[traehekat]

Quote:

 
You need a toslink to mini plug cable. The mini plug end goes straight into the MBP's hp out. I found toslink to sound better (clarity and coherence) than usb on all the macs I've owned when employing the Bifrost/Gungnir for dac duties. Some may prefer the warmth and more intimate presentation of usb though.
 
This is not to state optical is superior to usb from an MBP. It's more reflective of Schiit's implementation. I greatly prefer usb feeding my NAD M51 over toslink from my MBP.

Cool, thanks. I guess what I'm getting at is whether it is worth the extra $100 for USB, heh. 

 

[Erukian]

Quote:

Cool, thanks. I guess what I'm getting at is whether it is worth the extra $100 for USB, heh. 

If your computer has a decently designed optical out (ie. macs), you can rest assured and save that money. 

 

[traehekat]

Quote:

If your computer has a decently designed optical out (ie. macs), you can rest assured and save that money. 

So I would need something like this? 
 
http://www.amazon.com/Toslink-Optical-Adapter-Cable-Macbook/dp/B0025W1FR8

 

[paradoxper]

Quote:

So I would need something like this? 
 
http://www.amazon.com/Toslink-Optical-Adapter-Cable-Macbook/dp/B0025W1FR8

Yup.

 

[eddiek997]

Quote:

If your computer has a decently designed optical out (ie. macs), you can rest assured and save that money. 

Quite the statement.
 
The design (ie that the optical out is shared with a 1/8 headphone jack) is certainly clever but the onboard sound chip is as cheap as possible. The Optical section only starts at the out jack and the rest of the signal (all internal signal path) is subject to all the horrors of a crammed design inside a lovely case.
 
On a Mac, if you're looking for the best possible output, USB is for sure the best option and well worth the $100 extra.

 

[paradoxper]

Quote:

Quite the statement.
 
The design (ie that the optical out is shared with a 1/8 headphone jack) is certainly clever but the onboard sound chip is as cheap as possible. The Optical section only starts at the out jack and the rest of the signal (all internal signal path) is subject to all the horrors of a crammed design inside a lovely case.
 
On a Mac, if you're looking for the best possible output, USB is for sure the best option and well worth the $100 extra.

I think it clearly needs to be stated that it comes down to the implementation of the DAC.
 
Per Schiit, USB never sounded comparable to optical.

 

[eddiek997]

I agree that optical out of a purpose built CD player (with emi considerations built in) will likely sound better than the computer version via usb. However, I still think that USB from a Mac is the way to go.

 

[Erukian]

Quote:

I think it clearly needs to be stated that it comes down to the implementation of the DAC.
 
Per Schiit, USB never sounded comparable to optical.

+1
 
Same thing I was told when I spoke with Jason.

 

[traehekat]

So it seems the consensus is that if you are going to be using the Bifrost with a MacBook Pro you should spring for the USB version. 

 

[paradoxper]

Quote:

So it seems the consensus is that if you are going to be using the Bifrost with a MacBook Pro you should spring for the USB version. 

No. 

 

[traehekat]

Quote:

No. 

Ha, well someone tell me what to do then!

 

[paradoxper]

Quote:

Ha, well someone tell me what to do then!

Just use coax and forget all about USB or optical. 

 
OR
 
Just spend the extra $ and test 'em out for yourself. This way in the future you'll know what input you prefer.

 

[Misterrogers]

That's the truth of it traehekat; as definitive as some like to be on the subject, some prefer USB in their chain, others optical/Coax. The actual performance of either in your chain is subject to an assortment of variables so anyone's definitive statement can only apply to their chain, and their ears. Try what you can. Decide what you like.

 

[judmarc]

That's the truth of it traehekat; as definitive as some like to be on the subject, some prefer USB in their chain, others optical/Coax. The actual performance of either in your chain is subject to an assortment of variables so anyone's definitive statement can only apply to their chain, and their ears. Try what you can. Decide what you like.

Best and truest concise statement I've read on this topic.

 

[HydronQc]

Its just me or the Bifrost is not compatible with wasapi event style in Jriver?