deaddog

I have both. When I put the Sonos and mini through same equipment I thought the mini sounded better but that is pretty subjective. But I do feel pretty strongly that the mini is much more "idiot proof" from a networking/setup viewpoint. Although Sonos prides itself on ease of use - and it is easy compared to other streaming systems I've used over the years - I still occasionally get network issue which were exacerbated using a NAS. Not show-stopping but annoying. The mac hooked directly (not streaming) into my system has never given me any issues. Also, I don't like controlling Sonos via iPad or iPhone. There is a delay while your iPad hooks to your wireless network before it can control the Sonos. If you can afford it, get a Sonos controller that works on the Sonos' own network. No lag. The old controllers (cr100) are on ebay for under $100 - the new ones are way cooler but cost >$300

Wonderful suggestions - thanks. How about some of the more traditional composers - bach, beethoven, vivaldi, mozart, stravinsky, chopin, Rakhmaninov, etc. Any particular recommendations for them?

Assume you have a guy who never really has listened to classical but is huge into rock and has a new, decent, CA setup. Which 6 downloads (composer/performer/download site) would you recommend, taking into account quality of performance, quality of recording, and quality of download? At least a couple should be pretty dramatic pieces to appeal to the rock guy. Fire away. Thanks

FWIW, I found (unfortunately for my pocketbook) that SQ on my Mac Mini to V-link to DAC was noticeably better than on my wired Sonos to DAC. Totally subjective non-blind testing.

Anybody have any opinion to offer on this? I will play with settings to see what I like but I'd really like to know the "technically proper" setup to use as my baseline - should mac mini audiomide be set to 44.1, or 88.2 or 96 when playing redbook ALAC rips from mini to v-link to bryston with bryston's upsampling turned on? thanks

FWIW, here is my recent experience. I picked up a pair of used Tyler Linbrook Signature - the floorstanders - from Ty. BTW, great guy to deal with and speakers look and sound brand new. I first ran them with my old NAD 2600/1700 and they sounded good. I then picked up a demo Bryston B100 integrated and they sound fantastic - the Bryston mates very well with them and the power seems more than sufficient. Plus, gotta love that Bryston 20 year warranty when buying used. I tried out a Rega DAC fed from Mac Mini via Music Fidelity v-link but didn't particularly like it - hard to describe but almost muted, not crisp. Replaced the Rega with a used Bryston BDA-1 DAC and it sounds incredible. My all-in costs for the two Bryston components was a bit above your budget but not by much.

I am playing ALAC ripped from redbook CD from my mini to a v-link to a bryston bda-1. The bryston has an upsampling function. Assuming I am using the bryston upsampling function, what setting should I have in the Audio Midi output of my Mini - 44.1 or 96? thanks

thanks guys - I have 4gb in my Air. I'll think about the touch but I like the bigger screen view

Initially, I apologize if this has been answered before - and a digression - is there an advanced search function here on CA that I can't find? It would be great and perhaps minimize instances in which I (or others) ask questions that have been asked before Anyway - based on great input I got from you guys I have set up my new system using a headless 2011 Mac Mini. To control the mini, I have used both the Remote App on my wife's iPad and the screen share function on my Macbook Air. I much prefer the Remote App on the iPad - it does all I need and its super responsive compared to screen share which is pretty sluggish. The question is whether there is anyway to use Remote App on the Air - or is there any other remote program that will work on the Air and be as responsive as Remote App on the ipad. I really don't want to buy an iPad solely to use as a (very expensive) remote and I can't keep stealing my wife's iPad!! Thanks

I'm building a dedicated music server with a new mac mini. My current music collection will fit easily on the 500GB internal hard drive. Is there any benefit to using an external HD instead of the internal? Seems a waste of 500GB but you never know. Will be running usb out to v-link to dac. Thansk

Thanks - that provides good info on reasons a 2010 may be better than a 2011. But I'm specifically looking for info on whether the SERVER operating system and the two HD's present any practical issues - do they make it harder to set up or operate as a music server? Do they somehow degrade the sound?

Sorry if this has been answered before but I couldn't find it after a bit of searching. I can get a 2010 Mini Server version (2.66 GHz CPU 8 GB RAM 1 TB (500GB x 2) with 1.5 years left on extended warranty for the same price as a new 2011 base Mini ( 2.3 cpu, 2gb ram, 500gb HD). Is there any reason that the 2010 Server won't work just as easily and well sonically as the new base mini? I'll be using the Remote App and running it USB out to a V-link. I know that I can add ram cheaply to the new one but I like the idea of 1 TB vs 500GB - I only have about 300GB today but the collection is growing. Please let me know your thoughts thanks

I'd appreciate any input on this question. I'm leaning towards the Bryston as I can update an outboard USB converter as the technology further develops. But that same focus on developing technology make me wonder whether the newer DAC portion of the W4s is a better choice than the couple year old Bryston DAC technology. Unfortunately I don't have the luxury of in-home testing/return, so welcome any comments/advice thanks

Continuing my DAC hunt, it looks like I can get a year old Bryston bda-1 + a Musical Fidelity V-Link (or even the new VLink II) for the same or a bit less than a new W4S DAC 2. With the Bryston 5 year transferrable warranty, its warranty coverage is still longer than the W4S. I like the Bryston build quality and it got great reviews. On the other hand, the W4S gets great reviews and its the latest and greatest. My system will be the DAC into a Bryston B100SST integrated amp into Tyler Linbrook speakers. Which would you select, and why? Thanks

Thanks, appreciate the prompt response - I did start with the cash list but none of them seemed to meet my criteria, same as the W4S. I really would prefer not to pay for the preamp/volume control - I'd either like to save the cash or pay the same and have an improved DAC section. But, perhaps nobody puts a remote on non-volume control DACs. Doesn't make sense to me as I will have at least three sources (CD transport, computer, and Sonos) and would love to be able to switch between them from the comfort of my chair.