xgt
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Noob question: mac mini and speakers
Ariel Bitran
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welcome to our forums xgt

i think the basics of building a stereo system are the following:
- you have loudspeakers (the things that put out the sound)
- you have amplification (how to make the things put out the sound put out the sound)
- you have the preamp/volume control section (how you route your source to your amplification and then to the speakers/control the volume)
- you have the source (where the sound comes from / in this case your mac mini with the optical audio out)

there are various types of components which combine these aspects. for example, an integrated amplifier combines the amplification end of things with the preamp. or powered loudspeakers often combine amplification + loudspeakers + a volume control (and have inputs for sources).

in your case, you require for the preamp/integrated amp/receiver to have an input which accepts the optical audio cable. the iphone can be connected various ways.

do you have a budget?

xgt
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Thanks for the answer. Would few hundreds be enough?

jackfish
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inexpensive DAC with a optical input like the Audio gd Sparrow for $170 and a pair of Audioengine A5 active speakers for $350. Volume would be controlled by your mac mini.
http://www.pacificvalve.us/AgdSparrow.html
http://audioengineusa.com/Store/Audioengine-5

This cable could go from the DAC to the left A5. These cables go up to 50ft in length. http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10218&cs_id=1021804&p_id=5600&seq=1&format=2

Ariel Bitran
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from jackfish
he knows what he's talking about in getting the bare essentials to make a great system here. (!)
xgt
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THanks for the suggestion. How about a fully integrated system, ie amp/receiver directy in speakers?

jackfish
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into a line input of an integrated amplifier and connect a pair of passive loudspeakers. What is your budget?

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