Wags

OK, so I celebrated a little too soon. On USB it was getting a low level popping sound, a little like a scratch on the old vinyl records. Tried changing some of the setting more or less randomly since I really don't understand what they do, the manual wasn't a lot of help. Couldn't find any way to stop it. Also, it would be nice if the preferences had a reset function that would send it back to the initial settings. Anyhow, I switched back to the lightpipe and the popping stopped. At this point I can't hear any differences when I change settings so I'm going to give it a rest and will try later. Any hints or ideas about why I had trouble with the USB connection? Lousy DAC (DacMagic)?

It was set on DAC if Available, else software. I switched it to Software only and that did the trick. Thanks!

I'm trying out Au+ for 15 days. Initially I was running a lightpipe from my MacBook and everything worked peachy. Then I read here that USB was a better way to connect so I tried that (USB into DacMagic straight into Hafler). It plays at full volume, ouch. I've futzed around with all the settings and can't get control back on the volume. My bird is beginning to complain about the noise. I must be missing something. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

I'm purposely running an older OS so I can use iTunes 10. Don't know if that works with it but I'll try. Meantime I found a work around - when I want low background volume I can launch the EQ and lower to preamp level to a minimum. That brings the volume down and at that low level the crappy algorithms in iTunes doesn't matter. Thanks for the info.

Here's my set-up: Last MacBook in my possession still running iTunes 10 (Damn you, Apple) Ginormous HD holding about a thousand CD's ripped Lossless Light pipe from MacBook into Cambridge Audio DacMagic DacMagic into a venerable Hafler DH-200 Hafler into a pair of venerable Alón speakers Problem is I can't get a low enough volume to not be slightly annoying when they're on as background music. The only volume control is via the MacBook or Remote, and that goes from completely off right to an ever so slightly annoying level when sitting near them having conversation. I've searched through all the preferences and can find no way to incrementally turn down the minimum volume level. Am I going to have to replace one of my cherished components for something with a volume control? OK, if I have to choose it would be the DacMagic, which isn't really venerable nor terribly expensive. I'm certainly willing to dump iTunes if there's a better program with finer volume control and ​would still permit me to use Remote. Thanks for any input.