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80MGB

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  1. Thanks TODDCA and everyone else. Just ordered a Pioneer BDP-80FD, and look forward to ripping my SACD collection. Backups, especially for a "dead" media format are essential. I'm fortunate too, that my son's a Computer Science major and is very happy to set this up, which means it will happen in about half the time it would take me.
  2. Borderdog, Your suggestion articulates the setup I have, and that tip really helped me understand how I was able to induce that handshake. Eloise, That Gefen gadget looks very cool, and is on my shopping list. It definitely will fix the problem, based on its description. This aspect of HDMI is a pain, that's for sure.
  3. Jon, Thanks, that's very helpful. I wish there were a way to generate the handshake from the Mac Mini remotely, especially when I've got to turn the TV and audio gear off for just an hour or two, and would rather not have to turn on and boot up the Mac Mini.
  4. Hi Guys, Chris, this is an excellent site that has helped me greatly in the almost 2 years since I've moved to a real audiophile system. I have a Mac Mini using iTunes that runs through a Benchmark DAC1 USB to a McIntosh MX136 pre/pro with McIntosh MC501 power amps, and sounds magnificent on my B&W 802D speakers (the stereo part of my 5.1 setup). Besides running iTunes for music, I also use the Mac Mini a lot for web surfing and photo apps/slideshows/etc. My problem is as follows: The video signal from the Mac Mini was via a DVI to S-video converter cable to the McIntosh MX136 and then on to the Samsung plasma TV, via component cable. My remote control, a Logitech 1000, controls everything, powering up the TV and audio components, and shutting everything but the Mac Mini down when done. I don't believe the remote can actually shut down the Mac Mini, which is fine, thus allowing me to start playing music right after the MX136 cycles up. I recently upgraded to a DVI-to-HDMI cable from the Mac Mini to the MX136, and HDMI from the MX136 to the TV. Much better picture! Now when I power up the system with the Mac Mini as the source, there is no video signal to the TV. I either have to shut down the Mac Mini via its on/off switch, or press it a couple times to apparently send a 'handshake' signal to the MX136. I use the term 'handshake' loosely, but it does seem as if there's a signal the video source unit (Mac Mini) needs to send to the MX136 to get it to display. The other video sources (DVD, BluRay, & cable box) all work fine, with the big difference being they power up with the rest of the non-computer AV components. Pressing the Mac Mini on/off switch isn't a huge pain, but I would rather not go through that step. Does anyone have any thoughts on how to prevent that and prompt the Mac Mini to send a handshake signal (if that's what's lacking) to the MX136 through the remote? I'm not sure the remote could be programmed to do something like that, but I'd be open to having my iPod Touch programmed to send the signal as well. Any thoughts or suggestions would be quite welcome. Thanks, 80MGB
  5. 80MGB

    Mac Mini

    Hi Organix, I've had a Mac-Mini/iTunes based system since last summer, based on Chris' articles as well, and it's been my #1 source for music in my system. It's well worth the money considering the quality & flexibility it's brought to our listening. I run mine through a Yammie (RXV3800) receiver as well (via a Benchmark USB DAC1), and it's really a pleasure to listen, either as background or more serious listening.
  6. DJ, what is your impression of the new Mac Mini? I've got an 'old' (8 months) one utilizing an external Western Digital drive. Thanks
  7. I use a Mac Mini with an external hard drive, primarily for music, but have the versatility to use it as a video source, and certainly surf the web quite a bit with it too. It has 2GB of RAM, which I bought with the unit. I believe the 2nd GB has improved the performance, although i don't have a reference point since buying the 2nd GB was a lot cheaper doing it at the time of buying the Mac Mini. While the new Mac Mini is intriguing and has advantages, having just bought my current one 8 months ago makes it real hard to justify buying a replacement. Maybe someone can correct me, but the ATV seems a bit limited if you've got a larger library and are using at least Apple Lossless quality format. Having the external HD makes all the difference in my case. Someday, I'll get all my photos loaded and have slideshows on the plasma TV at the same time.
  8. Last year I just spent a small fortune on McIntosh amps and B&W 800D-series speakers, as well as $ on connects, cabinet, etc. I bought a Mac Mini as my server and set it up with a 2TB Western Digital external drive that's connected to my receiver (yes, a receiver until McIntosh comes out with the just-announced MX150 pre/pro) via a Benchmark DAC1. I use the server for video as well as audio, so have a lot of future flexibility. A big part of my decision was based on what you mention - the modularity of the system. A McIntosh MS750 music server would be very cool, but it's expensive and I don't think I'm missing a whole lot without it by taking the less-expensive and more flexible (in terms of future upgrades) route. With the lossless files, I'm extremely happy with having iTunes, even if there are some (a very few) slicker packages out there (Sooloos is very cool, as probably the penultimate example). It's been up and running for 5-6 months, and I've no complaints. If you look at the McIntosh forum on Audiokarma.org, there's a recent thread about Sonos & McIntosh. A lot of the guys are happy with that combination, and that's coming from a fairly rough crowd ;>).
  9. Chris,<br /> I recently upgraded most of my audio system to 3 McIntosh 501s across the front, B&W 802D & 803D speakers front & rear, and HTM2D for the front center. Running it currently off a Yamaha receiver until I upgrade to a McIntosh pre/pro. Sounds great with vinyl and I of course have the plasma TV to watch movies.<br /> <br /> What I lacked was a music server, and had toyed with many ideas. Your piece here, along with the introduction of iTouch remote, inspired me to get the mac mini, and I've connected it with the Benchmark DAC1 USB. I'm using the WD 2TB mirrored drive, and while it's not silent, having it behind the cabinet takes care of the noise. I re-ripped my whole CD collection on iTunes because many were ripped at the poor-sounding bit rate years ago, and my classical music was a mess because of Gracenote's somewhat poor tagging of CDs (not all of it is Gracenote's fault - it appears many classical CDs have been repackaged, especially looking at multi-disc compilations). This setup has been great, and I've got the flexibility to load up our home movies and photos to show on the screen as well as the terrific music. The mac mini solution needs some kind of monitor, at least once in a while. Since my system is A/V, the plasma TV really is a multi-tasking workhorse. I've seen the Sooloos system demonstrated (with a McIntosh 252 amp paired with Wilson Audio Duette speakers - wow!), and have been exposed to the McIntosh MS750. Both those solutions are excellent, but out of my budget. For me, the mac mini solution is a great deal (when I bought the machine at the Apple Store, I upgraded the RAM to 2GB for $100 installed, which seemed to be the wise thing to do, especially if I did it after the initial purchase it would have been $300) with the flexibility to double as a multi-media server.<br /> <br /> Thanks for the how-to, it really laid out things very well and is an all-round great deal to most any system. Keep it up! Now back to the music.
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