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For a number of years I ran a late 2015 Mac Mini with a PI Audio power cord on it. Eventually I tired of the software speed, the slowness of booting, and Roon having issues recognizing the output.
The DAC I use is a Cen.Grand DSDeluxe 1.0. This unit converts to DSD, generates its own clock signal with precise clock mechanism, and is able to synch the data flow that buffering is not required and a steady data stream is maintained. It is a lovely unit, and sounds close to my turntables than any DAC I have used.
Earlier this week I bought a GMKtec Nuc mini computer to replace the Mac Mini. Uses an Intel Twin Lake N150 with 16 GB RAM and 1TB SSD. Music files on a 1TB Western Digital SSD. I installed it this morning with Roon and Qobuz.I am hard wired to the router.
What is interesting is the lower registers sound different than the Mini, at least noticeably so.
Which makes me wonder, how much does the computer have to do with sound? Before I would say its minimal if not at all. Now I am not so sure.
Which makes me wonder if a streamer would be appropriate. I believe I would still have to use the Nuc to store Roon, and stream Qobuz. I am not quite sure how the streamer improves things if the data still goes through the computer. Also, with the conversion that the DAC does and its reclocking, does it also negate any benefits of the streamer?
Just trying to find the best way to proceed with this DAC and get the best feed to it.
You can get a WiiM Pro for $149 from Amazon which has coax & optical output to a DAC. If you are using an external DAC, there is no reason to get a Pro Plus (which has a better built-in DAC than the Pro). I'm not a Roon user, but the Pro works as a Squeezelite player which I believe Roon servers can use. The Pro would also give you the option to use the WiiM app on your phone without using Roon.
I have the Wiim Ultra. Easiest device to use, use it with a MHDT DAC
I also have an Ultra in my main system, along with a Pro in a second system in a smaller room, a Pro Plus for one of my headphone setups, and a Mini in the office, mainly used for internet radio. The only non-Wiim player I have is a RPi running HifiBerry OS for a headphone system in another room.
Yes, if you get a streamer, you will still need a computer of some type for the Roon Server.
See here: https://roon.app/en/core
With a streamer you may not need a computer for Qobuz. I can access Qobuz directly with my WiiM Pro Plus streamer using the WiiM app on my phone.
Since you can hear a difference in sound quality between your Mac and your NUC you might want to get a WiiM or Bluesound streamer from a vendor that has a good return policy. Try it and if you like the results, keep it. If not send it back.
Both WiiM and Bluesound have products for less than $300.
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