Connecting Mackie MR5 studio monitors to computer 1/8 stereo output

[phildawson]

I'm almost ready to buy my first studio monitors and have got my eye on the Mackie MR5s. I'm going to be connecting them straight to an iMac using the 1/8" stereo jack [as a temporary solution] and need to choose the right cable.

I was originally going to go with an unbalanced RCA cable, but have come to the conclusion that a TRS cable would be better. I'm going to be in a small studio sized room, and only need a short length cable and the cable won't be plugged/unplugged often too. I also would like to use the cable again if I got something like the Mackie Big Knob ^_^.

After a quick search I've found Hosa to be a good name as well as Live wire, and Monster to be scared of. I'm looking to spend between £5-20 ($5-30 US), and obviously want the best connection possible.

Does anybody have any recommendations?
Edit: I've cleared this up with what I think I'm after below..

 

[[L]es]

you're gonna use mackie's with onboard sound ?

 

[phildawson]

Well I was going to.. I have my Denons which will fill the gap, I actually have a PICO USB DAC/AMP for them on order which will hopefully arive soon.

I'm guessin I can buy an Apogee Duet or something like PreSonus Audiobox USB just for the monitors? I'm hoping for general listening and playback they should sound pretty decent even with onboard sound, the shiny iMac I'v got has one of those fancy chips from Wolfson which meets the Intel High Definition Audio specs.

Edit: I think I've just merged a few ideas, I realise the iMac in 1/8" is unbalanced signal anyway:

1. Unbalanced
iMac > [one 1/8 TRS into dual RCA Y-cable] > Mackie MR5
or
iMac > [one 1/8 TRS into dual 1/4 TS Y-cable] > Mackie MR5


2. Balanced
iMac > PreSonus Audiobox [USB] £109.99 > [two 1/4 TRS into 1/4 TRS cables] > Mackie MR5
or
iMac > PreSonus Firebox [Firewire] £233.91 > [two 1/4 TRS into 1/4 TRS cables] > Mackie MR5

3. Balanced
iMac > Apogee Duet [Firewire] £379.00 > [two 1/4 TRS into 1/4 TRS cables] > Mackie MR5


For the moment I'm only looking at unbalanced setup #1 - I've found these as possibilities:

Lynx Standard 3.5mm stereo jack to 2 x RCA Phono 1.2m (£2.92)
Hosa Stereo 3.5mm (M) - Two RCA, 3 ft. (£4.90)
Lynx Professional 3.5mm stereo jack to 2 x RCA phono's 3m (£10.27)

Lynx Standard 3.5mm stereo jack to 2 x 6.3 mono jack 2m (£3.91)
Hosa 3.5mm Jack (M) - 2 x 6.3mm Jack (M) - 3 ft. (£4.90)
Lynx 3.5mm stereo Neutrik jack to 2 x 6.3mm Neutrik mono jack 3m (£13.70)

Does anybody have any recommendations?

Hosa 3.5mm Jack (M) - 2 x 6.3mm Jack (M) - 3 ft. (£4.90) seems to be ideal until I get an audio interface?

Edit:
or this ? > http://www.leisure-lynx.com/products...nfo.asp?id=415

 

[phildawson]

^