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Audio out/DAC options for Apple PowerBook G4?

Jun 10, 2004 at 1:19 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 38
3lusiv3

3lusiv3

Headphoneus Supremus
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I have a 15inch aluminium PowerBook G4 (brand new) and am looking for the best audio out options. What do you guys think is the best way to get sound out for playing from iTunes? I'm actually quite liking the built-in audio out from this laptop.

I was thinking of getting an M-Audio Transit and Piccolo DAC but is there any USB or firewire/DAC combo that would be better value? Maybe I'm just better off fogetting about the Piccolo and just getting an M-Audio Audiophile USB? Would it's DAC compare to the Piccolo? I could maybe get the new AirPort Express and a Piccolo? Are there other options?

I'm a bit confused about what the best way to do this is and any thoughts would be appreciated.
 
Jun 10, 2004 at 3:39 PM Post #2 of 38
Well, I've gone the griffin iMic route and I've never been impressed with that. The built-in audio on the most recent generation of PowerBooks is indeed much better than previous Apple laptops, but it's most certainly possible to do better.

I have my G5 at home going optical out to an external DAC, which is actually the DAC in my MD deck (Sony MXD-D5C). This works pretty well but might be improved by an even better DAC.

In general, I've heard pretty mediocre things about the Audiophile USB, and my guess is the Transit or Airport Express to -> Piccolo would be a superior option to that. The Transit would be more portable, but the AP Express has a certain coolness factor.

My impression is that most cheap USB DAC's aren't anything to write home about, and people have been saying good things about the Piccolo, so that's probably a superior solution.
 
Jun 10, 2004 at 3:57 PM Post #3 of 38
I'll be in the same boat soon. I got the exact same powerbook for college recently and I need some other audio option. I don't know how expensive that piccolo DAC is, but the Audiophile USB has been looking attractive as a way to hookup my speakers and all.
 
Jun 10, 2004 at 4:24 PM Post #4 of 38
Quote:

Originally Posted by Borky
I'll be in the same boat soon. I got the exact same powerbook for college recently and I need some other audio option. I don't know how expensive that piccolo DAC is, but the Audiophile USB has been looking attractive as a way to hookup my speakers and all.


Expensive unless you need the MIDI. Because it has so many inputs and outputs, I just ordered one of these:

http://www.yamahamultimedia.com/yec/...avit/dpu50.asp

For $125 (direct from Yamaha). Not exactly portable, though.
 
Jun 11, 2004 at 6:10 PM Post #7 of 38
Let us know how the UP50 works out. I'm going to need something to hook up my sound system (receiver and speakers) to my powerbook soon. Audiophile, Sonica, Yamaha UP50- I don't know which one.
 
Jun 11, 2004 at 6:43 PM Post #8 of 38
I have used my DP-U50 with my Ti-book. It is a decent D/A, but the headphone amp is not all that great. I use at work with the pre-outs going to a Perreaux, which is quite decent for computer audio. It works equally well with the Apple or with a windows machine. $125 is a screaming deal. It is D/A only (no A/D capability). It does have the advantage of multiple inputs, and will take an external digital input.


gerG
 
Jun 11, 2004 at 6:57 PM Post #9 of 38
Quote:

Originally Posted by gerG
I have used my DP-U50 with my Ti-book. It is a decent D/A, but the headphone amp is not all that great. I use at work with the pre-outs going to a Perreaux, which is quite decent for computer audio. It works equally well with the Apple or with a windows machine. $125 is a screaming deal. It is D/A only (no A/D capability). It does have the advantage of multiple inputs, and will take an external digital input.


gerG


Sorry, but what is a D/A or A/D? I just need to hook it up digtally to my receiver so I guess that unit would work.
 
Jun 11, 2004 at 7:14 PM Post #10 of 38
D/A = digital to analog
A/D = analog to digital
ADD = uh, what was the question again?

Anyway, the U50 can't take mic or other analog inputs for computer input. As such, it only does half of what a "sound card" typically does. The half that it does do it does pretty well.

Oh, and the surround sound stuff is rubbish (imho). Not a good reason to buy it. What it does do well is D/A, volume control, and source switching. The equalizer software is nice (it runs on the unit itself, rather than on the PCs main processor). Unfortunately it is far too limited. Basically the U50 is a decent digital preamp that takes usb input.

It is a shame that Yamaha didn't support this series better. I think that it was a great idea, but they should have gotten more serious about the sound quality and ditched the gimmics. Still, for the price, very tough to beat.

btw, if portable is your gig, the Total Bithead looks like a good solution.

I am in the same boat: I am shopping for a new home PC, and I need to figure out the soundcard solution. I would like a standalone unit with a firewire interface, and I need MIDI and good mic preamps.


gerG
 
Jun 12, 2004 at 12:03 AM Post #12 of 38
Good call, I like that one. I have also been looking at this one:

Firewire 410

More toys
wink.gif



gerG
 
Jun 12, 2004 at 12:33 AM Post #13 of 38
Quote:

Originally Posted by gerG
D/A = digital to analog
A/D = analog to digital
ADD = uh, what was the question again?


Hilarious!!
eggosmile.gif



Quote:

Anyway, the U50 can't take mic or other analog inputs for computer input.


Really? The specs on the Web site seem to indicate that it does this. Not a big deal to me anyway, but I'm curious.


Quote:

What it does do well is D/A, volume control, and source switching. Basically the U50 is a decent digital preamp that takes usb input.


Sure, but for $125, just being a good DAC and digital preamp is still a good deal.
 
Jun 12, 2004 at 6:27 AM Post #14 of 38
Not just a good deal, a screaming deal. Say it with me: SCREAMING DEAL! BEEFCAKE, BEEFCAKE!!!

cough cough cough...sorry, got caught up in the moment.

I haven't found any A/D capability in the unit, but I will check the manual again. I will also do a comparison between the onboard amp in the Tibook and the headphone stage in the Yamaha. As I recall the Yamaha is better, but still not up to the level of a real headphone amp. The Perreaux is a wonderful match. I have also used a Corda HA1 as the headphone stage as well.

At the current price it is hard to resist picking up another U50 for home use. I would have ordered already, but I found a good deal on the firewire 410, and my wallet ran off and hid under something.

gerG
 
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