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I am running the trial and last night had the distortion. I just turned PM off since I wanted to listen to music. I will try the DSP setting. Just trying to evaluate before purchase. makes it difficult to justify when there are bugs like this. imac i5 Quad / OS 10.6.7 / Brick DAC

It took a while but I now have beautiful sound pouring from my Devore's via my Wavelength Brick v2 after the ROM swap. Thank you Gordon for your resolution and service. Regards, Ed

What did you have prior to or compare the Focal to? Do you have a sub as well?

I'd say that speakers have provided me with the most noticeable positive change in my systems. My co-worker has the ProMedia's in his office so I've heard them. fine for close field listening at the desk at low to mid volume. I think that you will have such a different experience with different speakers (with a greater response range). you can still stay with a powered speaker set up. I use older Blue Sky 2.1s in my home office. Search CA for powered/active compact speakers and you'll get lots of ideas in your budget, including Audioengine, Adam, KRK, Tannoy, M-audio, behringer, Swan..... Then save up for a DAC and/or preamp. have fun. ed

Drew, I am curious about any new findings from Gordon in his response to you. I am still trying to find a replacement DAC myself. Let us know, Ed

@gazraman In response to your issue I tested 27imac using analog out of the headphone jack (with a cheap radioshack RCA adapter) directly to a pair of power Blue sky audio powered monitors (2.1). There was absolutely no static, interference when playing music from itunes. Have you checked a simple pair of headphones? if that also creates the issue you would have a great way to show them at the Apple Store. and restating this regarding my findings with USB DAC's [ The other DACs worked without distortion with my iMac either by using TOSLink optical (Monarchy NM24, Eastern Electric MiniMax) or via USB (Wyred 4 Sound DAC2, EE MiniMax) without any special settings or configuration changes. ]

hey hogan, I am unfamiliar with Firewire connections for Macs. But I am curious if you have already contacted M-Audio or looked in their FAQs for any required Audio settings on needed on the Mac side to output through the DAC? Hogan2: It seems that the only way to get a decent signal out of this iMac is to use the optical digital output. The sound is also almost OK, (but not very good) when I listen through the built-in speakers or headphones. In my posts above I did comment that I have had success with my iMac with two different DACs using USB interface. But maybe the iMac is the most finicky audio player out there?

@renkinj, Sorry to hear your are having some iMac issues too. Your description does sound different than mine. My issue is not affected by the iTunes volume, it is present at all volume slider levels. Since the Isabellina has Toslink any chance you can try that connection with your iMac? This would help isolate it to a USB problem vs sound card problem. BTW you need a miniToslink connector on the iMac side. Is the distortion you hear the same type as mine or different? Audio [link]. renkinj: I find it interesting that you found a single high end DAC that worked. Mine is quite high end and although I guess it could be a "synergy" thing, I think that is a stretch. It's definitely more than a synergy thing. Synergy is different than compatibility. Synergy describes a harmonious pairing of devices to create the most pleasing sound to a specific end user. Compatibility simply means the devices properly communicate. You can't get to the synergy until you have compatibility. renkinj: I am interested in how you got the other DAC to work and if you have figured anything else out about this. Am I just going to have to use archaic old macs as music servers until they no longer exist? The other DACs worked without distortion with my iMac either by using TOSLink optical (Monarchy NM24, Eastern Electric MiniMax) or via USB (Wyred 4 Sound DAC2, EE MiniMax) without any special settings or configuration changes. The new 2010 MacMini is currently being lauded as the next best thing, so new macs do work as music servers, but choices may be limited depending on output choice. For the record, it has been now confirmed on 3 different iMacs connected to the Wavelength Brick V2 16/44.1K that it is not compatible with the 2010 iMac, resulting in audio distortion: I tried 2 iMacs myself and another forum member has the same mac/DAC combo. I can only guess at the cause of the distortion but it seems that the USB hardware/firmware implementation does strange things to the data. From what I have read, the Wyred 4 sound DAC2 is also asynchronous, but uses a different method than the Wavelength DAC. The interface rates also differ: 16/44 (Brick V2) vs 24/192 (DAC2). Apologies, my technical acumen is very limited which is why I posted my issue on CA, where the gurus tend to congregate. Let us know what you discover.

Ted, you've touched on a few points that I feel are essential when interpreting both pro reviewers and forum folks. Context is critical. Context of the listener's ability (though, really, how is that qualified?), the music material, and the environment. This is often left out of gear descriptions. I usually try to add it to my comments. I feel that neutral means not adding or subtracting to the source material. But the problem is of course, what do we use as a baseline. And I am not taiking about measuring signals. If we could hear the studio mix in the studio then on a home system then we could better know what is different.

I was able to test a Wyred 4 Sound DAC 2 for a short time with my iMac system. Thanks Gokul(writeface)! After loading the USB drivers and a few restarts later, the W4S DAC showed up in the Audio Midi and undistorted sound was presented through my Devore Nines. Finally. We each listened to a few songs we knew. Both Gokul and I thought the W4S DAC did not have a great synergy in my system. This wasn't really an evaluation of the W4S DAC, but it was obvious that it's high end seemed more extended than what we heard with the G5/Brick combo (and what I normally hear of my system) and very detailed. We thought the G5/Brick was more musical. Again, this was just a brief listening session. So now I standby awaiting another forum member's findings with his new i5 iMac and USB DAC collection including a Brick DAC v2.

Of course my 2-to-1 ratio is just a generalization of the costs tossed around above but you all get my point. If someone things there is a better ratio speak up. @ Bixby: The Antelope Zodiac offering looks interesting. Not much on it. Have you listened to it? And the Type B USB input is an odd choice. @ Barrows: While the Wyred 4 Sound DAC2 is not pro gear, I coincidentally plan to listen to it in my own system tomorrow.

thanks for the apogee recommendation.

Is there digital nirvana with pro gear under $2500US? It seems like a 2-to-1 ratio of value is being proposed in the posts above. So a $2500 pro DAC should equal a $5000 consumer DAC. And there are some big ticket price DACs being referenced above. If I were to change DACs, I'd consider Firewire under $2500. Currently using mac/itunes connected to either a) Brick DAC V2($1800) via WW Starlight USB, and b) Monarchy NM24 DAC w/ TOSLink in my office. I only need(want) 44.1/16 output capability.

Quick update: on the AC forum a member will be testing his same model i5 iMac/Brick DAC combo to see if the issue is repeated.

no access to windows os.