[aphexii]

My Mac Mini is my main desktop computer and I was wondering how good the output is considered to be on most Apple computers...

 

[epaludo]

Very good optical output. You can connect it to an external DAC, then the DAC to an amp and get a very decent sound out of it. Of course that you'll need lossless audio files, such as Apple Lossless Audio Format (ALAC) ...

 

[LawnGnome]

Quote:

Originally Posted by epaludo /img/forum/go_quote.gif Very good optical output. You can connect it to an external DAC, then the DAC to an amp and get a very decent sound out of it. Of course that you'll need lossless audio files, such as Apple Lossless Audio Format (ALAC) ...

Why go optical when the signal has so much extra processing?

It depends what type of output you want, to a DAC or straight mini to an amp?

 

[aphexii]

looking to go straight, mini -> amp

 

[epaludo]

I'm not 100% sure, but i think with the mac you can choose between optical out or headphone out. I don't think there is a line-out to connect directly to an external amp ...

 

[krmathis]

All current Mac's, including the Mac mini, has very good digital output (said to be Bit-perfect). Hook it up to a high quality external DAC and you have an excellent source!

 

[aphexii]

any recommendations on something inexpensive that works halfway decently?

 

[jonnywolfet]

just give it a listen before you decide if you think its good enough. the headphone out on my ibook g4 is good enough for now, certainly better than the headphone out on some dell and sony products i have heard.

 

[Pangaea]

My Beresford DAC should arrive today. I will be using it with my iMac via optical line out (mac's HP out doubles as OLO) to my little dot, and also to a home amp (for speaker use). I think this will be a good set up. Check back with me in a couple days and I can give you a better review.

 

[aphexii]

Pardon my confusion, but did you just say the mac's headphone port doubles as an optical line out? If so, how does that work?

 

[badpenny]

I have a Macpro Dual Core Intel, and I too am wondering about the sound quality... I am confused on what I should use... USB 2 DAC, or optical 2 DAC, or Mini-RCA to DAC....

 

[epaludo]

DAC's inputs are digital (USB, optical, coaxial). So forget about the mini-RCA to DAC, such thing doens't exist.
The headphone output port on macs double as a optical out depending on what do you connect to it. There's some optical mini adapters to do that.
When the optical cable is inserted in the headphone/optical out the mac automatic detects it and send the optical signal, by passing both internal DAC and headphone amp ...

 

[badpenny]

So I assume that it bypasses the internal DAC when using Optical-out? And to touch on the debate of USB Vs. TOS, which would be better to use on my mac? I am new to this whole 'computer as source' epidemic, so bare with me

 

[hempcamp]

The regular headphone out isn't half bad. The Mini also uses a wolfson dac I believe. If you want to keep it simple, give that a try first and see how it sounds to you.

By the way, the headphone out and line out are the same. But in Audio Midi Settings you can adjust the output level so it matches that of a true line-out.

--Chris

 

[epaludo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by badpenny /img/forum/go_quote.gif So I assume that it bypasses the internal DAC when using Optical-out? And to touch on the debate of USB Vs. TOS, which would be better to use on my mac? I am new to this whole 'computer as source' epidemic, so bare with me

USB VS Toslink.

Search and you shall find ...