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Computer Audio Asylum Music servers and other computer based digital audio technologies. |
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Computer Audio Asylum Music servers and other computer based digital audio technologies. |
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In Reply to: RE: The devil is in the details posted by HiFiOd on December 6, 2024 at 11:39:52:
Your questions are a bit complex depending on what you want to accomplish and at what price.
For Amarra + iTunes (I assume they work together) you'll need to know WHICH Amarra product(s) you are using and if they work on the new Macs that use Apple's own CPU. These newer Macs were introduced in 2020 with the Apple M1 CPU. Older Macs used Intel CPUs. The Amarra website is an ancient looking mess and their product mix appears disjointed and confusing to me as I couldn't easily find what works with what (often called System Requirements). My Google search says various Amarra software are compatible on the newer Macs but not Amarra SQ+, whatever that is.
Blusound Node is popular, reasonably priced, and works with the free BluOS smartphone App to control it. It has it's own built-in DAC but can be connected to a higher quality outboard DAC like your Chord. You can attach an external disk to it containing your music files and you can stream various services like Qobuz, Tidal, Spotify, etc.
If you plan to use Roon you'll need a computer or their Nucleus to run it. You will additionally need to pay $14.99/mo for Roon. Their entry Nucleus One is a nice turnkey setup at $499 but that's without a disk. You can install one or attach one externally. You manage Nucleus from another computer through a web browser. Nucleus requires a wired Ethernet network connection and does not work over Wifi. You can also run Roon on an entry Mac Mini M4 16GB RAM / 256GB (or larger) starting at $599 MSRP. My preference is the Mac Mini but that's just me.
"Is a streamer a better option than a mac mini if I use my (Chord Hugo) DAC?"
Not necessarily. "It depends". The Mac Mini can be a music server with its own internal storage for music files, or external USB storage for music files. It can act as a NAS so streamers can access the music files that reside on it. And the Mini can also act as a network streamer with no music files residing on it.
"What is the advantage of a NAS versus just streaming from apple music library?"
For practical purposes, none. For impractical purposes it does add another level of complexity in that you'll have yet another piece of equipment to manage. Some claim that it's "quieter" to have the NAS in a different room. I would argue that the Mac Mini is so quiet you're not going to hear it unless you put your ear right up to it.
"Full disclosure not much of an interest in DSD, only use I tunes to Amarra right now."
As I see it your choices might include:
- New Mac Mini and same setup as you presently have assuming your Amarra software runs on newer non-Intel Macs.
- Bluesound Node to explore something different.
- Roon + Mac Mini or Nucleus One both about the same price. Pay $14.99/mo to use Roon software.
Roon is an additional feature rich luxury IMHO as it is not needed if you use other music server software and/or streaming Apps from Qobuz, Tidal, Spotify, Apple, etc. but IMHO Roon is the most powerful music management and exploration software to ever hit the market.
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- RE: The devil is in the details - AbeCollins 16:09:45 12/06/24 (0)
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