USB decrapifiers....

[Stuart Polansky]

Other than increased cost or being overkill, is there something suboptimal with >2014 Mac Minis? My MacBook Pro is a late 2015 i7 with 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD. It is only used for music and has been optimized for this role. No issues running Roon except for the first version of Catalina but issues have been resolved with later updates. My little USB isolator is working well, system sounds very nice. I really dislike the idea of multiple boxes so might wait a bit to see how the network server/streamer product market matures over the next year or so.

You could get one big box and put all the little boxes inside. Kind of like a console.

Don't know if this helps, but the setup I've inherited uses four boxes; five if you count the smart phone controller:
NAS
Renderer (C.A.P.S. server set up by Charlie)
DAC
Linear power supply

I guess on-line streaming would require more boxes, or .....

Waiting for "swap day" with Grover!

[Pelliott321]

Speaking of Win10 which is really bloated with what I feel are a bunch of unnecessary apps. Them problem once you go through and remove them, they comeback at the next upgrade.

[Roscoe Primrose]

NUCs are cheap, work well, and smaller than Mac Minis

[Grover Gardner]

No, I don't think there's anything suboptimal about the older Mac Minis. I was sad to see the $499 base model go, but I guess they have to compete. My only argument with a laptop is the extra components, like the screen. But if the USB dongle works then don't worry about it. .

[TubeDriver]

I remember not even liking to have one more box when DACs first came out. More and more boxes, more cables, more connections.........

I guess I could get a DIY amp enclosure and stuff all those littles boxes in it. With the the wires coming out of the back, it would probably look like a home theater receiver.

Other than increased cost or being overkill, is there something suboptimal with >2014 Mac Minis? My MacBook Pro is a late 2015 i7 with 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD. It is only used for music and has been optimized for this role. No issues running Roon except for the first version of Catalina but issues have been resolved with later updates. My little USB isolator is working well, system sounds very nice. I really dislike the idea of multiple boxes so might wait a bit to see how the network server/streamer product market matures over the next year or so.

You could get one big box and put all the little boxes inside. Kind of like a console.

Don't know if this helps, but the setup I've inherited uses four boxes; five if you count the smart phone controller:
NAS
Renderer (C.A.P.S. server set up by Charlie)
DAC
Linear power supply

I guess on-line streaming would require more boxes, or .....

Waiting for "swap day" with Grover!

[TubeDriver]

My screen shuts off when music is playing. But as you said, perhaps the dongle will tide me over for a while.

No, I don't think there's anything suboptimal about the older Mac Minis. I was sad to see the $499 base model go, but I guess they have to compete. My only argument with a laptop is the extra components, like the screen. But if the USB dongle works then don't worry about it. .

[TubeDriver]

Yea, basically a nucleus, just a little cheaper?

NUCs are cheap, work well, and smaller than Mac Minis

[Grover Gardner]

Well, hell. I just dug out my Allo USBridge and connected it directly to the back of my Topping DX7s with a little Uptone USB A to B dongle (it's a little connector that eliminates the USB cable), and dang, it sounds pretty good. Smoother and more focused. I just ordered the Allo Shanti dual LPS for it. Dogonnit, I swore I wouldn't get back into this nonsense.

But PETE YOU DON'T WANT THIS even though the new signature version with case and Shanti LPS sell for $388 and with the DietPi option it acts as a Roon endpoint, because it's got a lot of wires and boxes and stuff.

[Jim G]

https://youtu.be/S-IkWpm7TS0

[Grover Gardner]

https://youtu.be/S-IkWpm7TS0

Perfect.