Question about cables needed for setup

[JVOBIKER]

im going to be purchasing a rockhopper mini^3 as well as a pair of grado sr-60s but im a little confused about what cables i need. i have a mac mini and a 1st gen ipod nano that i will be using. i dont really see myself carrying the amp around so im probably going to have it connected to my mini most of the time. the mini has a line-out but does this even matter since the amp doesn't have a digital input? should i be purchasing an ic or a line-out cable? thanks

EDIT: or does the amp have a digital in? im confused cause everyone is using line-out docks with there ipods and connecting them to similar amps. i always thought a digital out required a dac

 

[PhaedrusX]

i have a Mini^3 and some Grados as well.
if you're not going to use the amp with your iPod, then all you will need is a mini to mini cable to connect the Mac (headphone out) to the Mini^3 (the Mini^3 does not have a digital input, only analog).

as for your second question, a line-out dock is analog as well, not digital. you are just getting a cleaner signal from the line-out of the iPod rather than the amped signal from the headphone out.

*note: connecting the Mini^3 to the headphone out of your Mac, while it can be done, is not the preferred method (for the same reasons as the iPod). a better solution would be to add a soundcard or dac in between the computer and the amp.

hope that helps.