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shenzi

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  1. The Apple TV is less flexible than the Mac Mini as a music server and is better for streaming online. If you have a local collection of music files, the Mini is the way to go. Don't get hung up about this or that music software - various tests online have shown iTunes to be bit perfect. Software is often down to ease of use - iTunes is a bit messy because it tries to do so much. For a pure music player, try Swinsain. If you don't want to use a large screen with the Mini, you could investigate one of those photo frame displays. I know someone who uses one with their music computer. A wireless keyboard is useful but if you have an iPad, you can control the Mac Mini with that. Regarding RAM and HDD, the basic amount to run the OS may be sufficient. Looking at activity monitor when mine is running a surround sound stream, the amount of processing required is minimal compared to running a heavyweight graphics program.
  2. I find jitter increases past 51-and-a-half. But that could just be me ...
  3. Given that it's supported elsewhere in the Apple range, I don't think it's lack on the MacBook is anything to do with future viability. It's all about making sure the professionals buy the MacBook Pro. It's their own fault for dropping the names Powerbook and iBook.
  4. Does Lizard King work there? His posts have a mono tone air to them.
  5. You could try the Jordan fullrange drivers at http://www.esotericaudiodevices.com They were used by 47 Labs in the Konus Essence speaker and are supposed to be a good match with 47 Labs amplifiers such as the Gaincard. http://www.sakurasystems.com/products/essence.html I use Jordan JX92s in a variety of home built cabinets and can thoroughly recommend. Using the Jordan 8 litre design, it shouldn't be very expensive to commission a pair of cabinets from a competent cabinet maker. I went this route a few years ago and ended up with a system at around 30% the cost of the commercial version. There are various reviews of the Essence on the web, for example http://6moons.com/audioreviews/47lab/shigaraki3.html I think 6moons.com did an interview with the designer where he mentioned something about toe-tapping ...
  6. I currently own Naim gear and have heard the AVIs. Going to the AVI after Naim may sound dry as it is more accurate. Naim can sound wonderful but some of that comes from the way they tune the system, so it's a little coloured. You would also need a substantial Naim system to match the dynamics of the AVI.
  7. The Camino browser on the Mac also blocks adverts and any unwanted animation. At least no one tried to sell an upgraded USB cable to filter out the ticking.
  8. The main distinction about blind testing is that it is designed to test differences, rather than preferences. It's trying to reduce the effects of personal bias, prejudice, preference and test if the difference can be perceived, rating the results statistically to separate them from chance. So a loudspeaker blind test would ideally involve a reference of some kind.
  9. One of the audio blogs which makes good reading is Sean Olive's, a researcher for Harman. Yesterday (April 9) he posted some comments and research on blind vs sighted listening tests. In this case it relates to loudspeakers but in view of some of the debates here, it may be of more general interest. http://seanolive.blogspot.com/ The comment from Gordon Holt was particularly striking and there's a link to his interview.
  10. Go higher than that and you'll probably need to buy a dog so someone in the house can hear the difference.
  11. It sounds like you are sorted then, with regard to power amps. If you're driving the speakers direct and they're 8 ohm units you won't need vast amounts of current. Regarding speed, I don't see where this comes from in amp terms (although I realise reviewers love the term). If an amp is underpowerd or bass heavy, it can sound slow as it can't make the sudden swings in dynamics. Other than that, I've heard components sound 'fast' because they have had a slight bass cut tuned in. Any decent power amp should be able to follow a square wave.
  12. On the other hand there have been at least three blind tests where wildly different amps (tube, solid state and mid-range receivers) have been tested. In one, the listeners all heard differences when they could see the amp being used. They were subsequently retested blind and couldn't pull out the differences. (This was a Stereo Review article.) So I'd be careful of believing the journalist concerned unless he/she had tried it blind. Expensive components always sound better when you know how much they cost ...
  13. I'm not sure the Titanium Macs had a Toslink output (the Aluminium ones have it via the headphone socket). My older 550MHz one certainly doesn't. You can check by going to menu bar and selecting Apple - About this Mac - More Info and selecting the audio info in the profiler. Otherwise it looks like you're stuck with an extra box between the PB and DAC. (Or get a USB or Firewire DAC). Incidentally, re back up drives - check the warranty. I've recently spotted that Seagate all seem to be 5 years but the WD vary between 2 and 5 depending on model and who they're aimed at (pro or home use).
  14. The main requirement of an amplifeir is low distortion and power output. Car audio amps should be good but may have some compromises dictated by size, the voltage they use, the market they're addressing. Try to hear a few good (which doesn't mean expensive) home power amps or a competent receiver of at least 80w per channel. More power = less clipping and will result in better dynamics (or speed, if you like). It is particularly important for orchestral music which can have a huge dynamic range. That's why so many low powered amp makers demo with light jazz and solo instruments - ask them to stick on a Neilson orchestral piece and they go a bit pale. Regarding image - something with a well rated PSU (so a bass transient in one channel doesn't clip the other) and good crosstalk spec will help. When I last went buying an amp, an early Rega model managed to make the music sound practically mono. And they let it out the design shop like that! Watch out for some of the 'tuned' amps, where a specific sound has been sought. They can sound attractive but the wider the range of music (especially classical) the more chance you turn up tracks which don't suit the tuning. Fortunately they are usually the overpriced makes. Have fun trying a few out.
  15. The Dac in the Mac isn't bad. Later Macs seem strangely reluctant to spill the beans but the Powerbook G4 had BurrBrown components.
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