Mac Book Pro 15" 2011 best bet for high end audio CAS

2.0GHz quad-core, Intel Core i7, 4GB 1333MHz upgrade to 8GB
500GB 5400-rpm1 change to SSD 128 mb. Intel HD Graphics 3000, AMD Radeon HD 6490M with 256MB GDDR5
Built-in battery (7 hours)
Crebase 3 units

Cost -MYR 7k..
Discount factor for double duty 50% : HIGH end CAS and Computer duties
( 50% off for audio/computer duties without affecting sound quality)
A MERE MYR 3.5K for this MAC BOOK PRO 15"

A battery powered mac book pro 15" running on PURE Music or Amarra software with i7 with a SSD for running the OS only, access music files through LAN externally ,isolated with a Cerebase is the best bet for high end CAS.

FAQ
1. Why not the Mac Mini or the Mac air or the Mac book pro 13"?
For a difference of MYR2-3k, small sum for audio files let alone this $$ one barely can get a decent power cord or interconnect. More importantly the smaller mac book pro or air or mini have shared memory making it highly stress for multitasking ability to access large music collection or using remote application interface. In addition the Mac Air do not have a LAN port - very critical in access files seamlessly - based on HD video experience. Mac mini is a giant killer but only lack the proper memory configuration to have the headroom in accessing music files by LAN and lastly cannot run on battery power.

2. Do powerful processor have better sonics?
In fact low processor generate less heat and power probably are better off , but then when come to streaming heavy content files, the computer need or even the media that runs in the system will be highly Stress - worse when multitasking with a WIFI network on a remote application. So a powerful processor is good compromised with also help with the commercial MUSIC software that are written to offset this - only running minimal processing needs for itunes while this software take control of the music playback.

3. What are the advantages of PURE MUSIC and Amarra?
Other than the above, they have a Memory mode in which can access to the files more seamlessly than just playing directly. All the latest software can run separately without the Itunes.

4. Can Mac run as a double duty without affecting sonics?
In Mac OS with a click of a button you can switch to the "audio" setting dedicated for hifi ( please read DCS, Amarra or Pure music guide to CAS) and switch to the "standard account setting" in which you can used those essential software. While running on the audio account setting the other set up is not running at all so the resources are 100% dedicated to audio.
MAC MINI 15" is a world class well engineered computer with most clear video or photo and data screen than their competitors and are designed to be running well and reliable for 365 days a year without switching off. It is not as portable friendly like the smaller screen laptops but compensated with a convenient bigger screen suitable for viewing photos, you tube and a quick presentation. IN addition ITUNES AND REMOTE application for iphone or ipad is a world class interface and reliability and all this for FREE.
Couple with a MYR 69 stylish Apple remote control

5. How does it be better off than the current crop of dedicated audio player for CAS?
Generally it will equal or almost undifferentiated equal or surpass these system other than COST$$$
Why? Most cannot access port for LAN, They cannot utilized well executed software, ie Pure Music meant for CAS , of course their own proprietary softwares could also equal these. They run on low processing power. ( good & bad) They have better power supply engineered for audio than the Mac but most cannot run on DC current. Next year things will change but never in my dream that a configuration of this MAC 15" I believe will equal a MYR 30-50K source. In addition based on my exposure, affordable DAC with well implemented USB and Jitter reduction is another reason that technology have help in giving access to a high end audio at mass market level.




Shanghai

UPDATE December 2011 - Best Bet for High End Audio CAS
The Mac Book Air 11" or 13" price approx.MYR4.2 and MYR 5.3K respectively replace the previous 15" Mac Book Pro as a first choice for CAS. This was due to the availability of Thunderbolt external storage by PEGASUS: 4 bays X 1TB = 4TB (sold by Apple at MYR 3.8K with Hard disc) that can be connected to a Mac Air.Music collection in the library at the PEGASUS storage with a super fast transfer speed of more than 1 tb/s++ will be giant leap & expected to benefit sonics advantages
This computer:Battery operated, Amarra or Pure Music software on memory mode controlling I tunes, with a super fast 10GB/s or 1.25 GB/s transfer rate with a 1.7 Ghz dual core Intel- i7 processor should theoretically surpass or at least equal to the Mac BOOK Pro 15" sonics in CAS yet cheaper

Portable, light yet slim, intuitive OS, clear screen, extended battery life of 5 hours, double as a computer is a killer machine for both work and high end music source

THanks for the informative sharing.

When using the Macbook Air as a CAS, did you notice any sonic differences if the Laptop was plugged in vs. when it was running purely on Battery ?

How is the playing time on purely battery alone (and with the thunderbolt storage atttached as well) ?

Can get Shunyata or XLO power cord for Macbook in order to increase sonic potential?

Mugen,
It is a pleasure. I did not try subjectively but based on DACs running on DC Current. DC powered sensitive equipment will have reduced power noise as compared to AC. Only the DC current stability would be a possible weak point but then with a i7, ( a big leap from i5 processor), 4Gb RAM + Thunderbolt + Music Softwares on a Memory mode that eventually reduced workload & resources in the Mac air, this could have an upper hand compared with more $$$ dedicated CAS. Switching power supply for those hard discs is the other culprit; On this mode I have personal experience to hear a consistent more resolution and details consistently if one can manage with a controlled power supply. Battery life/time should not be severely affected with the Thunderbolt connection. Mac Air list battery usage time is 5 hours on standard tasks.
Of all the important factors, the Software has the most profound performance affects on sound playback in CAS. Close second is the noise free power supply and third is the faster transmission- stable, error free + consistent access to the music data. Thanks to LAN, E sata, USB3.0 or the latest Thunderbolt which is a giant leap in terms of performance.

Software to play music with CAS are just wonderful.WHY? This specialized company that offered this in the market to the audio world has to do a VERY Good Job at it as they charge you a fee. In general. people perceive software value to be low as it is not anything physical but when one suggest a fee for it , the expectation become high. They are subject to constant and demanding consumers and their peers in hifi manufacturing of loudspeakers, amps, etc which may used them in their demo of their equipments. The softwares are consistently been upgraded not only because of bugs + features but sometimes with audible improve audio performance. These upgrades are normally free. If you take the trouble most of them give free trials for a limited time.

shanghai,

1) how big is the difference in sound quality between the intel i5 and i7 chip?

2) did u notice any diff in sound quality when increasing ram?

3) i was told the sonic difference between ssd memory and normal internal (spinning disk) memory is greater than when upgrading the chip from i5 to i7. your view?

thanks Doc. Shanghai for the insight.

Looks like there are alot of nasty noise lines each time a power supply is attached. Expected from modern switching supply designs.

Have been dabbling with an adjustable Digital Filter playback via the MacOS based Fidelia player as well. The filter settings definitely do alter the sound. Problem is, it all comes down to alot of personal preferences. Some settings make the sound fatter , warmer, lush... some would make it zingy or overly-clinical....
Which really is the "correct" sound ? Anyone's guess is as good as the other if we don't have the master tapes for reference..

How definitive can master tapes be? They too have to played back through a system. To be pedantic, one should then have access to play back equipment that best emulates the studio set up through which the engineer was mastering...

the master tape is as close to the original performance as you can get. sure it will sound different when played with different sound systems and it will also sound different when remastered by another sound engineer, but in reality the master tape is closest to the performance itself.

Master tapes ... Ohhhh... drooling over an open reel 30ips Studer right now!

I want one of those too... looks like you can launch a Saturn rocket with one of these... make Sputnik sing for it's supper... PHHWWOOOAAAARRRR....

those were the days....

these days the master 'tape' is in the form of a hard disk (sigh)...

Lam.
On your Q 1&2 : Take it literally, there should be no sonic differences between i5 or i7 and when increasing RAM. If you look at my FAQ ,a slower processor may have advantages but then if your music files are large and you start to multitask with your remote application, this may affect your playback response time and eventually affect sonics.
But if you look in the context of having a more powerful processor + speed due to RAM, you have more " headroom" and thus the computer work less as compared to a less powerful one. So, audio should be better due to more seamless transfer. The computer has to work on capturing the music information from your storage. Currently I do not have the knowledge to ascertain at which point that a more powerful processor is really good or is an overkill. I based mostly on my Home theater dabbling with large uncompressed files which demonstrate more seamless , better picture and sound with a faster processor in place. The other factor affecting performance is also dependent on the size of one's music collection and if you multitask while playing music from your MAC AIR. (normally one access with a remote application). But the cost of having a more powerful processor + RAM is relatively small to allow you to have an assurance that it will not only play music seamlessly but for audiophile the very best fidelity ever assurance at least. The fidelity improvement is hard to prove but one may able to hear better sonics on some tracks in a highly revealing sound system. If you take two laptop one with i5 and the other i7 and one less RAM than the other and play some music tracks- I would expect to hear no clear sonic differences.
On your Q3 : yes I concur and agree with you on this point and I think you know the reasons of the sonic advantages
Hope this help

What would be the preferred way so stream music out of the Mac computer... via it's Digital-Optical output, or use an external DAC connected via its USB port ?

If in the case of an external DAC, then all the hubbub about iso-chronous & asynchronous USB transfers would come into play already.


Also, the whole bunch of differing audiophile USB cables between Mac & DAC (good rhyme eh) and what it does to the sound, etc etc etc... Any thoughts on this?

the problem with the mac's optical output is that it is shared with the mini-headphone jack and u need to buy a mini toslink adapter before a normal toslink cable can be used.

so i suppose the usb wld be a more convenient way to connect the mac to the dac.

if the music player or dac has a buffer feature, always turn it on.

i hv noticed that music sounds smoother and less 'stressed' with the buffer on.