Mac V iPod as a source

Posted by: Dasher on 09 March 2010

I have a nDAc on order to partner up with a CD5XS which I already have. I want to dip my toes into playback from a computer source and I am planning to use my Mac Book Pro to achieve this end, either through an optical interconnect or via a Hi Face BNC to BNC. From the many comments on the Forum it would seem that the latter option will sound better than the optical. Other comments over the past week suggest that WAV files on a USB stick are also more than acceptable.

However, my question is this:

My Mac Book Pro has a disc drive memory (500 Gb) and yet my ipod 16 Gb Nano is a solid state memory, similar but different to a USB stick but still connected to the DAC via the USB socket. I will be using AIFF files on the Mac and to start with on the iPod.

Which source is going to sound best ? In theory the solid state memory of the iPod sending digital data should perform better, but I suspect this will not be the case. Can anyone who has tried this out please explain why ?

I realise that space on an iPod of this size is a limiting factor but no more so than a USB stick, but the IPod has the advantage that you can see what music files are on it. Will a USB stick with WAV files sound better than an iPod with AIFF files ? (Or, have I missed a trick here in that the DAC will not accept AIFF from an iPod ?)

Also any recommendations for a VFM optical cable to get me going before going down the Hi Face route ?

Thanks.
Posted on: 11 March 2010 by pcstockton
please let us know what you discover. No one here can tell you what you think sounds best.
Posted on: 11 March 2010 by Naijeru
I've tried my iPhone with radio off and found it to be okay, but inferior to ATV over optical (and even analog into my NAIT!). I couldn't say how an iPod sounds but I imagine it would be something similar. USB definitely is better than the iPhone but it is different from ATV. I haven't decided yet whether I prefer USB over ATV or not. USB is the only way I can get hi-res audio into my system though; again it sounds different from other things but I'm not sure if it sounds better yet. I have a lot more listening to do on that front.
Posted on: 11 March 2010 by Skip
The Uniti, as I understand it, has an iPod hookup which takes the signal digitally out of the iPod. Does this same cable work on the nDac?

If it does, I bet it sounds better than the optical toslink out of the MacMini.

No DAC at my house. I am no expert, but the difference between different digital cables and cable protocols is larger than you might imagine. SPDIF. Coax. Toslink. USB. All sound different. I am not sure what beats what, but I believe there is a preferred solution, and I bet this choice makes more difference than the solid state vs. disc memory.
Posted on: 11 March 2010 by Keith L
My iPod Touch playing wav files into the Ndac's usb socket does not sound as good as a usb stick playing wav files.
Posted on: 12 March 2010 by Dasher
quote:
please let us know what you discover. No one here can tell you what you think sounds best.


I will endeavour to do so, but might be a while yet as I am on a waiting list for the nDAC. The indication is that delivery may be this month, but who really knows ?

Can anyone make a recommendation for an optical cable in the meantime ? Presumably, like other cables, some are better put together than others and sound better.
Posted on: 13 March 2010 by winkyincanada
quote:
Originally posted by Dasher:


Can anyone make a recommendation for an optical cable in the meantime ? Presumably, like other cables, some are better put together than others and sound better.



Well, I wouldn't presume that optical cables sound different. But that might just be me. My optical cable has gold plated plugs! Why? I have no idea.

I am using fairly inexpensive Rocketfish cables because that's what my local big-box electronics store sells. They seem well-enough made. And yes, even the optical cables have GOLD PLATED PLUGS! (I just can't get past that, can I? I smirk every-time I think of it).
Posted on: 13 March 2010 by u5227470736789439
How does the light get through the gold? ;¬)

ATB from George
Posted on: 13 March 2010 by rich46
quote:
Originally posted by GFFJ:
How does the light get through the gold? ;¬)

ATB from George


since having the ndac since december ive try all options. i found that expensive opto cables made no difference. i settled for true colours inndustry TCI OPTICAL £34. SEEMS well constructed and match several expensive ones, try hifi cables.co.uk