[kwilkins]

A quick question from a guy with decent equipment but no idea what’s he doing.

I have a Meier Corda Opera connected to a Mac Pro computer via USB, I currently use Grado PS1000 headphones with a Black Dragon cable to listen to music via iTunes that are all in Apple Lossless format. Headphone listing is fantastic, although I have been told I should upgrade to a tube amp to really appreciate the PS1000 headphones.

When I’m not listing to headphones through the Corda Opera I have Focal XS Satellite Speakers connected directly to the Mac via a USB cable. Is there a way to have the Corda Opera power the Focal XL speakers, or take advantage of the DAC in the Corda Opera and bypass the Macs DAC?

I was reading an article about the Cambridge Audio DacMagic and thought I might get better sound from the Focal speakers if I used that, but I wondered if there was a way to take advantage of the Corda Opera instead.

Thanks in advance for any advice on this you can give me.

Ken

 

[IPodPJ]

Removed. Wrong advice.

 

[kwilkins]

Quote:

Originally Posted by IPodPJ /img/forum/go_quote.gif Ken, First of all, stop using the USB on the Opera and use the mini-optical output from your Mac Pro into the optical (toslink) input on the Opera. The sound quality will be much better. You'll need a cable like this: Toslink 5.0mm to Mini-Toslink Optical Audio Cable: 6 ft - 031-TOS-MIN6 - Buy.com The right speaker has a 1/8" miniplug jack! Just get a pair of RCA-to-Miniplug cables and you're all set! Connect them to the preamp outputs on your Opera and into the back of the speaker. You'll need a cable like this: 2m (6ft) Atlona 1/8'''' (3.5mm) Mini-Stereo Male to Dual 2-RCA Male PC/Laptop, CD/MP3 Player, iPod Hom - ATS21054-2 - Buy.com

Thanks so much for the advice on both issues. I’m going to get the optical and RCA cable today.

The optical cable you recommend is a “mini-optical” but the specs on the Mac Pro show an optical in and out but don’t mention anything about it being “mini” are you sure I need the mini cable and not the regular one? Same question on the RCA-to-Miniplug, are you sure I need the Miniplug for the Focal XS?

Thanks for helping a novice out.

Ken

 

[Zoide]

Quote:

Originally Posted by IPodPJ /img/forum/go_quote.gif First of all, stop using the USB on the Opera and use the mini-optical output from your Mac Pro into the optical (toslink) input on the Opera. The sound quality will be much better.

Is it really so much better? If so, why is that? I currently run my Opera straight from my PC's USB. If it were that much better to get a USB to optical converter, I'd be open to the idea...

 

[kwilkins]

Quote:

Originally Posted by IPodPJ /img/forum/go_quote.gif Ken, First of all, stop using the USB on the Opera and use the mini-optical output from your Mac Pro into the optical (toslink) input on the Opera. The sound quality will be much better. You'll need a cable like this: Toslink 5.0mm to Mini-Toslink Optical Audio Cable: 6 ft - 031-TOS-MIN6 - Buy.com The right speaker has a 1/8" miniplug jack! Just get a pair of RCA-to-Miniplug cables and you're all set! Connect them to the preamp outputs on your Opera and into the back of the speaker. You'll need a cable like this: 2m (6ft) Atlona 1/8'''' (3.5mm) Mini-Stereo Male to Dual 2-RCA Male PC/Laptop, CD/MP3 Player, iPod Hom - ATS21054-2 - Buy.com

OK, I'm set, thanks so much. I am still waiting for the toslink cable to arrive, but last night I got the speakers working with the Opera via the RCA cable.

I appreciate you helping me out.

 

[kwilkins]

Quote:

Originally Posted by IPodPJ /img/forum/go_quote.gif Ken, First of all, stop using the USB on the Opera and use the mini-optical output from your Mac Pro into the optical (toslink) input on the Opera. The sound quality will be much better. You'll need a cable like this: Toslink 5.0mm to Mini-Toslink Optical Audio Cable: 6 ft - 031-TOS-MIN6 - Buy.com

Heads up to anyone following this thread the toslink cable that IPodPJ recommended does not fit in the Mac Pro or the Corda Opera. Here is what the guy from Meier Audio said "The OPERA doesn't have an optical input! Coaxial only!"

I'm still looking for a solution to use the optical digital out with the Corda Opera and the Focal XS speakers. Everything is working fine with a USB connecion from the Mac to the Opera.

Thanks in advance if anyone has suggestions.

Ken

 

[IPodPJ]

I apologize. I used to own the Opera and I could have sworn it had optical input. I guess it's been so long.

Did you purchase it? Will buy.com take the cable back? They should. They might, like Amazon.com also pay for return shipping. If not let me know and I'll send you whatever it cost. But it doesn't sound like you ordered it yet.

As far as connecting to the MacPro, I thought it had the same mini-optical ports that my iMac and Mac-mini have. Apparently it has full size Toslink.

Ok, here's what you need ---

You need one of these, on the top of the page, for $19.95. You can buy more expensive ones if you want, but this will work fine.
Toslink Optical to Coaxial (S/PIDF) Converter

You will also need a Toslink-to-Toslink cable:
</title> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://www.mycablemart.com/store/css/ds.css"> <meta name="title" content=""/> <meta name="description" content="ALT PRODUCT:MO-TOS-03-2763"/> <meta name="keywords" content=""/> </head> <html><head
(They have longer ones if you need)

You will also need a Coaxial RCA cable to plug from the Opera into the converter device:
HDMI Cable, Home Theater Accessories, HDMI Products, Cables, Adapters, Video/Audio Switch, Networking, USB, Firewire, Printer Toner, and more!

 

[kwilkins]

IPodPJ, thanks for getting back to me on this and it's absolutely no trouble on the cable, I'm sure I can return it. I forget way more than I remember, so no worries.

The Opera does have a coaxial 75 Ohm digital S/PDIF input (DIG IN) but the input was too narrow to accept the cable.

Does this change your recommendation in anyway? Also, in your view is the improvement in sound quality noticeable enough to switch from USB and go the way you are recommending?

Thanks, Ken

 

[IPodPJ]

A coaxial 75 ohm digital input uses the same RCA connector as analog Left and Right RCA cables. The only difference is the material inside the cable.

The RCA jack was too narrow for which cable? The mini-optical? You can't use a mini-optical with an RCA jack. You will need to return the ones you have get all three things I mentioned above. And yes, the sound quality increase is a very noticeable difference from the USB implementation in the Opera. It will only cost you $30 to make it happen, so it's up to you if you want to do it.

(The Symphony has optical input though, so I guess I was confusing it with that.)

You will take the Toslink cable and plug one end into the back of the MacPro and the other end into the input on the converter box. You will take the coaxial RCA cable and plug one end into the Opera and the other end into the output on the converter box.

Note: Make sure you order the converter on the top of the page, the larger picture. That has Optical IN, Coax OUT. You do not want to order the one in the smaller picture below it, as that has Coax IN and Optical OUT.

 

[kwilkins]

Thanks so much. I just ordered all three items and hope to get everything hooked up next weekend.

I really appreciate you taking the time to walk me through this.

Ken

 

[IPodPJ]

No problem.

Sorry again for the initial bad info. I guess my head was up my arse. But the parts you just ordered will definitely work.

The converter box will come with a power adapter that you need to plug in, unless it is also made to run on batteries but I doubt that. You can, at any time, upgrade the power adapter to a regulated power supply from a company such as Elpac. It would probably cost $25 - $40. Doing this can improve the sound quality even further by providing cleaner DC to the converter. You would need to read the specs off the adapter that comes with it and then search for those same specs on Elpac's website to find the proper model.

 

[kwilkins]

IPodPJ,

Everything arrived and works just as you said. Thanks so much, the sound quality took a step up a notch and I'm very pleased.

Thanks for your help!

Ken

 

[XXII]

Quote:

Originally Posted by IPodPJ /img/forum/go_quote.gif You need one of these, on the top of the page, for $19.95. You can buy more expensive ones if you want, but this will work fine. Toslink Optical to Coaxial (S/PIDF) Converter You will also need a Toslink-to-Toslink cable: </title> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://www.mycablemart.com/store/css/ds.css"> <meta name="title" content=""/> <meta name="description" content="ALT PRODUCT:MO-TOS-03-2763"/> <meta name="keywords" content=""/> </head> <html><head (They have longer ones if you need) You will also need a Coaxial RCA cable to plug from the Opera into the converter device: HDMI Cable, Home Theater Accessories, HDMI Products, Cables, Adapters, Video/Audio Switch, Networking, USB, Firewire, Printer Toner, and more!

ISn't optical on the Mac restricted to 24/48 (like the USB)? I think in this case you should definitely be sticking to USB...

To the OP: To use your Opera with the Focal XS, you need to buy a RCA-> 3.5mm TRS cable and connect the preamp outs of the Opera to the Aux in at the back of your speakers.

Edit:
Something like this: