Using a MacMini as an Endpoint - Issues

Roon Software Discussion
1

I was wondering if anyone has run into the same issue I have had with my MacMini as an endpoint. I will explain the setup and go from there. The Roon Server is running on Win10 and is a standalone dedicated server. I have several endpoints and all work fine. In my Home Theater (my main critical listening area), I have a Krell S-1200 processor, so I want to feed the processor either bitstream or PCM, the processor can handle either.

Now here comes the problem.

What Works:
If I use my MacBook Pro as the endpoint, connecting it to the audio processor using the Thunderbolt port (Display Port to HDMI Cable), the MacBook Pro will see the interface on the processor and Roon will see it as an HDMI connection and it works. There are no issues with this setup.

What Does Not Work:
Now if I connect my MacMini using the same cables, in the same manner, the results are different. The MacMini will see the HMDI Port on the processor it will connect and show that it is the desired output port. Next, I bring up the roon application and check that the audio settings are correct, room sees the HDMI interface. Now when I go into the roon application to play music, there is no output. In fact, the roon play buttons are grayed out.

The MacMini will work using the Apple Core audio and a pair of headphones so I know the MacMini does work. If I use the MacMini to connect to the internet and go to Netflix the audio will play via the Thunderbolt interface which is connected to the Krell S-1200, this tells me two things, the MacMini can send a signal to the processor and the cabling works.

The MacMini and the MacBook have the latest versions of the Mac OS High Sierra 10.13.5

The MacMini was built in Mid-2011, 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5

The MacBook Pro was built Mid-2012, 2.6 GHz Intel Core i7

I have contacted Apple and have asked them if there is any reason as to why the MacMini will not work while a MacBook does and there answer is that it may be an application based issue.

Any help at this point would be greatly appreciated.

2

Have you tried the macmini direct from the Hdmi and not via the thunderbolt connection, which graphics option is in the macmini…Radeon or Intel 3000 HD?

The mbp is likely Intel 4000 HD chipset. You can determine with Mactracker app what you might have.

@support for their input too

4

Thanks for the feedback on my issue, to answer your question. Yes, I have tried the MacMini using both the Thunderbolt and HDMI ports with the same effect. As for the graphics card, it is an AMD Radeon HD 6630M with 256 MB Ram. Just to give a little more information the MacBook Pro is running Intel HD Graphics 4000 1536 MB.

5

Hello @David_Carmichael,

Thanks for contacting support, I’d be happy to take a look over this issue with you. Can I please ask you to provide a screenshot of your Audio MIDI Setup screen of your Mac Mini after the HDMI output is selected? More information about this screen can be found on Apple’s site here.

Furthermore, I have enabled diagnostics mode on your account and what that will do is next time your Mac Mini is active, a set of logs will automatically be uploaded to our servers for analysis. I will make sure to update you once we have received those and have submitted them to QA for analysis.

Thanks,
Noris

6

I wonder if it’s related to the AMD setup

7

Noris

Here is the screenshot showing the Roon screen the apple sound output and the MIDI screen.

image
image.jpg1920×1080 701 KB

8

Hello @David_Carmichael,

Thank you for providing that screenshot of the MIDI screen, it looks as expected so I am wondering why this issue occurs myself. Would it be possible for you to send me a screenshot of the MIDI screen on your Macbook Pro as well? I just want to confirm that it looks the same as the Mac Mini in this case.

I can confirm that we have received the needed diagnostics info from your Mac Mini and have started a case for you with our QA team, this interesting behavior and I would like for them to take a closer look as to what could be going wrong. Please provide a screenshot of your MIDI setup on the Macbook Pro when possible so that I can add that as a note in your case as well and we can continue from there.

Thanks,
Noris

9

Noris.

This is truly a bizarre problem and it has me baffled. Attached are screenshots of the MacBook Pro MIDI as well as the about information for both MacMini and MacBook Pro. If you look at the about information you will find there is a difference in the video cards the MacBook Pro is Intel while the MacMini is Radeon.

MacBook Pro MIDI

MacBook_Pro_Scrn
MacBook_Pro_Scrn.jpg1920×1080 442 KB

MacBook Pro About Screen

About%20MBP
About MBP.jpg1440×900 502 KB

MacMini About Screen

About%20MacMini
About MacMini.jpg1920×1080 898 KB

Noris thank you so much for helping to move this through Roon support it is greatly appreciated

Sincerely

David

10

Hello @David_Carmichael,

Thank you for those screenshots, they will be helpful in narrowing down what exactly could be going wrong here. I have submitted them along with your case for review to our QA team and it is in their review queue. I appreciate your patience while they have a chance to review it and will be sure to update you with their findings after they have completed their report and have passed it over to me.

Thanks,
Noris

11

Noris,

Last week there was an update sent out for Roon, when I loaded the update the MacMini began working. Do I have you to thank for this? I’m so happy it works, I do not know what was included in the update but it fixed my MacMini issue.

Best Regards

David

12

Hello @David_Carmichael,

Glad to hear things are working now! It is always a good idea to have Roon updated to the latest version as there are often bug fixes and improvements that help with stability.

Do let us know if anything else seems to be off, otherwise I wish you a great day!

Thanks,
Noris

13

I say hello to this great forum.

I am very satisfied user of ROON. I have Roon server installed on Apple - MacMini and it has USB connected to CLASSE CP 800. I have quite large collection of digital recordings also in DSD in high definition.
Classé, however, does not have DSD support at all on USB, and Flac files play back up to 192kHz.
So I am looking for a solution how to create possibilities of playing digital files without any compression and in the highest resolution !!! Ideal DSD Nativ (DSD 128, DSD 256, DSD 512, DSDmaxxxx …)

I ordered the devices - Matrix Audio - and I want to talk to you about my involvement.
It will be connected as follows.
MacMini will be connected from USB to Matrix X-SPDIF 2
https://www.matrix-digi.com/en/products/314.html
From Matrix X-SPDIF 2 it will then be connected via HDMI cable (I2S) to another Matrix Audio X-Saber Pro MQA device (to HDMI I2S) and from Matrix Audio X-Saber Pro MQA - https://www.matrix-digi.com/en/products/319.html
it will be connected XLR to Classe CP 800.
Please can you help me and look at the devices I will be using (Matrix) and answer some questions?
Can I or Can’t Play DSD (Native) or DoP from MacMini?
Will I need HQplayer?
Would it help if I installed (Bootcamp) Windows 10 in MacMini?
Does it make sense to connect Matrix X-SPDIF 2 to MacMini? (possibility of obtaining I2S)
Or just MacMini and Matrix Audio X-Saber Pro MQA (and Matrix X-SPDIF 2 is unnecessary)?

I would like to thank you for any answer.
Sorry my English.

14

Milan,

Let me see if I have the right. From the MacMini you connect USB to the Matrix X-SPDIF from there you use the HDMI connection to the Matrix X-Saber Pro MQA and then XLR to the Classe CP 800. I assume all of this is working correctly? What version of the MacMini operating system do you have. When you access the MIDI interface on the MacMini what options are available to you. Let me know. I assume that the Matrix X-Saber Pro MQA is doing the decoding (DAC).

Let me know

15

Milan,

One more question, how old is the MacMini and what Video card does it use?

16

I’m not home right now. I can’t say exactly what MacMini model I have, but it’s the Late 2012 i7.
How it works with Matrix I do not know yet, because the components I have just ordered, but when it all comes, I plug it in and let me know the result.