nomad33fw

I use a Mac Mini but bypass the Apple DAC and use a PeachTree Audio X1 this allows me to play 192/24 files as the internal DAC of the Mac maxes out at 96/25. I use Audirvana Plus for the software side of things. There are many audiophiles here that would scoff at my system but it sounds wonderful to me. I listen to Jazz etc favorite currently is Melody Gardot.

I use a 2012 MM i7 quad and love it. I did add a PeachTree Audio X1 to the system. The X1 nicely bypasses the sound chip of the MM via USB the outputs a clean 192/24 via coax into my Denon. The Denon DAC is decent, the X1 just gets the signal into it cleanly.

For me the X1 was a great solution at a great price, just over $100. I have what most people here would probably call a low end system, but on a cops budget it sounds pretty good. I have a MacMini and a total of 4 TB of storage so all my music is saved as AIFF in its original format. The Mac Mini as everyone knows is only capable of 96/24 via its HDMI or Toslink, and now that I have an X1 to compare it too, a very noisy 96/24. Anyway, the Mac Mini is connected to a Denon AVR-X1100W with Bowers-Wilkins 685 S2 and a Def Tech super cube. The Denon from what I've found has a TI PCM1690 (Burr Brown?) Dac so I figured if I could just improve the quality of what was getting to it I would probably be at the limits of my system. I also looked at the reviews and specs of as many Dacs in my budget range and didn't think I could really improve on what was within the Denon without spending more then it cost to begin with. So the little X1 is connected to the Mac Mini via USB and Coaxial (audioquest cables) to the Denon. I use Audirvana Plus and could immediately hear the difference. I'm not sure if it's timing or just a clarity thing but the X1 certainly brings out the small nuances. I think I'm getting the best out of my equipment now and am very happy with the little X1.

If you haven't found a DAC yet can I make an alternative solution. The peachtree audio X1 will connect to your MacPro via USB and will output a very clean 192/24 via optical or preferably coaxial. I connect my Mac Mini to my Denon this way and it greatly improved the quality.

Disregard this the problem was not Audirvana. I changed the input mode from auto to PCM on my receiver and it seems to be working now. Although I hear some cracks, pops and otherwise what sounds like instability at its limit. I am going to switch from an optical cable to coax the first chance I get out to buy one.

I just bought a PeachTree Audio X1 so I could stream the 192/24 files that I have from my Mac to Denon. First of all the X1 sounds great, and works perfectly in iTunes playing AIFF at 192/24 but with Audirvana I cannot get it to play a 192/24 file. Its just garbled. If I go into settings and reduce the max sample rate to 176 or 96 it works fine, but it would play the 192 file at its native rate. Like I said it works fine with iTunes so I don't think its the X1 seems like an Audirvana Plus issue. I am running a 2012 Mac Mini i7 with 16gb of ram.

The PeachTree Audio X1 arrived and so far so good. I don't use headphones which made the amp in so many of the DAC's reviewed here seem like extra. The X1 is getting the audio out of my Mac Mini cleanly and sending it to the Denon via an optical cable. The Denon has a TI PCM1690 (Bur Bown?) DAC, with this being an AVR with surround and 2ch duties. Just figured that many of the DAC's reviewed would be more useful if I had a higher end amp. I went with Audioquest cables to connect the X1. I use Audirvana Plus, and have all my music saved in AIFF at 16/44 minimum with 24/96 and 192 when its available. Definitely not a scientific test but things sound more open airy and exact coming from the X1. I'm probably not describing this right, but it does sound better to me. The little nuances standout, a musician in the background snapping their finger or the fingers on a guitar string all sound right upfront. Like I said before, I know this isn't a DAC per say but I figured there were others reading this thread with entry/mid level AVR's that might have a decent built in DAC and would find this useful. The bad thing is this is probably all going to lead to a better amp and an upgrade of my Bowers eventually.

I know it's not a "DAC" and forgive me if it doesn't belong in this thread. I just ordered PeachTree Audio's X1 USB to SPDIF converter. I don't really need the portable aspect, just looking to get the best sound out of my Mac Mini. The X1 will give me asynchronous USB and an up to 24/192 output via SPDIF, if anything it should clean up some jitter and possibly any computer noise. Figure I would clean up the signal going into the Denon that I use in pure direct mode and see if I can actually hear a difference.

Saw this for less the $120 24/192 . Thinking this would bypass the Mac Mini DAC and go into my Denon in Pure Direct mode. http://www.peachtreeaudio.com/x1-usb-spdif-converter.html

How do the mid priced non-portable DACs measure up. Keep seeing the ZDAC by parasound on sale its in the same range. PeachTree DAC iT and their USB to SPDIF has me curious. I know this would be just bypassing my MAC Mini DAC but that's kind of the point.

Thank you Paul. I had yesterday off and spent it listening to my favorites. For music I think it sounds better in direct mode, there is way too much bass in standard stereo mode, it's unnatural sounding. Think I will pick up an iFi and tune the sub manually like you say. I will then run the Audyssey for surround and let it correct what ever it wants for that mode.

Think I did ok. Denon AVR-X1100W on sale $299 2012 Mac Mini i7 16GB Ram $700 Bowers-Wilkins 685 S2 $700 Definitive Tech SuperCube 2000 $499 SpeakerCraft Aim-8 $300 pr It sounds great, for 2 channel and surround. Thinking about a USB DAC

Thank you. For now I just purchased Audirvana Plus, think it sounds better but that could be physiological too. The HD music I have from B&W sounds terrific, I had been using VOX to play it. I've seen the iFi Nano for $189 so it's not out of the realm of buying it to experiment with.

Thank you for your reply. I learn so much here. I broke out the Denon manual and found that in Direct and Pure Direct modes the subwoofer is on if I set it to LFE+Main. The B&W frequency response is 52Hz - 22KHz and by SuperCube claims it can go down to 20Hz.. When you say I loose subwoofer management what do you mean?

Well I read every post in this thread trying to decide what to buy and if to by and this last post put me right back to square one. I am not an audiophile by definition I guess, and I've spent way to much time on a flight line with turbines and at the range to say my hearing could pass any real tests. I guess you could call my a budget audiophile hobbyist. I have read reviews and carefully picked what I have to try and provide bang for the buck. Right now I have a Denon AVR-X1100W, B&W 685 S2, Definitive SuperCube 2000, and SpeakerCraft Aim-8's, a Mac Mini (2012) and PS4. My system has to play both roles of 2 Channel audio and 5.1 movies. The Mac Mini & PS4 are both connected to the Denon via HDMI, the audio settings of the Mac are set to 96/24 and I purchase 96/24 FLAC when I can and burn CD's to the FLAC. The B&W's are bi-amped since I only need 5.1 of the Denon's 7.2 capabilities. I read this hoping to get just a little more out of my system for just a little more. My Denon has a TI PCM1690 DAC built in and comes with Audyssey MultEQ® XT but it also has Direct and Pure Direct modes. Initially I was thinking about the Meridian Explorer thinking it probably met my "bang for the buck" requirements. So there is a question in here. I know this system doesn't come close to most people's here, but would buying the Meridian or even splurging for the iFi iDSD change the sound of my system?