Betrthanren

I'm impressed but not overly ecstatic as I thought I would be! Why? I've now A,B'ed and C'ed content from Tidal, Spotify, and CD using many different setups i.e. Apple TV, iPad, iPhone, iMac, USB, Coaxial, and even Optical...but with every test my CD player outshines them all! Nothing comes close. The spacial and depth differences compared to my CD player are substantial!!! I can't justify spending an extra $10 a month for a streaming service to only gain...a little improvement. Yes there is an improvement in quality from Spotify at extreme settings and HI-FI on Tidal...but again not worth $10 more a month. I'll save the $10 and buy some more CD's. Anyone else do any comparisons...Specifically A-B'ing the same content? I'm interested in hearing your thoughts... System components...McIntosh and PeachTree DACIT.

So I'm confused??? Need some help!!! When I hook up the X1 to the DACIT going directly using just the 75 ohm coax cable I ran it works fine. But when I hook up a Digital Coaxial cable it doesn't work. Here's the setup maybe this'll help discover something that I'm missing...? iMac to X1 using USB cable. Out of X1 to DACIT using an F-connector to RCA Male to a compression F Fitting. Going into the DACIT I'm using an F-connector to RCA Male to a compression F Fitting...and this setup works. But when I hookup an F-connector to RCA Female to my compression F Fitting and attach a digital coaxial cable 75 ohm it doesn't work...? I don't get it? Why doesn't it work? The reason I want to use the digital coaxial cable is to reduce the stress caused by the heavy coax and fittings. I've had experiences where the added stress broke the terminal! I don't see how using this extra cable with that type of fitting causes it not to work. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Working!!! I had two bad coaxial audio cables!!! What are the chances???

Tried going optical and it works! Need it to work coaxial/SPDIF.

The X1 arrived today and I was already prepared! I ran a coax cable from my iMac to my listening room, so when it came today it was plug and play ready...? IT DOESNT WORK!!! I've been trying everything and anything to get to get this thing to work! New cables, USB and audio, bypassed the new coax cable still nothing. The LED lights up blue and green and when I feed it music they both light up blue signaling it's sending music. But it's dead! I hooked it up to the DACIT nothing. I hooked it up directly to my surround sound stereo receiver that has a digital readout and it randomly switches from reading 192.0 kHz/44.0 to nothing. Am I doing something wrong or is it DOA? Thanks in advance for any help or advice you can give.

Thanks again for all the advice! AppleTV issues... I have a high end tributaries optical 2m cable going from the AppleTV to the DAC. I hooked up my AirPort Express with the same results. The problem is in the content being streamed to the DACIT...It's mp3! I'm spoiled!!! It sounds like I'm listening to it in a tunnel. I did end up purchasing the X1 by PeachTree. I'll let you know how it works out. I was surprised to learn the DAC accepts 192 files via Coax/SPDIF input but not through USB??? Like wwaldmanfan said in an earlier post the PeacTree DAC is meant for use with the Coax input. I know I'm new to the whole computer audio thing but you would think it would be best to have the USB input be able to handle 192 files...? Seems like you would experience loss going from the USB to X1 to coaxial out to my DAC....? Maybe it's different in digital compared to analog. Speaking of files...any suggestions on what to buy to test it out with? I ended up buying the remaster of Death Cab For Cuties Translaticism on HD Tracks and I was severely disappointed with the quality! I almost departed from computer audio after A-B"ing" between the DACIT and my original CD. What saved me was downloading the Pearl Jam show I went to this past fall in HD 24/96. I felt I was back at the show! Thanks for the link for the power supply. But I will now just send high Rez files via my iMac! Thanks Again! I'm learning a lot and I greatly appreciate all the help!

The Bel Canto is BNC to RCA. I have a high end Digital cable I'd like to put to use. What about the X1 by PeachTree? I like the fact that it's RCA out. If I go with the Bel Canto I'm going to have to either Frankenstein cables to get it to work or end making a cable using Coax Cable.

Thanks for the responses! I do have an AppleTV hooked up to the DACIT via Optical for casual listening...but it sounds horrible! Another option that failed was hooking up my iPad using the USB adapter but it says the DACIT needs too much power....? Maybe I'm doing something wrong? What about using the Peachtree T1 USB to SPDIF? I have a high end Tributaries digital cable that I could run from the T1 to the DACIT. Thoughts?

So I jumped into computer audio but I have some questions that some of you might be able to answer...? I currently have an iMac (2012) with a Peachtree DACIT. The computer is in my family room while my Audio Gear is in my living room. Running a cable from the computer to DACIT would be around 25'. I believe that's too long for USB...? So I learned that my iMac has a dual audio output. Meaning if I put in a mini toslink adapter in my 1/8" audio jack I can run an optical cable to my DAC. Would this be a good idea or bad idea? Seems to easy...? I want the best sound possible! Any advice you can give I'd appreciate it. Thanks!