Entertainment For Lively Minds
Mac N' DAC
Posted by Pat Carty on 10 January 2012 - 4:03pm.
My MacBook Pro is connected to my amp using a headphone to RCA cables connection. Most of my files are lossless, it doesn't sound as good as my cd player. Do I need a DAC? Has anyone any recommendations?
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I suggest
You ask the very friendly chaps here:
http://hddaudio.net/
(account required -- but they're nice people)
Music Fidelity V-DAC
I have my iMac connected to my amp via a DAC and it does sound much better than headphone to RCA.
The headphone output of a Mac is a combined analogue mini-jack and optical output, so best bet is to get a optical connection which will give you pure digital between the Mac and the DAC and then leave all the analog conversion to an isolated DAC.
For the DAC I use the Music Fidelity V-DAC. Its very basic, but recently priced, but with a pretty solid performance. They've recently updated to V-DAC II, so you may be able to get the old one at a good price. Here's the details of the current one....
http://www.musicalfidelity.com/products/V-Series/V-DAC/V-DAC.asp
Its got pretty good reviews on some of the serious audiophile sites. A good source of info on Computer Audio is here (http://www.computeraudiophile.com/). A bit high end sometimes, but some pretty good info (including detailed instructions on how to rip the 24bit / 96KHz audio from the recent DSOM immersion blu-ray !)
Whilst on the topic of computer audio, I also have music streaming to other amps in the house via the Airport Express (with optical connection again). However, it is worth noting that if you have 24bit / 96KHz or higher audio files the airport express automatically down samples to 16bit / 48KHz (i.e. about CD quality) which is one of the reasons I went for the direct connection from the Mac to my main Hi-Fi amp (its in the same room).
I have a cheap £200 netbook
Attached to my hi-fi via a DacMagic. I really only use it for Spotify, but the results are little short of astonishing. It's a standard USB connection, so I assume it'll work just as well with a Mac.
What he said
my initial buy was based on the enthusiasm of the FT's Jonathan Margolis in his review.
Like Fraser I am using a netbook, if anyone has first hand experience of the Dac Magic with a Mac I would be interested. Especially as the latest version has things like volume control allowing it to act as a preamp.
Should add that as well as
USB into dac magic I have recently been playing with netbook -> squeezebox via ethernet -> dac magic via optical -> amp (arcam). Whole lot controlled via iPad.
Sounds pretty decent, but amuses me that effectively I have taken a one piece cd player and split it into its component parts ... All in the name of convenience ...
step into my office.
I've been using my IPad via AirPlay to the Apple TV linked optically to the Dac Magic then to the hi-fi. It sounds really good. A lot punchier than the CD with plenty of bass.
I see Fidelity will upgrade the Dac for a couple of hundred pounds. That should make it even better.
Is the music
stored locally on your iPad, or are you streaming or accessing it from somewhere else e.g. Spotify or iTunes ?
I'm using the IPad
as the remote streaming it from my Mac using Home Sharing.
another way I've tried
edited as I was talking rubbish!
Pat, get yourself to Cloney Audio
And buy yourself an Arcam rDAC. Tidy little unit in brushed metal and very unobtrusive. I hooked my iMac up to one early last year and the results are phenomenal, about 300 notes if I recall but well worth the outlay
That might be the way to go
I can't find any stockist for the Cambridge DAC around Dublin, unless anyone knows better?
Looking at the .ie web site for Richer
It seems the only physical shop anywhere even vaguely near you is Belfast, though presumably they have to do friendly terms on home trials for smallish items like the DACs ? ... But having heard the Arcam Dac demonstrated a couple of times, both by people from the manufacturer, and being the owner of a DAC magic, I feel confident that they are both good products and you wouldnt be sorry if you get the Arcam.