kevinm1 Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 Hello... What is the best way to connect an iMac (with USB, thunderbolt, ethernet and a headphone jack) to an integrated amp that has an optical Toslink and USB --- and is about 36 feet away? Thanks. Link to comment
wouterk Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 You can just use an optical cable - Mac headphone socket has digital out; just get correct adapters and you can get started. External DACs may have sonic advantages. Link to comment
kevinm1 Posted March 29, 2015 Author Share Posted March 29, 2015 You can just use an optical cable - Mac headphone socket has digital out; just get correct adapters and you can get started. External DACs may have sonic advantages. Thanks. And that length is ok for an optical cable? Link to comment
Melvin Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 Thanks. And that length is ok for an optical cable? Yes .. here is a link to a 50' optical cable with mini Toslink connection on 1 end and standard Toslink connection on the other: S/PDIF Digital Optical Audio Cable, Toslink to Mini Toslink, 50ft - Monoprice.com Link to comment
Come Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 Hi, IMHO, I would go for the USB way if your DAC offers a B-mode USB asynchronous input (most of recent models). This way, the clock signal will be provided by the DAC instead of the Mac. The cable length will be a minor constraint since the clock is controlled by the end point (DAC). If your DAC isn't async, you should be able to find some adaptors (ex: M2tech USB Hiface). TOSlink is known to be somewhat jittery but could be your second choice (it's not that bad). Qobuz Sublime subscription & m4a files on Synology DS416play / Macbook Air 13" 2012 + El Capitan (Direct Mode) + Audirvana 3.x / DAC Arcam IrDAC / Ampli NAD C320 / Speaker Cabasse Sloop 500 Link to comment
Paul R Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 Hi, IMHO, I would go for the USB way if your DAC offers a B-mode USB asynchronous input (most of recent models). This way, the clock signal will be provided by the DAC instead of the Mac. The cable length will be a minor constraint since the clock is controlled by the end point (DAC). If your DAC isn't async, you should be able to find some adaptors (ex: M2tech USB Hiface). TOSlink is known to be somewhat jittery but could be your second choice (it's not that bad). All true, but 36 feet (10 yards) is a very long distance for USB and probably won't work well. Nothing at all for TOSLink to handle though. Anyone who considers protocol unimportant has never dealt with a cat DAC. Robert A. Heinlein Link to comment
kevinm1 Posted March 31, 2015 Author Share Posted March 31, 2015 Thanks again. I will be connecting to a Peachtree 125SE... Someone told me that one can get "powered" USB cables.... Is that worth looking at? Link to comment
Paul R Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 Thanks again. I will be connecting to a Peachtree 125SE... Someone told me that one can get "powered" USB cables.... Is that worth looking at? Not in my opinion, unless you plan to move the gear closer to each other. -Paul Anyone who considers protocol unimportant has never dealt with a cat DAC. Robert A. Heinlein Link to comment
nontheski Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 well,unless you plan to move the gear closer to each other. Link to comment
baddog Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Well, I have not tried this cable, it is a USB cable, but if your DAC requires power then you would need to add a hub on the end nearest the DAC. It is made by Corning. It is sold in a 33 foot length (11 yards) and a 100 foot length. And it is over a $100, and it has been much discussed on this forum, and I haven't tried it. Where as the TOSLINK cable that someone linked to is about $5.50. Silver Circle Audio | Roon | Devialet | Synology | Vivid Audio | Stillpoint Aperture | Auralic | DH Labs Link to comment
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