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I've just bought a new Mac mini to use as a music server. I'm going to replace the HDD with a SDD but Apple have also made the job harder for me by including an internal noisy switch mode power supply

There are a number of rather pricey options like YFS or Mojo Music, does anyone know if there are any reasonably priced linear power supply options available locally?

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haha that was the one project I didn't really have time to complete. I think good low impedance quiet and stable power supplies would lift a PC. The solutions I've seen are quite dear and some of the circuitry might be suspect. Good luck

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Problem is you do get what you pay for. At least one fellow dropped his dedicated Teddy Pardo when his Paul Hynes arrived ( he runs the digital half of his DAC via USB power from his PH SR7 powered Mac mini and it was better than direct from the Pardo). Last time I visited he asked if I had any use for the TP. Given I run a dual rail Paul Hynes SR7 myself it was a bit academic, although I was going to check what my Rega P5 uses in the wall wart department.

Paul hynes units are very much at the top of the tree in performance terms. If not the very best it's gonna be close. Parts choice is a little on the gold plated side.

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I bought & installed this Clones when I also replaced the HD with an SSD -

http://www.clonesaudio.com/?f_checkoutResult=cancel#!product/prd1/667867321/mpsu

Gone up in price a bit ...

Works well, but this is likely to be all round much better, & dearer - UpTone JS-2 power supply - Alex Crespi is an enthusiastic contributor to Computer Audiophile, designed by John Swenson. US of A based.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wipdv0958v6qp4h/AABmSN9JJrEysRmtkF1RuIZpa

I'll pass on details if interested.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Can I suggest you move away from the mac mini PC solution which uses onboard DC conversion.... or essentially lots of SMPS!!!

Linear power will help, but you are still converting voltages on the main board. 

 

You are much better starting with an itx or MATX setup which doesn't use on board dc conversion. 

For less than the cost of the linear power supply you are looking at you could purchase/build an optimised ITX, powered music server, powered by a very stable (minimal ripple ATX silent seasonic PS or similar) 

 

I think you maybe surprised just how much better this actually does sound V's a small mac mini or nuc build. 

 

The next suggestion is to try windows 8.1 for your music listening. 

Without trying to start a debate on which OS is better (I am not interested in this), you owe it to yourself to try MQN player running on win8.1 . 

 

Borrow/Purchase a i3/i5/i7 PC capable of sse2/AVX/AX2 instructions... then install this - its free: 

http://mqnplayer.blogspot.com.au/

 

Development thread is found here: 

http://www.tirnahifi.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=2418&sid=9cabc7e32a91b0528474c8c0d7293e44&start=4820

 

I think you will find your jaw will drop, as you realise just how much better music can sound away from OSX... 

Again not trying to start a debate...... just worth a try. ;)

 

Good luck 

Edited by EVITCA
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I did a comparison of Mac Mini running Bootcamp and OSX - both OS running JRiver, and I can't say there was a big difference in sound. So I suspect the OS makes IMHO not as big a difference.

 

I did find an improvement with my quiet PC build - fanless PSU, fanless CPU heatsink but with one large chassis fan. 

 

But I suspect a linear PSU might make a difference too. 

 

Clay (PDX designer) is asking me to trial Daphile (a Linux based OS that's fully optimised for music and runs a SqueezeCenter Server based server) and he's using a really cheap Celeron NUC. That's my next project - it can use the same linear PSU from HD-Plex as well so the entire system is under 700 bucks.

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I did a comparison of Mac Mini running Bootcamp and OSX - both OS running JRiver, and I can't say there was a big difference in sound. So I suspect the OS makes IMHO not as big a difference.

 

I did find an improvement with my quiet PC build - fanless PSU, fanless CPU heatsink but with one large chassis fan. 

 

But I suspect a linear PSU might make a difference too. 

 

Clay (PDX designer) is asking me to trial Daphile (a Linux based OS that's fully optimised for music and runs a SqueezeCenter Server based server) and he's using a really cheap Celeron NUC. That's my next project - it can use the same linear PSU from HD-Plex as well so the entire system is under 700 bucks.

 

I find Linux based servers to sound quite gritty through the mid frequencies...

 

But in my experience, daphile/vortexbox etc can sound more dynamic v's windows. 

But you sacrifice midrange clarity - which is everything. 

 

Windows in my opinion tops linux, daphile, vortexbox and OSX. 

In particular MQN+WIN8.1 tops the lot. 

 

Each to their own.... 

 

Try MQN seriously... its as good as it gets. 

Its audio quality over convenience..... and its worth it... although your collection will need to be in wav format.. 

 

If DSD is your bag stay with jriver. 

 

If you are going for ultimate sound quality, you'll need (my suggestion):

 

Windows 8.1 or server 2012 (very similar) 

24 pin powered motherboard..... either by a good ripple minimised PS or separate linear power/batteries. 

MQN player

Optimised bios

linear power injection for your 5v sources such as USB to spdif converters, usb cards etc... 

An excellent musical DAC 

Switch off networking in your PC bios.... and store your music on the PC's drive

 

My advice...

Why start with a compromised PC platform? you already know your ATX setup sounds better than your mac mini? 

Seems a little weird to me you are prepared to spend good money on linear power, when benefits can be made just using a traditional ATX powered setup?!

 

Everything matters.... and everything is a compromise..... 

 

Cheers and good luck....

Edited by EVITCA
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I did a comparison of Mac Mini running Bootcamp and OSX - both OS running JRiver, and I can't say there was a big difference in sound. So I suspect the OS makes IMHO not as big a difference.

 

I did find an improvement with my quiet PC build - fanless PSU, fanless CPU heatsink but with one large chassis fan. 

 

But I suspect a linear PSU might make a difference too. 

 

Clay (PDX designer) is asking me to trial Daphile (a Linux based OS that's fully optimised for music and runs a SqueezeCenter Server based server) and he's using a really cheap Celeron NUC. That's my next project - it can use the same linear PSU from HD-Plex as well so the entire system is under 700 bucks.

 

Nuc's..... will provide the same DC conversion issue as the mac mini..... 

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I've found big differences with a linear PSU vs a switched mode PSU for many music server builds. 

 

So even tho the HTPC I have uses a fanless switched mode PSU, I suspect there are gains with a linear power upgrade. 

 

FWIW, I also tested Win8.1 Pro (hated it), Win7SP1 Pro and OS X on a Mac - I honestly didn't find a huge gap between the 3 running JRiver. So again, I'd suspect there isn't much in the OS. 

 

As for the Celeron NUC - at 7W, it would run comfortably without a need for active cooling - and Daphile is really optimised for music playback. It's not trying to reconfigure/setup Windows to run as a music server and it was pretty impressive playing next to an optimised linear PSU music server (running Win7) we had. 

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Cool 

Not disagreeing with linear power providing benefits. 

I have heard all the playback packages listed..

So I'll have to politely disagree with Daphile being in the same league as MQN... 

 

I think you are maybe missing my point re using windows.

MQN only works on windows! 

Its not difficult to try... You might find MQN is excellent too?! 

 

 

Also hearing differences between OS's, sources, etc will be highly dependent on the transparency of your hifi rig... and how good your ear is. 

So if you are happy that is all that matters... seriously. 

 

I'll leave it there. 

Edited by EVITCA
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The HD-Plex power supply looks interesting - the US$295 version especially - would that be useable with a mac mini?

(doggiehowser - i see you are on to it, so please let us know when you do.)

 

Clay I thought has built a powersupply for bhobba once - any change of commercialising that?

Edited by Jventer
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