- Joined
- Aug 18, 2007
- Posts
- 17,452
- Likes
- 839
Quote:
I replaced the Apogee mini-DAC with a Nuforce DAC-100 which works much better when amping my HD800, and have a Stello DA100 Signature to feed my maxed Woo WA6 and KGSS in the bedroom rig. I'm still evaluating the DAC-100 RCA outputs when feeding better amps, but I miss having the balanced outputs so far.
I don't use the iPad with CCK much anymore because I'm using a Nuforce iDo to convert iPad digital out into coax S/PDIF and feeding that into the DAC-100. I don't recall if I ever tried the iPad CCK into the mini-DAC via USB, but I do know it worked with the CEntrance DACmini. There is no reason why it wouldn't work with any desktop USB DAC that doesn't draw too much power from the CCK.
The mini-DAC used as a DAC line-out feeding a nicer amp is probably still slightly better than my Stello DA100, especially via USB where the Stello USB isn't as good as optical or coax. The mini-DAC via USB is very good, and on the Mac I couldn't tell a difference between it's USB and it's optical. So, changing FW to USB on the mini-DAC wouldn't be a downgrade.
As for S/PDIF, I know the uDAC-1 worked with the iPad to offer Coax out from thge CCK > USB input, but I don't know if other USB > S/PDIF would draw too much power. IT MAKES MORE SENSE to use a digital dock, like iPure, Wadia transport, or Nuforce iDo to get S/pdif out of the iPad with less jitter than the CCK.
I have an Apogee Mini DAC with firewire 400 card. I want to use it with Ipad in my car.
If I could get this to work with the CCK I would sell it and get a USB Apogee mini DAC. I like the Apogee Mini DAC because it has the option of variable volume control or fixed, it is a good headphone amp, and it can be used without a computer (unlike the Apogee duet or Apogee Duet 2). I also can easily run the Apogee Mini DAC off a car battery which eliminated dirty power issues. It has a ton of inputs (firewire or USB, coax, optical, and AES/EBU and even if I have say 2 optical devices I can convert the AES/EBU input into an optical with a HOSA adaptor (or similar if anyone knows a better one).
Currently the Mini DAC connects to A Nakamichi Music Bank via coax, an Apple TV via optical, a Qumi 5 projector via Hosa AES/EBU to Optical converter....and i would hope to connect an iPad 3 via USB.
So before I buy an iPad 3 and sell (or trade) my existing Apogee Mini DAC with Firewire for an Apogee Mini DAC with USB..... could anyone tell me if it works? And Headphone Addict...you used to love your Apogee Mini DAC...did you swap it for something else???
What if i use a USB to coaxial sdif converter???
http://www.virtualvillage.com/usb-mini-converter-to-spdif-output-008415-011.html?origin=product-search&kwd=&source=pla&gclid=CKza8MyPmrICFQeCQgodRl0Awg
Would this work?
I replaced the Apogee mini-DAC with a Nuforce DAC-100 which works much better when amping my HD800, and have a Stello DA100 Signature to feed my maxed Woo WA6 and KGSS in the bedroom rig. I'm still evaluating the DAC-100 RCA outputs when feeding better amps, but I miss having the balanced outputs so far.
I don't use the iPad with CCK much anymore because I'm using a Nuforce iDo to convert iPad digital out into coax S/PDIF and feeding that into the DAC-100. I don't recall if I ever tried the iPad CCK into the mini-DAC via USB, but I do know it worked with the CEntrance DACmini. There is no reason why it wouldn't work with any desktop USB DAC that doesn't draw too much power from the CCK.
The mini-DAC used as a DAC line-out feeding a nicer amp is probably still slightly better than my Stello DA100, especially via USB where the Stello USB isn't as good as optical or coax. The mini-DAC via USB is very good, and on the Mac I couldn't tell a difference between it's USB and it's optical. So, changing FW to USB on the mini-DAC wouldn't be a downgrade.
As for S/PDIF, I know the uDAC-1 worked with the iPad to offer Coax out from thge CCK > USB input, but I don't know if other USB > S/PDIF would draw too much power. IT MAKES MORE SENSE to use a digital dock, like iPure, Wadia transport, or Nuforce iDo to get S/pdif out of the iPad with less jitter than the CCK.