go to the Pearl Audio website.they are in Portland Oregon,and are a Aurender dealer.they have a whole article on why they went from the Mac Mini to the Aurender as a streamer/server in there store.its a interesting read.thats where I picked up my N100H a couple years ago.by the way I was using a Mac mini for a while that I put in 16 gigs of ram, other than that it was stock.its does not hold a candle to the Aurender,and the one I have is the least expensive in there line up.
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I use an iMac with tons of other software. It’s connected with a 5 m Atlas Element USB SC to the Stellar Gain Cell DAC. And it sounds fantastic.
I don’t hear any difference whatever APP I use additionally to iTunes with BitPerfect playing DSD 128 over DoP. Considering I had no DAC before I am very happy with that set up.
I am awaiting the Stellar Octave server/streamer, with I2S interface and might give it a try at a PS Audio dealer distributor in Europe (PS Audio offers no return policy here).
I highly recommend the new Mac mini - for computing, not audio. It’s very powerful and practical. I have two of them. There are cheaper and better options for music and Roon servers, which has been discussed elsewhere.
Even with one in my office, I still use a Bluesound. It’s just a brilliantly designed device and takes no space at all.
I’ve never heard a bad word about Aurender, they are meant to be fantastic, but slightly above my price range.
The Octave was promised by the end of October. I think it’s the end of October today.
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Did they say which year with the
?
I use my iMac as server via USB, coming from no decent DAC to the Stellar Gain Cell DAC it currently serves really well. I’ll await the Stellar Octave Server/Streamer with I2S output to accompany the Stellar Gain Cell DAC. As far as I know PS Audio just decided to develop an Octave Server for the Stellar range last month, so no rush, the iMac will serve me well till then.
I am reminded once again of the joke I heard many years ago at a video convention, after hearing the new product announcements from Sony. Someone said, "You know what SONY means, don’t you? “September or October of Next Year” ; )
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No problem, rather a well developed product than the consumer as a guinea pig.
Back on the original question, I’m using a 2014 Mini 2.6GHz I5 with 8GB, using it as a dedicated Roon output device, with OSX slimmed down, as Paul suggests. No need to pay for the latest fastest processor, because they are noisier, and the additional compute will sit idle anyway.
Attached to DS Sr. via the Matrix, it sounds as good as the Auralic Aries G1 that I had for a while, when playing Qobuz and Tidal High-res. (Actually it sounds better now, because of Windom)
BTW, if you are reluctant to buy instead of try the Matrix device, get it through Amazon, where you should get 30-day return privileges, although you probably won’t need to.
Thanks
That sort of combo is going for $400 on Craigslist. Add another ?$$ for Audirvana and I’m still under $500 altogether. As much as I lust after Inuous or Aurender or Auralic and await the PSAudio streamer…that’s quite a savings