New Mac Mini

[webby]

Just testing to see if anyone was awake.

One to add:

iPad 4

cheers,

You forgot the Mac mini with Retina display!

[Filterlab]

The Mac / Mini can handle Flac as well, just not via itunes

Why on earth would anyone who values sound quality want to use iTunes anyway? It's bloody appalling in several ways, not least the abominable layout. There are dozens of audio applications ranging from free to expensive, I personally use Cog for playback and Max for ripping - both free, both superb. Max hasn't been developed for years so it's a bit choppy on Mountain Lion, but it does work and the results and seriously high quality.

Abandon iTunes and it's digital faff, go for something proper.

[Filterlab]

...old as the one which says all Mac users are snooty fashionistas...

Hmmm...

One could build a Windows machine for far less and it would still be a more capable machine. Fashion comes at a price...

[Beechwoods]

Have you tried PureMusic, Rob? It uses iTunes as a 'media manager' but takes control of playback via it's own engine. It handles FLAC and DSD. I personally like iTunes' UI, but PureMusic definitely sounds better.

http://www.channld.com/puremusic/

[NRG]

? I wasnt suggesting to use iTunes. I was pointing out Macs can handle Flac via alternative s/w.

[NRG]

PureMusic is $130 !

[Filterlab]

? I wasnt suggesting to use iTunes. I was pointing out Macs can handle Flac via alternative s/w.

I know, and I wasn't suggesting you were.

Have you tried PureMusic, Rob? It uses iTunes as a 'media manager' but takes control of playback via it's own engine. It handles FLAC and DSD. I personally like iTunes' UI, but PureMusic definitely sounds better.

http://www.channld.com/puremusic/

I haven't to be honest. I use iTunes for one thing only and that's syncing my iOS devices. I'm far too far down the road with Cog now - terabytes of music I've got in that, and the file info format is different to the standard that iTunes uses so too late to go back (unless I spend hours weeks months programming all the information in).

[Beechwoods]

PureMusic is $130 !

£86. I tried the free demo and figured it was worth it. Tried a number of other free and paid for players as well. I decided it was the best.

I've spent a lot more on Hi-Fi...!

[NRG]

Not tried COG, have run Decibel but its overtly bright with quite a hard edge to the presentation. I don't think you should have to pay $130 to get decent playback TBH on a Mac.

[Beechwoods]

Fidelia sounded just as good (around £45), but I couldn't get on with the interface.

I've used Cog for a long time, but I find it's pretty awkward for managing large libraries.

It's a shame Foobar 2000 isn't available for the Mac, as a tool it is extremely well designed and configurable. It works nicely under Wine on Lion. I'm not convinced that running it in Wine is bit-perfect, so I don't use it for general listening, but for some stuff, especially old SHN (Shorten) lossless files Foobar really does the business.