StrawberryNatto

Jump Desktop looks like UI and easy. But I'm wondering, it basically allows for screensharing your mac min, but does it work on the iPhone or iPad with the same ease? Will it also let you control you iTunes library?

Is there a hands down "best" VNC to use or program to be able to deal with Amarra + iTunes? Apple Remote seems fine, but you ned a VNC to turn select Amarra first and then iTunes will open. And if you don't want the Mini running 24/7 to holding down the power button on the back to power down, again, you need the VNC to power of properly. I've looked at a list of free and paid VNC's and Apple Remote (free), but not sure if there are any which are highly respected by those with headless mac mini servers. Also are those hdmi doggly plugs necessary I've been reading more about? Something about tricking the GPU into thinking a monitor is connected? Thanks all...

My plan with headless server was to power on the mac mini with the physical button on the back of the unit. Use the VNC program to open Amarra which is linked in its preferences to open iTunes automatically. Then switch to the Apple Remote App to control songs. And only back to the VNC in order to close iTunes and power down the mac mini. My blueooth is off, and well as all the other features Amarra suggested turning/keeping off. But wifi I left on for some reason I believe I need it for the Apple Remote App to find the iTunes library, but like you, I'Ve noticed no sound difference. Thank you for sharin, Pooger.

[h=2]VNC Maybe...[/h] Some basic background: I'm running a late 2012 headless Mac Mini with 2 internal SSD's (1 boot/1 music library) with a MPSU, a pair of Clones Audio mono amps and a pre, and CI Audio Transient MK !!DAC and an PSU MK II. Have KEF LS 50 speakers and all appropriate cables, usb cables, interconnects, and power cables - all set up. I bough a Mac monitor, keyboard and mouse for the set up and run thru and have screen save selected on the Mini. It works flawlessly with other MacBook Pro in my house allowing me to properly shut down the Mini, which was a big concern to me rather than leaving in running or holding down the power burton. My Question: My wife will have a bonafide fit if I keep hogging her MacBook Pro every time I want to operate my hi-hi system. So I Was thinking about the iPhone/iPad Remote App which is clean and works flawlessly (i think). but my concern is I use Amarra, too. But my Amarra Preferences are set so that when i launch iTunes, Amarra launches, too. 1) Will using Remote still allow Amarra to launch or is this a no go? 2) Are there any better players than Remote (free or paid)? Also, I need an effective way to turn the Mini off because I don't need or want leave it running for days and I don' feel that holding down the power button with 2 SSD's is the best for the system. The local Apple Store suggested VNC View probably because one of them know of it and it's free. This screen sharer will work on iPhone or iPad and it will allow me to turn off the Mini properly. But I'm wondering... 1) Are there are drawbacks to this from an audio perspective? 2) Are there any better ones out there either free or paid (whether features, interface, or other things I haven't figured into)? Thank you all who can show some knowledge to this.

Some basic background: I'm running a late 2012 headless Mac Mini with 2 internal SSD's (1 boot/1 music library) with a MPSU, a pair of Clones Audio mono amps and a pre, and CI Audio Transient MK !! DAC and an PSU MK II. Have KEF LS 50 speakers and all appropriate cables, usb cables, interconnects, and power cables - all set up. I bough a Mac monitor, keyboard and mouse for the set up and run thru and have screen save selected on the Mini. It works flawlessly with other MacBook Pro in my house allowing me to properly shut down the Mini, which was a big concern to me rather than leaving in running or holding down the power burton. My Question: My wife will have a bonafide fit if I keep hogging her MacBook Pro every time I want to operate my hi-hi system. So I Was thinking about the iPhone/iPad Remote App which is clean and works flawlessly (i think). but my concern is I use Amarra, too. But my Amarra Preferences are set so that when i launch iTunes, Amarra launches, too. 1) Will using Remote still allow Amarra to launch or is this a no go? 2) Are there any better players than Remote (free or paid)? Also, I need an effective way to turn the Mini off because I don't need or want leave it running for days and I don' feel that holding down the power button with 2 SSD's is the best for the system. The local Apple Store suggested VNC View probably because one of them know of it and it's free. This screen sharer will work on iPhone or iPad and it will allow me to turn off the Mini properly. But I'm wondering... 1) Are there are drawbacks to this from an audio perspective? 2) Are there are better ones out there either free or paid (whether features, interface, or other things I haven't figured into)? Thank you all who can show some knowledge to this.

How big of an SD Card are you using to hold OS X? Will this method work with Mavericks? Is it as straight forward as formatting and installing OS X on a flash drive or HDD, SSD? Any special hurdles having the boot drive on an SD Card?

I'm at my wits end with PSUs. I have a PSU for my Mac Mini. I have a PSU for my CI Audio Transient MKII. I don't want another PSU for as long as I live, ha ha. I think oftentimes people are willing to go they 100 steps just to get what might amount to a 1-2% gain in performance. If that works for them, by all means, do it. But in my case, I just want the best but also easiest option and be done with it. I can't do an internal plus external SSD. The cost of small internal is nothing, but I need 1tb for an external and then you'd need an enclosure for it. If Thunderbolt, that leaves a Pegasus or Drobo, and then you're looking at almost $1000 for drive + enclosure. So I either need to go 1 big internal SSD as boot and library, or 1 small SSD boot and HDD external, or just 100% HDD internal and external.

I know that this sort of thing is a matter of end users own ears. I was reading the Amarra website's music server building details, and there's nothing totally off the wall in it's instructions - 4gb of RAM (or more), a small SSD for boot, an SSD for external library. But if the possible noise of a drive is eliminated by going with an SSD, then I'd just wonder why not just get the largest SSD you can and just have 1 drive - thus eliminating the need for an external drive which then contends with either a poor quality USB/FireWire/Thunderbolt stock cable (for all those who do care about cables) and a crappy generic power cable/brick - or a bus powered drive which people could jump on that bandwagon of the computer provided "poor" power quality to the unit. I would think you'd want as few links in the chain as possible, and certainly having just 1 ssd would suffice?

Have a new Mac Mini to use as headless server. I'm wondering between putting in a single 1tb ssd (boot & music library) vs. having a small ssd (boot) with an external hdd for music library. There is no issue with back-ups - it's taken care of. And while I'm not on a budget per se, I'm not gonna dump hundreds or a thousand dollars just because Amarra says this or that are the ONLY way to go. I was initially gonna go with a small ssd boot drive and a thunderbolt g-drive external for music. But then started thinking I could invest the same cost of the g-drive + smaller ssd boot and just get one single larger ssd. Any problem with this from a performance side?

I think the less who know what natto is, the more happier people we'll have in the world. Oh god, I can't stomach the stuff (yea, I'm in Japan).

Yea, most of the time I've seen it, it is with bigger block mono amps. But I have seen some examples where it was the whole system on 3-4 platforms (spiked/footered) - monos, pre, dac, mac, etc. Would there be any potentially equipment/sound damaging effect for this style placement? I would guess someone might say something about static electricity or something with the cabling, etc?

It seems the large majority of hi-fi system owners keep their gear on some form of stand/rack. But occasionally, I'll come across a review or photos which shows an owners components placed on an iso-platform on the ground. I'm curious to know if there's any benefit to this almost ground placement or if it's merely an aesthetic appeal.

Two questions that I'm in need of answers on...hoping someone might be able to help. I just go a pair of KEF LS50 speakers and a pair of Custom Design FS 104 Signature stands. Also, I filled the main central column, along with the 4 satellite columns, so they are very heavy and stable. 1) The speaker stands are spiked at the bottom and I have a set of footers for them. But is there a general consensus on what people do for putting the speakers on the stands? Spikes, cones, footers, or just the generic rubber pads which came with the speakers? 2) I live in Japan, where it's common to have anything from small quakes to mediums one on a daily, weekly or monthly basis - not to mention the big ones, as everyone can recall from 3/11. So, kinda in combination with my above question - we have a gel-like product which comes pre-formed or can cut into shape. Essentially, it's earthquake pads to adhere stuff from falling over and resist shock. But I'm wondering at what point(s) this contact should be made. From the top down, if putting speakers directly on the stand top, putting the earthquake gels there would tie the speakers to the stands. But with them sitting on spikes at the bottom, not sure what help it would do. And/Or can earthquake gel the bottom of the footers, but again, not sure how that would help with spikes. Any ideas?

Currently: 2 monoblocks / 1 preamp / 1 Mac Mini (with 1 SSD boot) + PSU Considering: A) CI Audio Transient MK II DAC + VDC-5 MK II PSU / Internal HDD for Mac Mini music library (2nd drive) -OR- B) Wyred4Sound DAC2 / External HDD (USB3 and/or Thunderbolt) Questions: 1) If I go with CHOICE B (and adding an external HDD for my music library), do I get bus powered or one that's wall powered? 2) Regardless of bus or wall powered, would it be necessary/important/etc to then get another audiophile quality usb cable for the external hdd-to-mac mini connection, or is this overkill, even from an audiophile perspective? 3) If wall powered, does that crappy dc cable become a weak link in the system, or not? 4) Would thunderbolt be a better choice over USB (sound-wise)? 5) Would there be any reason for sound difference between bus/wall powered? Appreciate the help. Feeling a bit stuck on it as I know cables are always the weakest point in any system.

When using a Mac Mini as a headless server, is there any real work benefit to using 1 drive vs 2 drives? Initially I was thinking of a 120gb ssd for the boot and a 500gb ssd for music. The boot will allow for the computer to get up and running fast, but not sure it'll do much for the music end. I know no moving parts vs moving parts, but I promise you I won't be connecting gear to measure vibrations, so as such, I'm doubtful I'd hear any difference. Then I was thinking ssd boot, but 1-2tb hdd for music. But now I'm simply wondering if there's any reason For not just keeping everything on 1 drive. What would be the argument for having a boot and a music hdd? If it's just something such as hard drive failure or backups, please let me know. If it's done technical music audiophile thing, I'm equally interested. Thanks!!!