Jacken's Blog

I just bought a new Mac Mini Core Duo2 as a media player in my bedroom. I connected it an old 23″ Cinema display that I don’t use. First I was a bit annoyed that I needed to use the keyboard and mouse, but then I found Remote Buddy. What a relief! I can now do almost anything with Apples lovely simple remote. I’m going to use it for playing back my CD collection that’s been ripped to a large hardisk. Watching DiVX, DVD, MPG films on it. And watch TV with my EyeTV kit.

So the next step was getting the audio out of the mini. Well, let’s face it, the output quality from line-out isn’t something you can call great. So I’m about to order an Zhaolu DAC 2.5 and mod the crap out of it! I’m thinking of installing a ZapFilter, better clocking etc. I’m then going to use mini-spdif connector to get the digital data out from the mac to the DAC.

Now I just need to get my home built amp finished.

I’ve now been in my HIFI obsession mode for almost half a year. There’s always a new obsession around the corner. Maybe my next one will be photography again? I have these stints of interest for a specific area that is all consuming. Thankfully I have a very understanding wife.

I’m currently working on moving my homebuilt class-D amplifier to a new rack enclosure. So the kitchen is full of PCBs, connectors and tools. But it seems like I’m never going to get this amp finished. I was really annoyed with the amplifier, because I really need a remote for it. So I ordered a kit for a passive motor controlled Alps control. This time I have put in a lot of effort in getting all the wires as short as possible. So the volume control is sitting at the back of the amp and I’ve made a brass rod as an extension.

I also added a notch filter to my ProAc clones. First I was very happy with the sound, but after a couple of weeks, I realized that I got tired of listening to them after just 20 minutes. Well, turns out I had made one of the tweeter filters the wrong way, so now with the notch filter they finally sounds more to my preference. Success!