mac mini?
@johnbarleycorndoe5 жыл бұрын
by the way, bit perfect is working on dsd perfect as we speak, therefore, buy audirvana onl if you don.t have the issues i had with the app, and first, try to see if they have any kind of assistance working
@rotaks15 жыл бұрын
Roon and BluOS on iPad for me.
@gregw90452 жыл бұрын
What about Denafrips Pontus II with Mac Mini, would that be a good combination?
@HiFiFilos2 жыл бұрын
👍, saludos desde tierra azteca.
@MrJoep125 жыл бұрын
Hi Paul, did you try Qobuz on Audirvana and how did it sound?
@royledden51385 жыл бұрын
ITunes is the only playback software I’ve found offering me the ability to listen to music the way I prefer. I listen to my entire library of many thousands of songs each randomly, before repeating one, automatically. I also have variations on this based on genre and other parameters easily custom programmable. A Mac Mini runs it and Pure Music plays the files ( in Hog Mode” and “Integer Mode”). It sounds just wonderful to me.
@brenmangood5 жыл бұрын
Audirvana is rocking me right now!!!! Super fun pushing music all around my house to my DLNA/UPNP devices. The iPad Audirvana Controller app is very cool! If they also had an Android app available I would really be set. Time to re-rip my CDs to AIFF! I maybe need an additional iPad now, one for upstairs and downstairs. Do you get album artwork to show up in the app or anywhere outside of iTunes?
@deadandburied76263 жыл бұрын
Update for M chip Mac Mini please.
@kenberg2885 жыл бұрын
Paul. A few years ago when you published the how to for the mini, you mentioned that you had found a guru who did mods that were needed for best sound. What happened?