I have the exact same issue - my old ipad in the man cave is too old to run roon remote. Thought about a Android tablet - did not want to spend any money - then realised I could, in theory, use my laptop ( a decent spec Asus Zenbook).
So far have failed! Remote is on the PC laptop. Connects to the mac mini core just fine, but i am scratching my head cos I cannot get any music to play to the DAC connected to the Mini. Will play back to the laptop - so why not get the DAC going? It is beginning to do my head in.