Getting the most out of your Music Player ::
                Your Macintosh is an Audio Component Too

We’ve compiled a brief overview on building the ultimate music server from your Apple Macintosh Computer. We encourage you to use this a a guide on improvements you can make to your system. The field of computer playback is changing each day so we also provide some links to places to keep up to date.

Audiophiles can spend countless hours and seemingly countless dollars on traditional audio components such as speakers, preamp and cabling; adding expensive additions like EMI/RFI treatment, isolation solutions, power conditioning, and more.

An office computer will work but is it the optimal setup? Your audio setup is a highly refined sysem and your computer should be up to the task. Learn what it takes to make your computer the best it can be.

Amarra Use a dedicated computer for music playback ::

Today’s computer’s are general-purpose machines designed to do quite a bit, and are extremely noisy environments as a result. We suggest you choose a Macintosh and dedicate it to just playing music. Avoid using the system for email or printing or other tasks while listening.

Amarra Choose an appropriate computer ::

As for choice of computers, Intel based machines are great, so is a properly configured G5. Install 4Gig RAM or more) if you can, at least install 2Gig RAM. For the computer, in order of preference we can recommend the following :

  • Intel Mac Tower
  • Intel Mac Mini
  • Intel MacBook, MacBook Pro
  • Intel iMac
  • PowerPC dual 2.0 (or better) GHz G5 will provide excellent results. Read about the G5 here :: Computer Audiophile :: Mac-G5-Lynx

  • Recommended Software
    Intel: 10.5.8 (10.6 Snow Leopard works)
    PowerPC: 10.4.1.1 Tiger
    iTunes: 8.2, 9.0
Amarra Streamline your computer ::
  • streamline the OS and turn off everything that isn’t absolutely necessary
  • initialize an SS HD (without journaling) and do a custom install of OSx,
  • devices may be disabled in device prefs
  • Disable BlueTooth, WiFi, DashBoard, SpotLight (see below)
Amarra Install a Solid-State hard drive ::

Computers with an SS drive installed can sound significantly smoother than their spinning hard disk counterparts. Same goes for a Network Attached Storage (NAS): it can sound grainy as compared to an SS drive.

Sonic Studio recommends an SS drive for the OS and some favorite music tracks, then use of a larger spinning drive or NAS for storage/backup of one’s library. Generally SLC drives are considered better, more dependable drives vs the cheaper MLC.

Here is a link to the fastest SSD drives. Storage Search SSD...

Amarra Streamline your Macintosh Software ::
Amarra Where to go online for help ::
Computer Audiophile - Excellent Source for all things Computer Audio
Audio Asylum
The Well Tempered Computer
Sterophile
Silentway - interfaces
Hemagazine(Computer Audio for the Audiophile)
Hi-Rez Music Talk