My current rig is a pair of SR60is plugged into the headphone amp on my M-audio fast track audio interface, which I have for home recording. However, I just bought a Little Dot mk III, and it is currently on its way as I write this. My plan was to use the fast track as a DAC until such point as I felt it necessary to upgrade to an external DAC. Problem is, I never connected the dots that it doesn't have an unbalanced output. Im trying to figure out the audio paths, and as far as I see it all of my options are either annoying (switching between multiple output devices in Mac control panel), lo-fi, or expensive.
1. Mac line out > mini jack to RCA > LD mk II (Crap line out, annoying because I have to switch output devices in software between fast track and line out all the time, no more $ have to be spent)
2. Mac > USB or optical > DAC (to be purchased) > LD mk III (Best quality, still annoying to switch back and forth, more money on new DAC)
3. Mac > USB > fast track > trs to RCA adapter cable > LD mk III (Seems to give an annoying high pitched ringing, but eliminates need for software fiddling, no more $)
4. Mac > USB > fast track > RCA digital coax > DAC with RCA digital coax in > LD mk III (Best quality, convenience, more wallet damage)
So anyone got any other ideas? If I end up going with 4, what would be a <$250 DAC with RCA digital coax in? That said, I would prefer not to buy the DAC if I don't have to. Im new to head-fi, and as such, my wallet hurts.
EDIT --------------------
Latest idea is to buy a uDAC-2 (not too much pain on the wallet). Since I can select input and output devices separately on the mac, I can set the uDAC-2 as output and the fast track as input. That way the audio paths look like this:
Out -
Mac > USB > uDAC-2 > stereo RCA out > LD mk III > Phones
> uDAC SPDIF out > fast track SPDIF in > fast track > TRS balanced out > monitors
In -
Mics or whatever > Fast track > USB > MAC
As far as I can tell, that is high quality all the way, doesn't involve constant messing around with settings, and only costs me $130 for a uDAC. Right?
Edited by Live42 - 12/7/10 at 3:17pm
