[nice-biscuit]

I am thinking of upgrading my sound card in my G5 has anyone got any suggestions? At some point I would like to add a decent dac to that as well. At the moment I am using a Total Bithead via USB and although I am happy with the sound feel that I could improove on this.

 

[jjcapurro]

Use the optical out and buy a high quality external DAC. Then use your mac just like a regular source with RCA IC's.

 

[ken36]

Keep it simple. Buy a Microdac.

 

[dknightd]

If you can afford $1k US I'd consider the DAC1 using the built in optical out of the G5. I haven't hear that combo, but it should be good.

 

[nice-biscuit]

Thanks for all the help. I will go for the DAC optical route. Any suggestions on DAC's around the $500 mark. It would be nice to go for the DAC1 but I would like to hear something first in this cost region. My only concern that the DAC is recognised by the G5 when connected. I am looking for a sound signature similar to an SM3 or AE-1 and Grado combo - good sound stage, natural sounding bass, good seperation in the mids.

 

[blessingx]

Nice-biscuit I haven't heard the components you mentioned to know the signiture you're aiming for, but you could get a modified Scott Nixon (standard is coxial, optical is optional) or even his new USB DAC (suppose to be very similar in sound and price and may already be shipping - he said it would be a month ago, but haven't talked to him since). I asked around a few months back and the Nixon and Ack dAck were the two often repeated $500 suggestions. Both show up used (even cheaper) on Audiogon often.

 

[nice-biscuit]

Quote:

Originally Posted by blessingx Nice-biscuit I haven't heard the components you mentioned to know the signiture you're aiming for, but you could get a modified Scott Nixon (standard is coxial, optical is optional) or even his new USB DAC (suppose to be very similar in sound and price and may already be shipping - he said it would be a month ago, but haven't talked to him since). I asked around a few months back and the Nixon and Ack dAck were the two often repeated $500 suggestions. Both show up used (even cheaper) on Audiogon often.

Checked the web sites and both the DAC's look good and seem to be what I am after. I am leaning more towards the Ack Dack as the battery option seems more flexible, especially here in the UK.

 

[Nospam]

I believe a CI Audio VDA-1 plus VAC-1 puts you just at $500

I haven't been able to a/b mine with other DACs, but I'm very happy with it.

 

[blessingx]

Yeah the CI Audio was on my list when I was looking around too.

Plus don't know how it sounds compared to the Bithead (or others mentioned), but the Burr-Brown DAC in the Squeezebox2 should also probably be considered.

 

[Oliver :)]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nice-biscuit My only concern that the DAC is recognised by the G5 when connected.

What do you mean by recognised - as in "I can control it with OS X"? That will not work 100% with optical. Using optical on my iMac G5 disables the volume control for the system. You can still turn sound on/off, but no fine adjustments. Which makes sense, as you would tweak on the digital signal, and we want it bit perfect, don't we

You *can* use the volume control built into Quicktime & iTunes though. So if you have Sizzlingkeys (which everybody on OS X*should have, excellent little app, and its free!) you may keep things in control if you like.