JGSC

I would recommend the following configuraion: Go for a Bryston DAC BDA-1 and use its Toslink input to be fed from the MacBook Mini-Tosnlink output. I have done some comparisons with Ayre QB-9, Bryston DAC in my Bryston BP26 preamp Coaxial Inputs (using a Toslink to Coaxial converter). I have auditioned the Weiss Minerva with a Martin Logan Summit X and to be honest the level of detail, imaging, soundstage and quite similar!!! Now I am using a simpler approach because I bought the Bryston external DAC BDA-1 and using the Toslink inputs directly from my Mac Mini Mini-Toslink output, then no conversion to Coaxil needed. All material is Uncompressed AIF coded. 400 CDs in my music server. 10 new CDs per month and counting!! Now I am exploring to add higher resolution material. I would say that any difference using USB, Firewire or mini-Toslink from the Mac Mini (using Ayre's DQ-9, Weiss's Minerva and Bryston's BDA-1) is merely based in personal tastes, cognitive and musical approach to the music. I prefer bryston for simplicity, transparency, matching between preamp and DAC, imaging, soundstage and top to bottom coherence. Best, Jose