ymc226

I just remembered this forum existed and posted this same question on Audiogon but I think I will get more response here. Forgive me as I am new to computer audio, tried to read up on the internet but still would like to have a few basic questions answered. Currently using iTunes, importing CDs using Apple lossless encoder on a Mac Mini, have a thunderbolt external hard drive holding my iTunes library, outputting via optical 3.5mm headphone outlet to USB on a Schitt Yiggy DAC using Audionirvana via iTunes. I want to continue to improve the accessibility and quality while still using the Mac Mini as a source. Eventually, I will upgrade to a music streamer but not yet. I am not computer savvy but am familiar with the Mac environment. My music is classic rock > classical. I plan on subscribing to ROON (using an iPad to control my music) and using a NAS to hold my library as I understand that is the most efficient method: is there a specific format/file system that the audio files need to be put into a folder on the NAS or can I just rip the CD files to the NAS folder or drag and drop other pre-existing files? Being familiar with only iTunes, what CD ripper is recommended? What ripping settings are recommended? Comparing the following, downloading FLAC files or ripping SACDs of the same album, which would provide better quality? Compared to a regular audio CD, how much better? I do have a McIntosh MVP 861 that plays SACD and outputs via 5.1 unbalanced outputs. Is there any quality difference playing the SACD directly vs ripping to a NAS? Reading up on the ROON Nucleus, this seems the best option for me for audio quality and ease of set up and use, given less computer sophistication on my part. Are there other quality ROON compatible streamers that one would consider? Am I missing any fundamental issues when upgrading my computer audio?

Forgive me, but being new to higher end audio and computer audio, how can I tell if I'm using an async USB connection? Im just using the MacMini USB. Using Audirvana+, the Woo DAC displays whatever sampling rate I choose based on the User Preference choice up to 192K.

I changed the "built in output" option to speakers as I assume this would be if I wanted the USB as the source on the MacMini. The Mac doesn't identify the Woo specific DAC; still music comes through so I don't think this is an issue.

New to higher end audio and just learning a lot from this forum as well as on HeadFi. Just downloaded the latest trial version of Audirvana+ and bought the remote app as well. iTunes has been my music player. My source is a late 2012 Mac Mini with 16GB RAM and connecting via USB (speaker out) -> Woo Audio WDS-1 DAC -> Woo Audio WA5-LE headphone amp -> HiFiMan HE1000 headphones. I am playing with the Audirvana+ sampling rates and I find that no up sampling sounds better to me. Is the general consensus that up sampling does improve quality? If so I will do another comparison and would one go max sampling, max power of 2 sampling or 2? I guess that since there are multiple choices, it would be to taste depending on your individual system. For me, up sampling seems to cause loss of sparkle, detail and presence of the music but I could be wrong. How does the Audirvana+ integrated mode with iTunes change the sound? I tend to just on several A/B back and forth find the integrated mode to be a leaner sound whereas the Audirvana+ mode fleshes out the music more.

Thank you David.

I posted this on HeadFi.org but did not get many responses. Just got my first headphone amp + DAC about a month ago, a Woo Audio WA5-LE and the matching WDS-1 DAC. Presently, my source is my MacMini running iTunes with 99% of the music ripped from my redbook CD collection into ALAC format which turns out to be 44 KHz/16 bit. The Woo manual instructs to set the sampling rate at 192KHz but then I read on the Woo Owners Unite thread that sampling at a higher rate than the native 44KHz would degrade the sound quality so I set the rate from the MacMini Audio Midi back down to 44KHz. I am now going to adopt Audirvana+ as my player and have read on several threads that up sampling on an even order would increase detail and sound quality. This is the part I am confused about. On the Audirvana player, I'll select to up sample (?to the highest rate possible). Should I open the Apple OS X utility Audio Midi and increase the sample rate back to 192KHz which is the maximum for my DAC?