[reverbs]

Hi, I would like to ask question in relation to my audio settings. I normally play music through itunes and sometimes play Flac files through Amarra. I am not really serious listener just enjoy a good quality music.
 
My current setting at the moment is Imac - USB connection to DacMagic - DacMagic - Aktimate Mini.
 
I am looking to purchase either Hiface USB or Audio GD Digital Interface from my Imac to DacMagic. My choice is toward purchasing Audio GD Digital Interface B with PSU.
 
I am a newbie in audio system so I had a few questions:

• I wonder if my Aktimate Mini is good enough or will it become a bottleneck with Dacmagic and USB Spdif connection?
• From my understanding Audio GD is only asynchronous USB device, will my Dacmagic is not good enough for Audio GD DIgital Interface? (I read through threads that Dacmagic is kind of entry level Dac)
• If I end up purchasing Audio GD Digital interface will that kind of replacement for sound card; so in future I don't need to invest in soundcard just use USB-spdif device to connect to my stereo system? What is the difference of using soundcard or not since USB spdif is already good enough?
• Does the difference quite signiface using USB-spdif device considering my system and my listening usage?

Hope you guys can help me answering newbie question

.

 

[Roseval]

Before you spend any serious money try the following.
The iMac has an optical out (the headphone out doubles as a Toslink).
Get a Toslink cable with a mini-adapter
This enables you to compare
iMac > USB > DacMagic
iMac > Toslink > DacMagic
It might give you an impression what will happens if you go the SPDIF (over Toslink) way.
 

 

[jamesnz]

+1 on trying toslink.
The difference between USB and optical on my DacMagic was huge...

 

[reverbs]

Thanks a lot guys, I will give it a shot. I didn't know that Imac headphone out also acts as optical out.

 

[aangen]

+1 on the Toslink.
DacMagic via USB is meh, and limited to 44Khz.
DacMagic via Toslink is HEY! and good for up to 96 Khz.

 

[reverbs]

Question with the toslink cable? Should I use glass toslink to achieve 96khz or any good toslink brand should be able to achieve 96khz ?

 

[Roseval]

The Toslink standard says POF, indeed Plastic Optical Fiber.
Modern POF do have a low attenuation of the signal.
A POF should work with 96
You might try glass but don’t spend serious money on it.
 

 

[Eves]

Does this mean if I use an optical cable to the dacmagic using my onboard crappy soundcard spdif slot, it will be better then USB?
Or do I need a good soundcard with SPDIF?

 

[reverbs]

Got my toslink cable but I wasn't sure what happen when I try to play on higher sampling rate. The music sounds like been fast forward, is that because of the issue on the cable? (kinda like hear alvin and chipmunk voice). Is it maybe because the original source from 44.1khz then I try to upsample it 96khz then sounds like fast forwarded. SUBMIT

 

[Koolpep]

You need a software player that does the upsampling, like the freeware audirvana for mac.

Do NOT use an audio editor to change the sample rate of your songs, that does not work and screws up the songs.

Ideally you get some sample tracks in flac that have 96khz. At hd tracks for example. Hd-tracks.com

 

[reverbs]

Thanks, I just use xld to convert mine. It does convert it without any issue.