Line out from a MacBook

[Pangaea]

Is there anyway to get close to a true lineout from a Macbook without using a USB DAC. I would like to use an amp with it at times and I was wondering if you can tweek the settings in either Audio Midi or Sound Preferences so that the HP out becomes a line out?

Thanks in advance...

 

[J.D.N]

If it is the same as the the MBP then i *think* the only way to use line out is optical which is built in to the HP socket.

You will need a DAC in this case.

 

[JadeEast]

Not sure what you mean by a "true line out".

 

[Pangaea]

digitally manipulate the output so the HP out becomes a line out- with volume control handled by the amp.

 

[ruZZ.il]

Turn the volume to full? You always have the ability to control the volume from the amp.. but the point of the line out is to bypass the internal amplifier, which cannot be done by software as far as I know.. its signal path probably physically goes through the internal amp and I don't think there's any switching that can be done.. AFAIK..

 

[agile_one]

Set the MacBook volume to 67 - 70%. That should yeild very close to a 0 db output, which is what you want for a line out. Don't use any eq or effects at all.

 

[JadeEast]

Crank itunes and goto audio MIDI Setup and crank the output of the laptop and check the sample rate etc.

 

[Simon Sez]

Just use mini to toslink and go digital out to a DAC-1 by benchmark.

 

[mchang]

x2 or x3 on the optical out via mini toslink cable.

 

[britishbane]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon Sez /img/forum/go_quote.gif Just use mini to toslink and go digital out to a DAC-1 by benchmark.

Could you explain how this works, I dont see a toslink connection on my MBP? Could you link a picture showing me what cable or when you connect it to the computer? Sorry for my ignorance.

 

[mchang]

Check here: Belkin PureAV Digital Optical Audio Cable with Mini-Toslink Adapter

I picked up a similar one at local Fry's. It was pretty cheap -- not sure if it's gold plated and made from baby seal hair like some of the $$$ ones. $8 or $12 sticks in my head. It had the adapters on both ends held on by rubber holders.

With the adapter on one end, it just plugs into the headphone out port of the MBP.

 

[ruZZ.il]

either something like this which could convert a normal toslink terminated fiber or this, that actually terminates in the mini ended fiber jack. All intel macbooks/mbps, AFAIK, have the optical out in their headphone out. when you put the right jack in, it automatically switches it on. the MBs optical out is bit perfect too. Another option is a USB DAC, plenty of which can be found by searching the forums. I personally use an Alien DAC, its a diy DAC thats pretty cheap (bout 50$ parts), but outperforms some dacs costing multiples of its price, and certainly outperforms the headphoen out of most sound cards. convenient, too.

edit: I cant comment on the quality of either products above since I havent esed them. I hacked off the end of of the fiber that came with my PS2, kind of like this They're just so you get the idea, that mchang beat me to

 

[pdennis]

I've set myself up with a Behringer SRC-2496, fed from my Macbook Pro's optical out, and I'm very happy so far.

The headphone out on current Macbooks isn't that great. I've noticed a good bit of intermittent, high-frequency noise through mine, and I've heard other people make the same observation. It's livable if you aren't spoiled for high quality audio.

 

[JadeEast]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdennis /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've set myself up with a Behringer SRC-2496, fed from my Macbook Pro's optical out, and I'm very happy so far. The headphone out on current Macbooks isn't that great. I've noticed a good bit of intermittent, high-frequency noise through mine, and I've heard other people make the same observation. It's livable if you aren't spoiled for high quality audio.

Many times the smps can mess with things audio wise running off the battery can fix this.

 

[Pangaea]

Yeah, I understand the whole HP out can become an optical out to a DAC and then to an amp- I guess I was just hoping for a little less baggage when I used a lisa or a Toma with my macbook. I thought I remembered a way to do this but I guess I am wrong. What about a small USB device that would turn itself into a 1/8 line out? I know there is that Turtle Beach Micro but I don't think that makes a line out, just cleans up the HP out a bit.