OK, let's continue this thread with some more info.

I've had the Mac mini for about a week now, and have been using Mac mini and BS9000 parallel since last weeks friday.

After extensive A/B comparisons, where I've had the mac mini and the BS9000 to play the same song, at some half a minute apart, so that I can listen to the same part of the music, first mac mini and then BS9000 by only unplugging-replugging back-and -forth between the Mini and BS9000...

... my conclusion is that there are no differences in audio quality.

Just to refresh, the Mac mini is running apple lossless via iTunes, digital optical out, using Soundproofs excellent audio setup recommendations. The optical signal is converted to coaxial via a relatively inexpensive toslink/coaxial adapter. After this straight into the Beolab 5's.

I can't detect any difference in micro detailing nor dynamics. The sound from the Mac mini is simply stunning. Well beyond my expectations. 

For 500 euros, I can't imagine more "bang" for your buck. I can highly recommend the Mac mini especially for someone who has an iPhone or iPod touch, as you'll get a superb "two-way" remote. Also great if you have other mac's around the house, you'll get the streaming possibility as-well. For instance while working or surfing on my portable, I don't use my iPhone as a remote, but use my portable as a "remote" I get access to my whole music collection with just a push on the trackpad!

I've also been using the mac mini as a DVD player these last few days. I don't have a surround setup, and I've been using a pair of CX50 connected to my TV, since it's strictly a plasma "panel" without any inbuilt speakers. Now with the mini I get a easy way to get my Beolab 5's connected for movies. I've had the DVD player in OS X set to stereo output, again according to Soundproofs recommendation, and I'm really happy with the sound from DVD's. It sounds great. 

So what did I get for 500 euro?

I got a superb little computer, that looks awesome, it really holds it place next to the BS9000. It's made of aluminum so I don't have to be ashamed of it. I have it connected to my TV via DVI, and the picture is ofcourse as good as a pre- HD era plasma panel gets... It's only got a 80 gig HD, it's not enough, but I have it hooked up to a 500GB USB HD, that cost 59.90 euro. This one I have hidden away. I got a great, and by far better DVD player than the cheapo Philips DVD player I used before. Yes, it was only a cheap one with scart out only. Even on my pre HD screen the Mac mini projects a superiour image than what I had from the Philips. 

The most important part is ofcourse the fact that I did get a very good digital music player. It holds most of my CD's right now, and easy to upgrade storage-wise. It plays music with a quality as good as the BS9000. It's a Mac! You can't compete with that. For a mac user it's nothing new, no new machine to learn, I simply know exactly how it works. iTunes! Yes, the best music player/shopper on the market if you ask me. It's  almost bulletproof. 

I got a fully working computer, so if I feel like it I can take my wireless keyboard/mouse and surf the web, buy music, mail, youtube, whatever. It's all there. And I get to do it on a 42" screen. It's pretty cool. 

In short, I'm extremely happy with it. It has got unbeatable price/quality.

There's sexier digital music players/servers available, but smarter? -Not if you ask me.

The mac mini is simply: "insanely great!"

It can not be compared besides sound. One is a timeless classic, an icon with clever mechanics, the other a computer.

If you don't care about having to use a keyboard and mouse in your living room I think the Mac Mini is great for what it costs. Is it perfect? In my opinion not. I had a Imac for a while, controlled through Beo4. I did not want a moue or a keyboard but every now and then one does need it, pop ups came advising of new software updates, it would on exception not select y own wireless network quick enough. Today, using the touch as a remote for my ATV is a bit sluggish when loading coverart as I have so many CDs and Itunes has a bug, it looses coverart here and there every now and then. So again, far away from perfection.

The BS9000 is a bit bitchy herself, I have to say that. On very long CDs (longer then 75 minutes) it sometimes stops playing in the middle of the last sing. I guess the CD mechanism needs checking.

For me, I am still looking for perfection. Waiting to hear more about BS5 and echeck it out at my dealer once it arrives in US.

Seeking perfection, then the Beosound 5 might not be your cup of tea. 🙂

Using a mouse and keyboard is ofcourse only if I was to use it as a "regular" computer, which I don't. Only as a media server. But still I appreciate the option of doing so if I please. 

Mine connects instantly to the wireless. The iPhone can be a bit slow trough remote. But clicking the option "to stay connected" speeds things up.

I'm not trying to do a VS in the way you described. I only used the BS9000 as a comparison sound-wise, and in this way the two are comparable, since ultimately they are now both used as a music player. One is a CD/Radio and the other as a computer, but that doesn't matter as far as sound quality go.

Changing tracks and records via iPhone or the iTunes "remote" on your mac is pretty nice, and handy. 

I'm not going to get rid of the BS9000, I absolutely love it, but the mac mini is great for fast-access. And the sound is as good as the BS9000!

Just wondering on your second update if your connection is still the same?

Macmini via Digital & BS9000 via Powerlink on the comparisons or both connected via Digital?

On the comparison I used the Digital coaxial. This is the cable I mention in post nr 2 that I'm switching back and forth between Mini and BS9000. Powerlink is a no go as far as Beolab 5's are concerned... 

I personally wouldn't say PowerLink is a 'no-go' with BeoLab 5s, it's just that connecting them to a bit-perfect output produces a notably better sound and means you don't have to rely on any of the circuitry in the source!

Just one thing to check, make sure you're running your MacMini at 44.1 kHz/16 bit (in Audio MIDI Setup in the Applications/Utilities folder). if not, the MacMini will not produce a bit-perfect output (ie, the signal coming out of the digital connection will not be identical to the information from the CD).

I would think that in the second comparison, both sources were feeding the BL5s through the coax s/pdif. In theory and in practise, there should be no difference to the 16/44.1 digital output -- you'll find audiophile magazines going on about jitter, feedback loops and whatnot - but I really can't hear a difference. Over at Moultonlabs.com there's a post by Dave Moulton where he challenges people to distinguish between 12-bit and 16-bit, which flies in the face of everything as far as where the trends are going. The first B&O cd-players were/are 14-bit, and many say they are brilliant.

One comment as to your description of differences between the toslink>coax output from the Mini and the Powerlink connection from the BS9000. It is essential that both be calibrated to the same sound pressure level (SPL) for a true comparison. I find that the digital signal comes through at 6dB higher than the analog, and when I boost the analog to match, I find that the weight and impression of the sound is closer, while not as precise and detailed as when I feed the speakers a digital signal directly. I can not understand why the BeoSystem 3 does not have digital OUT ...

Pleased to read that you are satisfied with your Mini. I am very happy with mine, it's an excellent unit. Sometimes, when playing DVDs, I can hear the drive, but I have my Mini in a cabinet, and just close the door. As I'm controlling it through Bluetooth, that doesn't create any trouble. (The Edge diNovo keyboards are brilliant, both the full-sized one and the mini-version they've made).

I have run comparisons between very expensive CD-transports and the Mini, for people who are extremely critical of sound. The founder and owner of 2L records (Grammy nominees and Stereophile darlings) was in my listening room, listening to his own productions in 24/96kHz, delivered by the Mini to the speakers. And as he has recorded and mixed the music, he was in an excellent position to judge the playback, to say the least. The Mini is "a miracle of rare device" - I have seen entire Home Theatre setups that are run with a Mini. When I download and play back HD-resolution video from the Mini, the result I get on my screen is excellent.

Hope you get a functioning sync cable soon - you'll notice that your bass will become more precise.

I agree with Alex as far as "Powerlink being a no-go." Try to match the sound levels before comparing - it's incredible what a few dB will add to the soundstage and detailing. I still feel that the digital feed to the BL5s is superior to analog, but maybe not as radically different as your initial test may indicate. (Could it also be that your Bass/Treble settings on the BS9000 had a part in the impression? Set them to neutral.)

However, there's definitely a reason why B&O designed the BL5s so that the digital signal would override any other inputs, if detected!