I’d love to hear your thoughts about using a Mac mini with apple silicon for your main server.
I had success with these settings for a new m4 Mac mini so I thought I would share:
Optimal settings and adjustments for using a Mac mini with Apple Silicon as a dedicated Roon core server:
Mac Hardware Setup
Use an apple silicon m1, m2, m3, or m4 Mac mini with at least 16GB of RAM for best performance. Consider more RAM if you’re thinking of using HQ Player on this Mac.
Connect the Mac mini to your network via Ethernet for stable connectivity.
Use an external SSD for music storage to save on internal storage costs.
Clean Mac OS Installation
Perform a clean installation of macOS on the Mac mini.
Remove unnecessary applications and services.
Mac Energy Saver Settings
Check “prevent automatic sleeping when display is off”
Uncheck “put hard disks to sleep when possible”
Check “startup automatically after power failure”
Mac Sharing Settings
Turn on sharing: System Settings > General > Sharing turned on, click “i” next to sharing toggle to allow access to music SSD and other preferences such as screen sharing depending on your setup. This sharing will allow you to manage your music library from another computer and keep the Mac Mini “headless” if you choose.
Roon Server Installation
Backup Roon if you are migrating from another computer, ROCK nuc, or Nucleus
Download and install the latest version of Roon for Desktop which will include the option to set up as a Server.
Plug in your backup in the Mac mini and choose “Restore From Backup” in the bottom center of the Roon login screen. Consult Roon’s Migration webpage for more instructions if needed.
Set Roon Server to “launch at startup”.
Go to Roon settings, backup, and setup a backup to the Mac’s ssd and/or other storage.
Mac System Preferences
Disable automatic updates for macOS and apps.
Turn off unnecessary background services and startup items.
Configure Time Machine or another backup solution to protect your Roon database and music files.
The finished server has been lightning fast and handles advanced DSP easily. Too early to address long term stability/reliability. Any insights on improving these settings or your experience using a recent Mac mini as your server would be greatly appreciated.
Mac mini pro 2, 16G RAM for Roon core and HQPlayer
Songs in networked NAS with over 50000 songs
HQplayer upsample to PCM 768k but also DSD256 sometimes and stream to HQPlayer NAA to DAC
I browse internet and control music on the same Mac mini too.
Great to hear it handles both Roon and HQPlayer well.
How do you like HQPlayer? Do you think it provide any substantial improvements over Roon’s own DSP if you’re main amp is a NAD M33 integrated? Does HQPlayer function seamlessly with your Roon/HQPlayer install on the Mac mini or do you have to activate it each time you use it?
Thanks!
I see no reason to turn off automatic app and system updates. Security alone dictates that system updates should be installed
It is also difficult to identify “unnecessary” background services
I’m using a dedicated Mac Mini (2023, M2 with 8 core CPU/10 core GPU, 24GB unified memory, 512GB SSD storage). My music is on an attached Samsung portable T7 Shield 4TB SSD and I also have a Samsung portable T7 Shield 1TB SSD attached to the Mini for Roon database back ups.
I can’t speak for NAD M33 as I don’t use it. But HQplayer should bring benefit to whatever DAC it is, especially for my Teac UD-505 with external clock. HQPlayer’s DSP for upsampling is definitely better than Roon. Roon just sound more flat and less musical. There’s no need to activate Roon/HQplayer everytime. Just keep them running on the Mac.
I have been using Roon/HQplayer for many years and played around Roon only or Roon+HQplayer settings for thousand times with different convolution and filter settings. IMO, HQplayer guarantees for sound quality improvement when you picked the right setting.
As you noted, if you have a clean Mac OS install there is no need to worry about determining “unnecessary” background services.
Automatic Roon updates should be fine, and I haven’t personally encountered any issues withMac OS updates. I did notice a few posts where several people suggested updating manually since preferred and “wait and be sure it works” strategy. Guess that one is up to personal preference?
I was an IT director for nearly 30 years responsible for thousands of endpoints running Windows, MacOS, ChromeOS, etc. I have also run Windows and MacOS at home for decades. I have not encountered a Mac update that has completely hosed a Mac application including Roon. Yes, it can happen but I always suggest people update MacOS shortly after an update is released
I have certainly seen Windows updates be more problematic
Great tips but does not keep my server “awake”. I just need to tap power button on BT keyboard but would rather not have to do so. Anyone with additional suggestions?
