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In Reply to: just starting - mac vs. windows for music? posted by mitch2 on April 13, 2013 at 10:19:32:
Just finished several months of experimenting. A friend and I both became interested in computer based playback. I chose a windows laptop with esata connected external hard drive and JRiver. He chose a Mac laptop with external drive and Pure Music. We tried USB direct to DAC and converters. We listened to ifi iDAC, Meridian Explorer, Halide DAC HD, Bel Canto, and 3 different Audio Note DACs. I know we barely scratched the DAC surface.
Listened to the Musical Fidelity V Link (24/96 version) and John Kenny's MK3 JKSPDIF. The V Link is an improvement over straight USB but the MK3 is better.
The Audio Note DACs were all better and each model better as we moved up the line, an older kit version of the 1.0, a current 1.1x Signature and a current 2.1x Signature. The 1.1x Sig is very nice. The 2.1x is a significant upgrade.
We tried all DACs and connections in both systems. Did not notice a difference between MAC and PC..except the MAC costs twice a much.
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Follow Ups Full ThreadTopic - just starting - mac vs. windows for music? - mitch2 10:19:32 04/13/13 (130)
- RE: I would rather purchase a robust and quiet server - kenzo 08:54:35 04/20/13 (0)
- RE: just starting - mac vs. windows for music? - mitch2 10:37:31 04/15/13 (1)
- RE: just starting - mac vs. windows for music? - Bob_C 14:50:57 04/15/13 (0)
- Use Windoze... - rlw 11:55:09 04/14/13 (43)
- How is this helping Mitch? - JeffH 05:12:37 04/15/13 (1)
- What he says it true though ~ - Feanor 05:50:05 04/15/13 (0)
- RE: Use Windoze... - rlw 11:59:47 04/14/13 (40)
- RE: Use Windoze... - AbeCollins 12:31:34 04/14/13 (39)
- The Mini Mac is nice but you can get a comparable PC for ($400 - Feanor 13:12:23 04/14/13 (38)
- Way off the mark.... Not even close - AbeCollins 15:21:24 04/14/13 (25)
- RE: Way off the mark.... Not even close - ahendler 20:33:37 04/14/13 (0)
- You got me on a few points, BUT ... - Feanor 16:26:07 04/14/13 (2)
- RE: You got me on a few points, BUT ... - AbeCollins 21:02:51 04/14/13 (1)
- I'd love a MAC but on my budget a PC must do - Feanor 05:45:50 04/15/13 (0)
- The Mac Mini looks very nice... - rlw 15:26:24 04/14/13 (20)
- RE: The Mac Mini looks very nice... - Beetlemania 15:42:40 04/14/13 (8)
- RE: The Mac Mini looks very nice... - AbeCollins 21:13:46 04/14/13 (7)
- eBay *buyers* are out their minds. - Beetlemania 21:16:17 04/14/13 (6)
- RE: eBay *buyers* are out their minds. - Bob_C 17:51:27 04/15/13 (0)
- RE: eBay *buyers* are out their minds. - AbeCollins 21:50:54 04/14/13 (4)
- RE: eBay *buyers* are out their minds. - Bob_C 17:54:15 04/15/13 (3)
- RE: eBay *buyers* are out their minds. - AbeCollins 19:18:42 04/15/13 (2)
- RE: eBay *buyers* are out their minds. - Bob_C 19:24:02 04/15/13 (1)
- RE: eBay *buyers* are out their minds. - AbeCollins 19:34:34 04/15/13 (0)
- RE: The Mac Mini looks very nice... - AbeCollins 15:41:12 04/14/13 (10)
- RE: The Mac Mini looks very nice... - Thorsten 22:53:57 04/14/13 (9)
- RE: The Mac Mini looks very nice... - AbeCollins 09:18:08 04/15/13 (0)
- RE: The Mac Mini looks very nice... - Mercman 06:38:20 04/15/13 (6)
- RE: The Mac Mini looks very nice... - Thorsten 07:54:10 04/15/13 (5)
- RE: The Mac Mini looks very nice... - Mercman 07:56:53 04/15/13 (4)
- RE: The Mac Mini looks very nice... - AbeCollins 09:05:12 04/15/13 (3)
- RE: The Mac Mini looks very nice... - Tony Lauck 13:57:52 04/15/13 (2)
- RE: The Mac Mini looks very nice... - Bob_C 18:14:35 04/15/13 (1)
- RE: The Mac Mini looks very nice... - AbeCollins 19:14:55 04/15/13 (0)
- Oh - fmak 02:45:35 04/15/13 (0)
- The link you provided... - rlw 13:33:09 04/14/13 (11)
- Why is size important to you? - Feanor 16:55:35 04/14/13 (10)
- RE: Why is size important to you? - AbeCollins 09:20:37 04/15/13 (9)
- What is important to you? - Old Listener 10:18:17 04/15/13 (6)
- RE: What is important to you? - AbeCollins 10:32:33 04/15/13 (5)
- RE: What is important to you? - rrob 14:33:23 04/15/13 (0)
- "Anything close...even a larger desktop"? I'd say this was better than close. - Feanor 13:08:34 04/15/13 (3)
- RE: "Anything close...even a larger desktop"? I'd say this was better than close. - AbeCollins 19:27:35 04/15/13 (2)
- I guess it depends what feature you want - Feanor 06:25:34 04/16/13 (1)
- RE: I guess it depends what feature you want - AbeCollins 09:04:49 04/16/13 (0)
- Sorry, I thought to object was to find low-cost music playing computers - Feanor 10:02:07 04/15/13 (1)
- I was aiming for comparible low cost music servers - AbeCollins 10:25:36 04/15/13 (0)
- RE: just starting - mac vs. windows for music? - Bob_C 22:59:41 04/13/13 (6)
- RE: just starting - mac vs. windows for music? - mitch2 09:06:53 04/14/13 (5)
- RE: just starting - mac vs. windows for music? - Thorsten 22:53:52 04/14/13 (4)
- RE: just starting - mac vs. windows for music? - fmak 10:57:24 04/15/13 (3)
- RE: just starting - mac vs. windows for music? - Thorsten 11:02:16 04/15/13 (2)
- RE: just starting - mac vs. windows for music? - AbeCollins 19:07:55 04/15/13 (1)
- RE: just starting - mac vs. windows for music? - Bob_C 19:22:15 04/15/13 (0)
- RE: just starting - mac vs. windows for music? - Thorsten 22:37:47 04/13/13 (2)
- My opinion - It's the DAC - rrob 04/13/1318:17:39 04/13/13 (2)
- By George... - JeffH 20:02:23 04/13/13 (1)
- RE: By George... - rrob 03:18:05 04/14/13 (0)
- RE: just starting - mac vs. windows for music? - MRMB 16:31:46 04/13/13 (2)
- Nice! - JeffH 20:11:34 04/13/13 (0)
- RE: just starting - mac vs. windows for music? - Mercman 16:55:06 04/13/13 (0)
- RE: just starting - mac vs. windows for music? - Triodeuser 14:39:52 04/13/13 (0)
- Whatever you do, - fmak 13:26:16 04/13/13 (22)
- I wouldn't do any of that - JeffH 13:30:41 04/13/13 (21)
- That really depends on how content one is.... - carcass93 14:54:44 04/14/13 (2)
- contentment - fmak 08:12:01 04/16/13 (1)
- You're welcome. Cowon is really as close to "portable player for audiophiles" as it gets. - carcass93 09:15:27 04/16/13 (0)
- Huh.. - fmak 21:47:20 04/13/13 (0)
- Precisely !! - AbeCollins 14:18:04 04/13/13 (10)
- Seconded. - willkayakforfood 15:05:10 04/13/13 (9)
- +42 - Tony Lauck 17:06:24 04/14/13 (2)
- Plenty of people "can get into the music" with an iPod and earbuds. Your point being...? N/T - carcass93 11:33:31 04/16/13 (0)
- Well, - fmak 22:06:06 04/14/13 (0)
- So, you're not willing to put much thought, time, effort, or money into your system - and that's just fine. - carcass93 15:14:01 04/14/13 (1)
- Dwelling in mediocrity? No, I dwell in music. - willkayakforfood 15:26:43 04/14/13 (0)
- RE: Seconded. - ahendler 20:55:44 04/13/13 (0)
- +3 - AbeCollins 15:44:39 04/13/13 (2)
- RE: +4. Nt - navman 18:12:43 04/13/13 (1)
- -9 - fmak 22:56:57 04/13/13 (0)
- RE: I wouldn't do any of that - mitch2 13:44:37 04/13/13 (5)
- I find them interesting also - JeffH 18:05:02 04/13/13 (0)
- The only way to get started is to get started. - AbeCollins 14:29:50 04/13/13 (3)
- Get started quickly, but keep a few things in mind - Tony Lauck 17:20:49 04/14/13 (1)
- Sound Advice - fmak 06:17:26 04/15/13 (0)
- LOL! - Beetlemania 14:36:42 04/13/13 (0)
- Look at the best DAC/Converter - JeffH 13:24:13 04/13/13 (5)
- RE: "...and waving dead chickens over your operating system can come latter." [sic] - willkayakforfood 18:04:32 04/13/13 (1)
- We had Red Bird chicken for dinner.... - AbeCollins 21:17:36 04/13/13 (0)
- RE: Look at the best DAC/Converter - AbeCollins 14:46:04 04/13/13 (2)
- RE: Look at the best DAC/Converter - ahendler 21:00:29 04/13/13 (0)
- Ok you talked me out of it... - JeffH 17:50:57 04/13/13 (0)
- RE: just starting - mac vs. windows for music? - audioengr 13:18:33 04/13/13 (0)
- RE: just starting - mac vs. windows for music? - Thorsten 12:49:50 04/13/13 (10)
- RE: just starting - mac vs. windows for music? - AbeCollins 13:06:58 04/13/13 (9)
- RE: just starting - mac vs. windows for music? - Thorsten 13:12:34 04/13/13 (8)
- RE: just starting - mac vs. windows for music? - AbeCollins 14:16:04 04/13/13 (7)
- RE: just starting - mac vs. windows for music? - Thorsten 22:23:31 04/13/13 (6)
- RE: just starting - mac vs. windows for music? - AbeCollins 23:04:27 04/13/13 (5)
- RE: just starting - mac vs. windows for music? - Thorsten 23:08:39 04/13/13 (4)
- RE: just starting - mac vs. windows for music? - AbeCollins 23:22:38 04/13/13 (3)
- RE: just starting - mac vs. windows for music? - Thorsten 23:25:31 04/13/13 (2)
- RE: just starting - mac vs. windows for music? - AbeCollins 23:59:19 04/13/13 (1)
- Seconded again - E-Stat 11:45:52 04/14/13 (0)
- RE: just starting - mac vs. windows for music? - Beetlemania 11:28:45 04/13/13 (3)
- RE: just starting - mac vs. windows for music? - mitch2 11:55:16 04/13/13 (2)
- RE: just starting - mac vs. windows for music? - Beetlemania 12:10:17 04/13/13 (1)
- RE: just starting - mac vs. windows for music? - mitch2 12:18:27 04/13/13 (0)
- Analog out of the pc or not? - Ugly 10:59:30 04/13/13 (2)
- RE: Analog out of the pc or not? - mitch2 11:09:28 04/13/13 (1)
- RE: Analog out of the pc or not? - Ugly 11:14:20 04/13/13 (0)
- Either Windows or Mac will do nicely... - AbeCollins 10:43:45 04/13/13 (17)
- That was my approach - E-Stat 11:38:37 04/14/13 (0)
- RE: Either Windows or Mac will do nicely... - mitch2 11:29:32 04/13/13 (4)
- RE: Either Windows or Mac will do nicely... - AbeCollins 11:44:02 04/13/13 (3)
- RE: Either Windows or Mac will do nicely... - mitch2 12:11:24 04/13/13 (2)
- RE: Either Windows or Mac will do nicely... - ahendler 21:16:47 04/13/13 (0)
- RE: Either Windows or Mac will do nicely... - AbeCollins 12:46:08 04/13/13 (0)
- RE: Either Windows or Mac will do nicely... - Ugly 11:28:05 04/13/13 (9)
- Huh? - rlw 07:35:30 04/15/13 (2)
- a bit has two possible states, 1 or 0 thus the term binary. Get it? - - Ugly 20:06:13 04/15/13 (0)
- I guess a state machine is an analog thing for you then, eh? - Ugly 19:48:23 04/15/13 (0)
- RE: Either Windows or Mac will do nicely... - Tony Lauck 07:04:24 04/15/13 (3)
- RE: Either Windows or Mac will do nicely... - Ugly 20:00:05 04/15/13 (2)
- RE: Either Windows or Mac will do nicely... - Tony Lauck 06:34:44 04/16/13 (1)
- RE: Either Windows or Mac will do nicely... - Ugly 17:45:27 04/17/13 (0)
- RE: Either Windows or Mac will do nicely... - AbeCollins 11:40:02 04/13/13 (1)
- On the one forum where you'd think... - rlw 07:49:33 04/15/13 (0)
- Absolutely agree NT - Beetlemania 11:20:48 04/13/13 (0)
Follow Ups
- My opinion - It's the DAC - rrob 04/13/1318:17:39 04/13/13 (2)
- By George... - JeffH 20:02:23 04/13/13 (1)
- RE: By George... - rrob 03:18:05 04/14/13 (0)