thinkdifferent

Hello There, I have the Burson HA-160-D DAC, and currently using with MacBook, via USB. I want to try the digital connection of my MacBook. and I'm bit confused, I have asked Google but with too many solutions, I've got more confused, hence I'm here to see the experts out there who have done & dusted it all. I currently have a Monster Coaxial and Optical cable (Burson has only 1 Coaxial input) so which connection to use from MacBook. Which is a reasonably cheaper but good to buy the SPDIP or Toslink? is there any difference between these 2? I have heard that optical is always good, is it? if any links to those to buy online to ship to Canada would be helpful. or shops around Toronto would be also helpful as my friend is visiting Canada and is kind enough to get those for me. Awaiting for response eagerly & Thanks in advance.

Hi Dave, Thanks for the reply and the link, so you mean and as the link says, I have to just put the volume on step 3 on the attenuator? and it opens the complete volume path to my integrated amp? sorry I'm a new bee and need more help Regards

Dear All, I'm using HA-160D as a CD source to my integrated amp. and turned on the volume permanently to FULL on burson, and kept it that way. and controlling the volume of NAD by Nad's remote control, now my question is -- will this in any way damage the burson, and is this a good idea to use it like this in a long run? using burson as a PRE is not an option for me with current amp. any one out there using the Burson HA-160D with Power Amp or Integtrated Amp? what is the best Integrated-Amp/Power-Amp that suits this if used HA-160D as a Pre. Thanks in advance for any help out there! Cheers

Dears, Finally I've pulled the trigger and bought Burson HA-160D, OH-MY, This small little peace of Art from Burson is making my speakers (B&W 603 S3's) & Amp, sing like never before. currently I'm using it with my NAD C372 Integrated, and using MacBook 2Ghz/2GB via USB cable supplied by Burson. and my music preference is Female-Vocals, Classical. Musicality, & Jazz, -AND- My Quest has Began, hence I'm here to seek your expertise and help with the following: 1. What USB cable to buy? 2. How can I use my Mac book via optical out? what cable and Toslink converter? 2a which cable will give me Hi-Rez quality? 96? 384? etc. 3. after trying some of the iTunes alternatives I liked PM and Ammra but Ammra full version is insanely high for me so may be Ammra-Junior) or any other softeare to look for, which gives similar sound like the above 2? 4. I'm using HA-160D as a CD source to my integrated amp. and turned on the volume permanently to FULL on burson. and controlling the volume of NAD by Nad's remote control, now my question is -- will this in any way damage the burson, and is this a good idea to use it like this in a long run? using burson as a PRE is not an option for me for now with current amp. 5. Best ripping method for hi-res. (Preferably using Mac, but if any other solution is also fine) 6. Now, last but not the least. which headphones? I know there are many out there from cheap to expensive so I'm confused, and my budget is not that high in between $500 to 550 USD. keeping my music preferences mentioned above. 7. any one out there using the Burson HA-160D with Power Amp or Integtrated Amp? what is the best Integrated-Amp/Power-Amp that suits this if used HA-160D as a Pre. Cheers Pramod.

Dears, Finally I've pulled the trigger and bought Burson HA-160D, OH-MY, This small little peace of Art from Burson is making my speakers (B&W 603 S3's) & Amp, sing like never before. currently I'm using it with my NAD C372 Integrated, and using MacBook 2Ghz/2GB via USB cable supplied by Burson. and my music preference is Female-Vocals, Classical. Musicality, & Jazz, -AND- My Quest has Began, hence I'm here to seek your expertise and help with the following: 1. What USB cable to buy? 2. How can I use my Mac book via optical out? what cable and Toslink converter? 2a which cable will give me Hi-Rez quality? 96? 384? etc. 3. after trying some of the iTunes alternatives I liked PM and Ammra but Ammra full version is insanely high for me so may be Ammra-Junior) or any other softeare to look for, which gives similar sound like the above 2? 4. I'm using HA-160D as a CD source to my integrated amp. and turned on the volume permanently to FULL on burson. and controlling the volume of NAD by Nad's remote control, now my question is -- will this in any way damage the burson, and is this a good idea to use it like this in a long run? using burson as a PRE is not an option for me for now with current amp. 5. Best ripping method for hi-res. (Preferably using Mac, but if any other solution is also fine) 6. Now, last but not the least. which headphones? I know there are many out there from cheap to expensive so I'm confused, and my budget is not that high in between $500 to 550 USD. keeping my music preferences mentioned above. 7. any one out there using the Burson HA-160D with Power Amp or Integtrated Amp? what is the best Integrated-Amp/Power-Amp that suits this if used HA-160D as a Pre. Cheers Pramod.

Thanks to you all Folks, I really appricate it, I will checkout my options with the links that you have shared along with your thoughts, but one more question though, which cable should I use between my iTunes (Mac Book) to the Integrated amp via ext USB DAC, if I intend to buy a MF-V-DAC (which may be fitting to my small budget) I read about the SPDIF but I'm lost when it said BNC connection is better then RCA connection etc. any thoughts on V-DAC? I'l looking a warm sound out of my setup, given my acoustics (as it use to sounds Sharp with my old NAD CD player) any thoughts on that lines also would be appreaciated. or any other ext-DAC in that price range which is better then V-DAC. sorry to ask many questions Thanks in advance. Pramod.

Hello List, I need your help in building my music system using Mac Book 13" which I want to dedicate to listening to my music (now that I sold my CD player) here is my question, I want to build a decent stereo music system without digging much deeper into my pocket. here are the resources I currently have. ~MacBook 13"/Core2Duo/2Gb/250GB Snow Leopard (Will soon upgrade to LION) ~ MacBook Pro 15"/2.4Ghz/2GB/250GB ~NAD Integrated Stereo Amplifier 372 ~ B&W 603S3 Speakers ~ QED Silver Anniversary B-Wire Cables ~ Van-dun-Hul Integration hybrid interconnect cable ~ Popcorn Network Media Player (Without Blue Ray drive) but with network ability ~ 1 Western Digital Green Caviar 1TB external HDD ~ System can be networked in the process of building intel i5 desktop with Windows 7 I need a starting point as to from where I should start, a link or PDF documentation will do, and what else I need to buy to make my speakers sing via my Laptop/itunes. my music linking is mostly Female Vocals and classical and slow Jazz music. Any Help out there. Thanks