- Joined
- Mar 29, 2003
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Quote:
Integer mode is actually an OSX issue, it is not a DAC issue. The DAC is compatible to the USB 2.0 audio standard, which MAC OS X is following. So it plays without the need of any additional driver. Unfortunately so far the Mac performance is the lowest of all systems in spite of the hype. This is due to the OSX core audio mixer module. Now software manufacturer's try to bypass the mixer (which ASIO on Windows does perfectly and Linux out of the box with some few settings will do). They call it integer mode, but actually this is the standard mode for directly addressing the hardware. Floating point is much better for audio proceeding like mixing. So Audirvana promises to play and transfer in integer mode which requires direct access to the hardware. Very important for MAC to get audiophile at last, pretty standard in Linux, and supported by ASIO in Windows (beware the ASIO plugins, some are junk!).
As for the picture with the 3 pin XLR. This picture is old. The unit has a 4 pin for balanced output for your headphones.
Any word on whether it'll run in both direct mode and integer mode via Mac OS? Put another way, will it run on Mac OS via USB with native drivers?
Also, I'm a little confused about the balanced input on the front. I'm operating with the understanding that you can have a cable termination that's either a single 4-pin XLR or a double 3-pin XLR. The images look like the only input is a single 3-pin?
Integer mode is actually an OSX issue, it is not a DAC issue. The DAC is compatible to the USB 2.0 audio standard, which MAC OS X is following. So it plays without the need of any additional driver. Unfortunately so far the Mac performance is the lowest of all systems in spite of the hype. This is due to the OSX core audio mixer module. Now software manufacturer's try to bypass the mixer (which ASIO on Windows does perfectly and Linux out of the box with some few settings will do). They call it integer mode, but actually this is the standard mode for directly addressing the hardware. Floating point is much better for audio proceeding like mixing. So Audirvana promises to play and transfer in integer mode which requires direct access to the hardware. Very important for MAC to get audiophile at last, pretty standard in Linux, and supported by ASIO in Windows (beware the ASIO plugins, some are junk!).
As for the picture with the 3 pin XLR. This picture is old. The unit has a 4 pin for balanced output for your headphones.
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