[pjvs]

Hey Head-Fi crew, 
 
I just bought a Fostex HP-P1, to my surprise it won't show up in my Sound preferences in OS X. I read a little more online and now starting to realize that maybe this beautiful device is only working with the iPhone / iPad. 
 
If indeed so, does it make sense to use the optical out on my MacBook Pro and MacPro and use that as input on the Fostex, or will I loose a lot of quality? 
 
I am looking for a setup that I can travel with and use in combination with my Sony CD3000. I thought that the Fostex would do the job, but I would really like it to work with my Mac's as well. 
 
Would love your feed back on this. 
 
Many thanks! 
 
PJ

 

[kenman345]

I dont own a HP-P1, but looking at their website, Fostex doesnt mention a digital in, so the optical out from your laptop wouldn't work, though if it did, it shouldn't decrease quality, as a digital signal needs to be decoded to an analog signal, which is what the HP-P1 does, just like with an iPod or iPhone
Quote:

Hey Head-Fi crew, 
 
I just bought a Fostex HP-P1, to my surprise it won't show up in my Sound preferences in OS X. I read a little more online and now starting to realize that maybe this beautiful device is only working with the iPhone / iPad. 
 
If indeed so, does it make sense to use the optical out on my MacBook Pro and MacPro and use that as input on the Fostex, or will I loose a lot of quality? 
 
I am looking for a setup that I can travel with and use in combination with my Sony CD3000. I thought that the Fostex would do the job, but I would really like it to work with my Mac's as well. 
 
Would love your feed back on this. 
 
Many thanks! 
 
PJ

 

 

[jpierson]

The HP-P1 only works with ipods/iphone/ipad. It is not a DAC for any other source.

 

[shigzeo]

It would be sweet if there was a way to wrangle it into a DAC for other sources, though. Very sweet.

 

[kenman345]

 
Quote:

It would be sweet if there was a way to wrangle it into a DAC for other sources, though. Very sweet.

 
If that were possible, it would mean the ability to replicate Apples proprietary streaming/protocols, which would mean more items in the market for what the HP-P1 does, or at least items people could themselves install a firmware that would make the amp/DAC able to have this feature of decoding digital signal taken from the iPod.

 

[IceClass]

It is regrettable the HP-P1 won't take a signal from a computer via USB. Woulda thought that was something a firmware update could do. It would make it a killer component.

 

[shigzeo]

Which would rock!
Quote:

 
 
If that were possible, it would mean the ability to replicate Apples proprietary streaming/protocols, which would mean more items in the market for what the HP-P1 does, or at least items people could themselves install a firmware that would make the amp/DAC able to have this feature of decoding digital signal taken from the iPod.

 
 

 

[JohnnyBlaze554]

The optical port on the HP-P1 is indeed an out only. 
 
Bryan