Has anyone tried the following:
Mac Mini (or a Mac laptop) -> optical out -> DAC
compared to
Mac Mini (or Mac laptop) -> usb out -> Trends UD-10.1 (or PopPulse PC Link II or similar) -> optical out -> DAC
if so, what where your findings?
I'm about to set up a Mac Mini mediacenter system, which will also be used for streaming music, and I am having a hard time finding a decent optical cable with a miniplug that will fit in the Mac Mini. I would like a Van den hul Optocoupler MKII, but I need at least 2 meters, and it seems they do not make them with a miniplug in this length. Therefore I'm considering running usb out to a Trends UD-10.1/PopPulse PC Link II and then getting a regular toslink - toslink Optocoupler MKII.
Posts: 262
Optical Cables
We recommend the cheapest optical cable you can find because they either work or they don't. The specification for it is that it be 0.7 mm fibreglass strands, so low tech and the length isn't even critical. As the sockets are plastic it's best to avoid "hi end" cables that might damage them.
The standard cable from this link will be perfect and if the distance is too great you can use Airport Express or Apple TV to a DAC of your choice. http://www.leadsdirect.co.uk/productinfo/opticalleads.html
All our sales are to people using systems like the one you propose or Sonos.
I hope this helps
Ashley
Manufacturer www.avihifi.com
Posts: 405
I only use a UD-10 to
I only use a UD-10 to convert USB to digital coax or optical on its way to DACs and a digital amp because my iBook G4 doesn't have digital out. The Trends is a good little box that does what it is supposed to do, but I can think of no good reason to insert it in the chain if you have optical coming out of your Mac.
Tim
I confess. I'm an audiophool.
Posts: 2
the same test
Hi Pascal,
I've made the same test:
MacBook->(UDH-10.1->(opt) Behringer SRC2496
and
MacBook->(opt) Behringer SRC2496
using the same cable, but I didn't find any difference.
I want to test the XLR and coax connection between the UDH and my DAC... I'll let you know
Pietro
Posts: 149
Interesting
The cable you recommended has worked well for me Ashley. My ADM's sing rather nicely with it.
The UD-10 is interesting. I use a PC for my audio, and we all know that there is a lot going on inside a PC case, although I only have one large fan as the CPU is cooled passively - its pretty much inaudible.
I use the optical output from an internal soundcard into the ADM's.
Would something like the UD-10, being so cheap, really improve the optical output by avoiding interference within the PC ... really ?
I do use an Airport Express too - but please ignore this fact if anyone answers the above.
Interested in people's thoughts.
Matt.
HTPC: AMD Athlon 4850e, 4GB, Vista, BD/HD-DVD into -> ADM9.1
Posts: 149
actually
Think I've got enough info from other links on this site actually - please ignore my post above.
Matt.
HTPC: AMD Athlon 4850e, 4GB, Vista, BD/HD-DVD into -> ADM9.1
Posts: 262
Optical Cables
Matt
The problems occur only when the signal is A to D'd or when it's D to A'd, so the design of the DAC is the crucial bit. Sticking something else in the digital stream shouldn't make a difference. If a computer has an optical digital output, then use it and don't bother with anything else. It'll be perfect just like the optical digital link that enabled you to receive this message.
Ash
Manufacturer www.avihifi.com
Posts: 405
What Ashley said. If you
What Ashley said. If you were using the DAC in the UD-10, it might make a difference by simply getting that conversion (and post conversion analog signal) out of the potentially noisy environment inside your computer. Really, it depends on the computer. But there is nothing to be gained (or lost) by getting the zeros and ones out of your computer via USB and converting them to optical. Just take the optical out of your computer.
Tim
I confess. I'm an audiophool.
Posts: 139
Optical cable
I have an inexpensive 6 ft optical cable: mini-toslink/regular toslink that I use from a Mac Mini to Bel Canto DAC3.
Tried a friend's more expensive cable, neither of us
could hear a difference. I also hear no difference when comparing Mac USB > Bel Canto USB, to the optical connection.
In my case, the DAC3 optical connection allows the Mac to output at 24/96, and ( without the new DAC3 USB adaptor ) the DAC3 USB
is limited to 16/44. So I use the optical connection because
24/96 recordings sound, let's see ... just a little over twice as good
as 16/44 recordings, especially after a few tumblers of my favorite
beaujolais-in-a-box. ;-) ( Just kidding -- they sound the same. )
Posts: 5
Thanks for all the answers.
Thanks for all the answers. It seems that I should just go with a cheap mini toslink -> toslink cable then. I have read others report that they hear a difference though (for example Dave Clark in Possitive Feedback), but who knows. I guess I have to try for my self to really find out.
Posts: 149
Thanks
Thanks Ash and Tim,
I'd not be interested in using the DAC the UD-10.
Chris - you feel that the optical output from the Mac is not as good as the digital output from your soundcard. You're outputting 1's and 0's are you not ?
HTPC: AMD Athlon 4850e, 4GB, Vista, BD/HD-DVD into -> ADM9.1