Mac Mini server

In an earlier post I detailed how to build a music server from a Mac Mini. It's now up on our How To Section of the website if you're interested. I was, at first, quite happy with the sound. That is until the new power amplifier and IRS V setup in Music Room One. The improved resolution of the system was such that I became unhappy with the straight Mac Mini sound. So, I sent it off to a modification service called YFS. Now it's back and sounding considerably better. Before modification I would have suggested the server sounded 70% as good as the PerfectWave Transport. Now, after modification, we're closer to 90%. Spitting distance. Here's what they did.

• Added a Solid State Drive (SSD) and put the Mac's operating system on that drive.
• Kept to 500GB hard drive with all my music
• Removed the internal power supply
• Added some proprietary filtering of the incoming DC power
• Added an external power supply

These changes made a heck of an improvement. If you'll recall, one of my requirements for the server is to be able to travel easily with it. The big boxy power supply they offer as part of their normal package was simply out of the question for me. I arm twisted a bit and got them to build a small, inline version that easily fits in my travel kit. I'll keep you up to date on the progress.