breagan

Looks like DWDM (Dense-Wave Division Multiplexing from the telco networking sector) is coming to the desktop. This truly exciting because it will allow all peripherals to share a common connector. Can't wait. Meanwhile, anybody know how to get ESATA for my iMac?

First I'm seeing 3.0; Ihaven't seen any mass-storage or DAC support. If/when will Apple implement? Inquiring minds want to know....

Chris - did I miss something or is their 'hidef' file just lossless Redbook (16/44.1)? Seems kind of foolish to pony up $1.50 per track when you can jut buy the CD for $10 and rip it yourself?<br /> <br /> Thanks for clarifying<br /> bernard

Hi Chris - thanks for your quick reply and the chance to clarify my comments. I tried the Apogee Duet recently and was unable to eliminate a very audible background static-y grunge from playback. With no music playing, the mouse scroll wheel or other activity would cause an increase in the grunge volume. A cursory glance at a few forums revealed others with the same problem, that it was not unique to the Duet, or even firewire. The Apogee CSR was responsive and made several suggestions, unfortunately none of which worked. As the Duet has no other input option I was out of luck. From your comments about sample rate I'd guess my concern about sample-rate limiting for Firewire are dated, but I'm presented with two problems - a)the original noise issue, and b) I have only 1 Firewire port and it looks like I'm going to need that for external storage for my rapidly growing iTunes hi-def vid collection, not to mention my uncompressed CDs. What got the whole ultra hi-rez issue started for me was reading about new vinyl ripping software that performs the RIAA correction in 64-bit and creates a 24/192 file. Personally, I've never held Redbook CDs to even be a reasonable facsimile of audio truth and never considered the 'USB turntable' an archival option. To coin a phrase, you can't put Humpty-Dumpty back together again.. Anyway, how can I find out the chipset on my Dec 2008 vintage iMAC? Many thanks - bernard

Chris - the swiss-army knife box you refer to appears to be a cable termination-change device, but can it really extend a USB source beyond 44.1 or mitigate the noise/bus artifact problems inherent in USB? This goes to a more fundamental (newbie) problem I have understanding claims for these USB/Firewire DACs going to 196mhz when the source (USB) is limited to 96mhz at best on Windows (and Leopard, I think). If your server gives you Toslink out, what's the motive to go USB (with the attendant noise and bus artifacts)? How do you playback those hi-rez files over a USB connection? Again, sorry if I'm mangling terminology. I have a 24-inch iMAC 3.06Ghz with 4GB of memory and a rapidly shrinking internal drive. BTW does anyone know if USB/Firewire external drives have the bandwidth for HD playback (of Itunes vids)? Many thanks for input breagan