So chuffed with my Mac Mini setup

Good day everybody.

I hope that you are well.

Over the last couple of days I have been playing and tinkering a little bit.

Being a musician and hence a lover of music - I have always been on the lookout for audio solutions that fit my need.

During COVID I stumbled across Volumio, and almost immediately installed it on a RaspberryPi. Later on I installed a DAC hat on it that I used until recently. During COVID first my grandmother passed away due to heart failure and then mere months after her passing my father had a stroke and since 2021 my mom and myself are caring for hom - With music being my solace. My main genre is original motion picture soundtracks, albeit that I have appreciation for any good music.

In mid December’25, I wanted to treat myself a little bit and bought myself a 2014 Mac Mini. First I installed Volumio baremetal on it and then remembered about ProxMox that a work colleage mentioned to me. During this time my father had a major setback and is currently in intensive care with the onset not looking well - again, my solace being my music.

I also treated myself to a Fosi GR40 DAC that I use with the Mac Mini’s mini SPDIF output. I am so pleased with my 2014 Mac Mini Volumio v4 setup, running on ProxMox through the mentioned DAC. The setup also helped me keep my mind clear literally taking me through the night with the sun starting to come up the next day. The sense of achievement is unreal for a complete novice like myself.

I just want to thank the Volumio team whole heartedly for making their software available, keeping music alive and most of all keeping people in similar situations going.

Yours sincerely,
Martin Dörfling

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That sounds like a really meaningful setup, and even more meaningful given what you and your family are going through. Music can be a powerful anchor when everything else feels out of control. It is great that you found both comfort and a sense of achievement in building this system yourself. Going from a Raspberry Pi to a Mac Mini with [link removed by moderator] ProxMox and a DAC is no small step for a beginner. You should be proud of that. Your story shows how technology and music together can help people stay grounded in very hard moments. I hope your setup continues to bring you peace and strength.

@WaldoBlackwood
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