Have Apple Mac and Naim DAC, what's next?

Ballan,

You can try any number of converters as a middleman between the Mac and DAC. There are Firewire or USB to SPDIF ranging from $70 to $2000.

A few options could be:
M-Audio Transit
Hiface
Weiss INT202

I recommend using something that doesn't require changing settings when you move between hi-res and redbook audio. But since that is not possible with standard iTunes, it may be a moot point.

Others will tell you of software you must buy, that iTunes requires in order to work like any other media player.

One is Amarra. I am VERY skeptical of those though.

You have many options at your doorstep.

I would advise that you simply use your current method for a while until you figure out exactly how you want to roll.

In the meantime there are plenty of other opportunities for upgrading that wont back you into a corner. Powerline, Hiline, servicing old amps and PSUs, XPS or 555ps for DAC, new supports, better cable dressing, different digital cable etc....

-Patrick

Pure Music Audio Player! Cheaper than Amara & seems to be getting good user reviews.

There is also an interesting thread over at audiocircle on how to maximise the Mac Mini. I think much of it also applies to Mac computers.

@pcstockton: I agree with you. I'm skeptical about the "third party" programs as well. I don't have any "high resolution" files, so switching the "midi settings" is not anything I'm worried about....yet.

I've read through a lot of forums and have tried different cables, DACs and interfaces. Using a glass toslink cable directly from the Mac to the DAC seems to work the best.

Sometimes less is more....

Informed scepticism is healthy.

Why not pull down the Pure Music demo, actually try it and make your own mind up?

quote:

Informed scepticism is healthy.

Blind skepticism is human

HiFace isn't expensive, is worth having, (imho) and PM is free to try (I've bought it having liked what it does). Hiface Evo is tempting, (anyone tried?) but the basic model improves itunes AIFF files. Don't know what PM is like without the HiFace, as I bought the gadget first and use bnc-bnc which, apparently, the dac likes best.

Yes...

That is why I suggested keeping their current (working and sounding good) method until they figure out how they want to try to get signal to the DAC.

There is a huge price difference between using stock digi output of the MAC, and full Amarra with an INT202. And I am not sure the relative differences are worth $3000. That is up to each person to determine.

I would try to demo the various options and see which one brings the best VFM, or the best SQ (if price is no object).

I just now noticed that the OP was asking (i think), if the Mac direct to DAC is better than Airport to DAC? I think removing both the wireless aspect and the Airport cant hurt the SQ. The Airport is a known source of huge amounts of jitter, which may affect things (some think the Naim DAC is "immune" from source jitter).

Ballan, you can easily A/B Airport vs Direct without buying anything. Please check it out and report back to us on your findings.

thanks,
Patrick

If the Sync light comes on on the DAC, then the jitter in the source is within the naim DACs ability to reclock via the buffer, so don't get too hung up on jitter.

And although Stereophile did indeed measure huge jitter from the analogue output of the Airport Express, they measured jitter from the digital output as being a "respectably low 258ps", which was better than the soundcard in the reviewers pc. Indeed, the review concludes "The beauty of this unassuming component, however, is its S/PDIF data output, which allows the AirPort Express to assume a respectable role in a true high-end audio system. "

So it is at least worth a punt.

quote:

So it is at least worth a punt.

I think he is already punting away. 4th and long.

I am a dac n Mac user with a few bells and whistles attached. In my setup I use pure music with memory play and an external USB drive powered by the Mac. This allows me to run the MacBook on battery power which is definitely an improvement on the electric grid in my area. That being said the rest of my system is pretty much tweaked to within an inch of it's life so it really does show every little improvement upstream. I also use FireWire via the Weiss and a nordost digital cable that was also a must have after audition. End result is nothing short of wonderful to my ears.

Thank all of you for your suggestions. I'll look into some of the options.

When I compare the Mac directly connected to the Naim DAC (glass optical) vs. AirPort Express connected (glass optical), I can tell very little, if any, difference. I like being ale to use iTunes and the Apple Remote app for music, so this works out great.

I'm going to look into the other options over time to see if I can make it better, but I'm as happy as can be with the results so far.

I have a CDX2 and XPS2. I'm wondering how much use the CDX2 will get?

My Mac has no optical connection so I could not comment on that.

Re itunes, pure music links with and uses itunes as its file management system. Pure music plays the actual files. I use the remote app on my ipod to control my system, thats one of the things that people like about PM.

quote:

Originally posted by Briz Vegas:
My Mac has no optical connection so I could not comment on that.

(For information only) From your description ou must be using a MacBook Pro ... if so it does have a Optical connection but it's hidden as a Mini-TOSLink via he headphone socket. Obviously your Weiss FireWire interface is going to be of higher quality.

Eloise

Would there be any benefit in using Pure Music when you are streaming wirelessly from iTunes on a MacBook across to an AppleTV?

quote:

Would there be any benefit in using Pure Music when you are streaming wirelessly from iTunes on a MacBook across to an AppleTV?

Nope.

Why nope? Memory play can be useful and Puremusic does not muck about with the music file. Surely it is better to give the free trial a go and make your own mind up.

Eloise, I went looking for that toslink connection but found an sd card slot instead.

 http://images.apple.com/macboo...es_io13_20100509.jpg 

quote:

Originally posted by Briz Vegas:
Why nope? Memory play can be useful and Puremusic does not muck about with the music file. Surely it is better to give the free trial a go and make your own mind up.

Yes but any benefits will be dragged down to the res of the wireless connection. Compare wireless with direct connection to the DAC using PM in HOG mode, no contest IMO.

Joe

@Briz Vegas: the optical connection is at the end of the audio/headphone jack. You need a "mini toslink" adaptor or cable.

quote:

Originally posted by james n:

quote:

Would there be any benefit in using Pure Music when you are streaming wirelessly from iTunes on a MacBook across to an AppleTV?

Nope.

Correct there is no benefit using Pure Music and as transmission to an Apple TV would be straight from iTunes.

Eloise

Thought I would give pure music a try.

It only works with local content, trying to play from an itunes server results in nothing.

On the local music all it did for me was make the music quieter. I don't understand how this thing can be improving if its putting the stream through an EQ, which is what its doing as you can adjust the gain on the left.

I, too, tried PM; have now removed it. Not quite sure what it is supposed to do except automatically change the sample rate, but I couldn't find any benefit from using it; there wasn't any dramatic downside either. I tried hog mode, but .... maybe use of the hiFace driver negates it.

quote:

Originally posted by garyi:

On the local music all it did for me was make the music quieter. I don't understand how this thing can be improving if its putting the stream through an EQ, which is what its doing as you can adjust the gain on the left.

Something wrong there, if it's set right there is absolutely no difference in volume. Judging from your previous posts I'm not sure you didn't set out to prove that it was somehow no use to you, but hey.

Bit like ROTF trying non Naim DACs really, they tend to meet his expectation. LOL

Joe

JOe, why would I do that?

There is a significant drop in volume, I used it just as it opened with no adjustments. When I quite it I had to quit and relaunch itunes, presumably to give the audio back, where by it was significantly louder.

This is neither here nor there, the software was not able to play from a network server so its of no use to me anyhow.

quote:

Originally posted by garyi:
the software was not able to play from a network server so its of no use to me anyhow.

Fair enough Gary, playing PM using Memory Play in HOG Mode (music stored on board in iTunes) sounds different to iTunes or Amarra but same volume unless one of the volume scales are touched. Not to say we'd agree on what was best, but different they are and using test files, all measure bit perfect unless a volume control is touched. YMMV etc. BTW I'm not sure PM works with optical, I've never tried it or looked into it.

Joe