Changing mac settings for external DAC?

Depends on how your DAC is connected.  No Macs, as far as I know, have coaxial digital outputs, but yours may have a 1/8" mini output jack that can also be a toslink output, with the proper 1/8" adapter on a toslink cable.  If that's how your connecting your DAC, then go into system preferences/sound, and choose the built in output for sound out.  Also go into applications/utilities/audio-midi setup, and make sure that the built in output is also selected as the sound output device there.

If you're using USB, do the same things as above, except that now, in audio-midi setup, the name of your DAC should be offered as a sound output choice.  After selecting it, on the right hand side there should now be some bit depth and sample rate settings, up to the maximum that your DAC is capable of.  

Those choices will also depend on whether or not you are using itunes, and if so, which version.  After making these choices, you should be good to go.

On my Mac Mini, I simply connected my DAC via a toslink to mini jack cable and it automatically started using that. As long as you haven't enabled EQ in iTunes, Crossfade of any of the effects etc you should be getting a pure digital signal out of the Mac into the DAC.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Jacket Mike 

 then go into system preferences/sound, and choose the built in output for sound out.  Also go into applications/utilities/audio-midi setup, and make sure that the built in output is also selected as the sound output device there.

 

Does the settings in the Audio Midi match the properites of the DAC (bit depth/sample rate)?

 

If you are using toslink, then the DAC's name and bit depth/sample rate choices will not show up in audio/midi settings, or system prefs/sound.  If your toslink cable is plugged into the audio out of the computer with the proper 1/8" adapter, you should be selecting the digital output in both places.

If you're getting no sound, then I'd suspect either something at the DAC end, or perhaps your toslink cable or 1/8" adapter.  Make sure the adapter is firmly seated on the end of the toslink cable, and that it is pushed all the way into the digital output jack on the mac.

Sometimes the mini to slink cable needs to be pushed a little bit harder inside. The Mac will automatically switch to optical out, as soon as the cable is properly in. On the other end of the cable, do you see the red light coming out of it? is the Loudspeaker in the top right menu bar greyed out after you plug in the cable?