Core Audio Technology 2014 Mac Mini Music Server Kaia Power Supply Kit!

Welcome to our basic modification kit for the Mac Mini. This kit is compatible with all 2010-2014 Mac Mini models and includes Kaia power supply, basic Level 1 DC Cable and internal wiring harness.

***Now offering the 2014 Mac Mini! $3825 Copper Package deal includes 2014 Mac Mini, 256GB PCIe SSD, and 8GB RAM, along with Level 3 cabling, shielding, and Atomic Platform***

Stereo Mojo Review of the Mac Mini Music Server

"As performance to price ratio values go, the Core Audio server setup is pretty hard to beat as a versatile turnkey option."

Check out our new CARBON FIBER Mac Mini option for $100!

This Package Includes:

Latest Mac Mini

60GB SSD

8GB RAM

Kaia Power Supply

DC S3, IWH Level 3 Hardwired

Cryo-Shielding

Atomic Platform

Do you want this from your Audio System:

• More Organic character
• Higher resolution, blacker background
• More Immersive, bigger sound
• Larger, more holographic sound stage
• Better musical flow, pacing, and energy (More fun factor)
• Zero listening fatigue
• A Mac-Based Music Server that outperforms most, if not all, PC-based music servers

What we offer:

• Remove the internal SMPS and replace it with our Kaia Linear Power Supply
• Install one of four levels of internal wiring harnesses made from our proprietary variable gauge wire geometries
• Proprietary Cryo-Shielding technology on logic board, RAM, CPU, GPU, SSD, and chassis
• Four DC Cable upgrades from variable gauge copper in PTFE dielectric to Variable gauge silver in air impregnated fluorocarbon.
• SSD Installation, Operating System optimization, and Hard Drive Setup service
• Turnkey, quick turnaround. All power supplies are in-stock!
• An upgradeable Music Server that doesn’t become obsolete with next-gen technology

Removing the "Mac" Sound:

Bad in = bad out.

The Mac Mini runs off a dainty little switchmode power supply. Switchmode power supplies generate tremendous amounts of noise, particularly above their switching frequency. The Majority of power supplies focus solely on low frequency noise filtration within the audio band, but examining the image below shows that the majority of noise exists outside of the audible band.

Removing this high frequency noise from the noisy power supply is step one. This noise adds or subtracts from the PWM signal in the mac mini. All signals inside the Mac Mini computer are processed in real time as a Pulse Width Modulation. This PWM signal is a square wave, or an analog representation of a digital signal. Any noise that exists adds or subtracts from the amplitude of the square wave. The introduction of this noise introduces harmonics into the signal that do not exist! These amplitude distortions account for the majority of the anomalies we hear in digital audio. It’s also where the "Mac" sound comes from.

*ABOUT OUR POWER SUPPLIES*

To remove this noise we replace the stock switchmode power supply with our Kaia modular power supply design, shield the logic board, and install a SSD. These elements plus powerful DC and AC Cabling serve to eliminate noise and create incredible performance from the Mac Mini hardware.

Shielding the logic board is critical. Because of the very fast oscillations of a computer’s CPU there are severe high frequency transients that are generated and must be damped. Not only does the computer radiate EMI, but it absorbs it from other devices in the air. This problem is solved via our proprietary cryo-shield technology.

No, this shielding doesn’t go on the case. That’s too far away from the noise source. We’re dealing with very high frequencies with very low impedance, the distance from logic board to chassis is just too great to be an effective shield. Our Cryo-Shield is our own proprietary shielding technology. This technology both absorbs and blocks EMI and is attached directly to the motherboard in key areas as well as to the internal power filter and power supply. This shield is comprised of several layers designed to block and absorb EMI between 10mhz-100ghz. The construction of the material allows for extremely fast response time, enabling a wide bandwidth filter that offers 60-70dB of noise reduction across the aforementioned bandwidth. By attaching the material directly to the chips on the motherboard EMI is more effectively absorbed and shielded. The impact is immediately noticeable.

OSX is another source of noise in the Mac Mini system. While optimizations can be done to OSX, there is very little benefit to them with the introduction of our new IPFs and power supplies. The better solution is to install Windows 8. If you’ve seen our Kryptos Servers you will notice the focus on a windows-based system. Simply, Windows just sounds better. We use our custom-built windows OS, which we’ve reduced from a 3.5GB installation to 2GB Installation. This removes quite a bit of garbage from the windows architecture and dramatically improves the sound. By running Windows as the final "piece" of your Mac Mini puzzle you can truly remove that "Mac" sound and have a truly reference music server.

 What’s the difference between DC Cables?

• DC S1: Generic Molded Cable ($40)
• DC S2: Pure Copper Variable Gauge Braid in PTFE Dielectric ($300)
• DC S3: Hyper Pure Copper Variable Gauge Braid in Fluorocarbon Dielectric ($600)
• DC S4: Hyper Pure Silver Variable Gauge Braid in Air Impregnated Virgin Fluorocarbon Dielectric ($3000)

The DC Cable is a direct extension of the regulator’s output stage. So any Capacitance, Resistance, or Inductance on that wire slows transient response and decreases power supply performance. As you go up each level in DC Cable you are decreasing the LCR characteristics of the cable, which in turn reduce power supply noise and self noise generated by the cable. Each level up provides more scale, richness, clarity, rhythm, and resolution. Each level up is a significant upgrade from the predecessor. Because this cable is directly part of the output stage of the regulator its performance is MISSION CRITICAL and the first place we recommend upgrading.

Which should I upgrade first: The Internal Wiring Harness or the DC Cable?

The DC Cable itself is more important than the internal wiring harness, but generally we recommend harnesses of the same level performance as the DC Cable. We also offer hard-wired DC Cables, which can improve the sound by eliminating the Barrel connector as the mac mini power input. This option is recommended.

 BLACK Mac Mini

We now offer a Mac Mini upgrade to a custom Black Chassis. Other colors may be available upon request. This can take some time, so it will extend turnaround.

Anti-Vibration

Core Audio Technology is now offering the Atomic Audio Labs Mac Platform. This was demoed for us at RMAF 2013 and proved far more than worthy. I’d say it is certainly $350 well spent and at least as big an upgrade as upgrading to our high-end DC Cable, if not better. A must-have for any mac mini configuration and more effective than the stillpoints under the Mac Mini. The Mac Platform is designed to be out of phase with the resonant frequency of the Mac Mini, thus canceling all chassis vibration. Even using no fan and an internal SSD, the Mac Platform made a really nice improvement on our show system that everyone in the room heard. Highly recommended.

High Frequency vibration in audio electronics can wreak havoc on your sound. Microvibrations down in the nanosecond range create stray magnetic fields, which in turn create noise voltages in your component and limit dynamic range, resolution, and harmonic content.

We do not believe in "tuning" your equipment through the use of feet. Stillpoints will not change the tonal color of our equipment, instead it increases microdynamics, resolution, and spacial characteristics within the system quite dramatically.

 STILLPOINTS

We offer two footer options, both of which are a significant component upgrade. The Ultra SS (pictured right) offers one packet of stillpoints antivibration technology, so using 4 per component offers a total of 4 anti-vibration pockets. The ultra 5 (Left) offers 5 packets per footer and a total of 20 isolation packets per component. The ultra 5 is expensive, but the upgrade is the equivalent of tripling the price of our product.

The Stillpoints work as an isolation device. There are two paths for vibration to travel, from stand to component and from component to stand. The stillpoints offer separate paths for each type of vibration and have no direct vertical path from top to bottom. Instead they use ceramic bearings in a stainless steel housing to dissipate the microvibration as heat extremely rapidly. Unlike most isolation devices and footers, these footers work on ultra high frequencies rather than within the audio band, this is they key to successful vibration isolation. Their effect is simply incredible and certainly worth the price of admission.

Simplify that for me?

• Modify the Mac Mini by removing the internal power supply and rewiring it for use with our external Kaia Linear Power Supply
• Optimize the operating system for audio use (This is less important with our latest power supply upgrades and we only do it upon special request).
• Optionally Install Windows
• Assemble and design a high-bandwidth linear power supply for use specifically with the Mac Mini
• Cryo-Shield the Mac Mini Chassis and logic board directly.
• Mac Mini Teardown for removing the internal power supply can be found here: http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Mac-Mini-Mid-2011-Teardown/6131/1

Options?

• SSD Installation
• RAM Upgrades
• Power Supply upgrades
• Wire Harness upgrades
• AC Cable Upgrades
• DC Cable Upgrades
• Mac Mini Cryo-Shield upgrade
• Install Windows
• Stillpoints Equipment Feet
• Atomic Platform

The kit version is $100 cheaper.

THIS LISTING IS FOR OUR ENTRY-LEVEL KIT. FOR TURNKEY SOLUTIONS AND OTHER OPTIONS VISIT: http://www.coreaudiotechnology.com/products/music-servers/mac-mini-music-server/