Can a Mac Laptop Sound as Good as a USB Stick?

You have a USB stick that does everything a CD5x & HC2 does? Do you have a picture?

quote:

Originally posted by HuwJ:
I find that using a USB stick gets me very close to my old CD5x & HC2.

My Mac Laptop is quite a way off. I'm using iTunes and AIFF (dBpoweramp/wav on USB). I have an optical connection with a Maplin converter at the Mac output.

Is it possible to match the USB and if so what would be required?

Regards
Huw

Try the M2Tech HiFace (~£100) as an upgrade over your current converter, or wait for the M2Tech Evo (~£250), an upgrade on their original HiFace, for potentially even better results and can experiment with Optical as well as Co-ax.

May be also worth trying optical direct from the Mac Laptop's Mini-TOSLink port.

Eloise

PS. I assume you are talking about getting digital into a Naim DAC?

quote:

Originally posted by munch:
I do.

Munch, you so need a Weiss DAC202!

Thanks Munch. Saved me getting the Camera out.

I was not very plain in my question but I had hoped this Forum being a Naim forum and USB sticks only really used in the nDAC that it would go without saying. However apologies to those that were confused.

Eloise. I am using an optical connection at the moment but, while it is good, it does not come up to the level of my old CD player or even a USB stick.

USB sticks are a pain and not at all user friendly. I was hoping the front end to the nDAC would be of less importance (due to the reclocking) but obviously it's not. Now I want to get a better sound from the Mac but I'm trying to find out if it's actually possible to do that. Would the HiFace actually do the job?

Regards,
Huw

quote:

Originally posted by HuwJ:

I have an optical connection with a Maplin converter at the Mac output.

Regards
Huw

Whoa. By "Maplin converter" what do you mean? Which Mac output? I trust you're not taking the analogue output then converting to digital SPDIF. This would sound bad.

The audio-out mini-jack outputs analogue electrical signal or digital (SPDIF) optical. You need mini-Toslink to Toslink cable or a little adaptor like this...



and a standard toslink cable.

I have the mini optical adaptor.

Huw,

Have you made sure that 'Sound Enhancer' etc. are all unchecked in itunes>preferences>playback. I think this is the default.

The one that caught me out is 'Equalizer' which you find under the Window menu of itunes. I think this is turned on (checked) by default with all sliders set to 0dB. If it is on then turn it off and see how it goes.

I run a HiFace and struggle to decide whether I can actually hear any difference between MBP>HiFace and USB. I tend to prefer the MBP>HiFace but having run some recent comparisons I am not sure how real the difference is.

Let us know how you get on.

Gavin

quote:

Originally posted by HuwJ:
I have the mini optical adaptor.

Cool.

Whilst I really have no issues with the quality of the SPDIF connection from my Mini, I watch the threads that talk of HiFaces and other USB/firewire interface gadgets with interest. Could they really be a major upgrade? Is the SPDIF execution in the Mac really so dire?

quote:

Originally posted by winkyincanada:

I watch the threads that talk of HiFaces and other USB/firewire interface gadgets with interest. Could they really be a major upgrade? Is the SPDIF execution in the Mac really so dire?

Yes and No. Dire would be an exaggeration. But it is easily improved on. Of course the extent will depend on how revealing the DAC/system is after that.

Joe

quote:

Originally posted by Joe Bibb:
Of course the extent will depend on how revealing the DAC/system is after that.

Joe

Good point. "System" in this case obviously includes my aging ears.

Hi Gavin, I'll have a look at iTunes and check my settings. Thanks.

I think my system is revealing enough to tell me that the USB is a lot better than the Mac and that the CD5x/HC2 combo is marginally better than the USB.

It's not conclusive yet as I have not had enough time with it but I'm pretty sure my Pioneer BR player through the nDAC is better than the Mac - it's just painful waiting for it to load a CD. My Toshiba HDDVD is not as good as the Pioneer LX08 but it loads a lot quicker.

I guess the only way forward is to try a HiFace to see if there is a difference.

Regards,
Huw

quote:

Originally posted by Joe Bibb:

quote:

Originally posted by winkyincanada:
I watch the threads that talk of HiFaces and other USB/firewire interface gadgets with interest. Could they really be a major upgrade? Is the SPDIF execution in the Mac really so dire?

Yes and No. Dire would be an exaggeration. But it is easily improved on. Of course the extent will depend on how revealing the DAC/system is after that.

The SPDIF execution in a MacBook or MacMini is no worse than any other motherboard (or cheep sound card) implementation, but can be improved on with USB/FireWire - SPDIF interface or (in case of a PC) good PCI card.

I just recently bought Pure Vinyl for my MacBook Pro and I'm running an inexpensive USB Dac and I'm amazed at how much detail I'm hearing from my MacBook. This is very new to me, and I intend on buying a better Dac, hopefully a Naim. I'm doing a lot of listening between Pure Vinyl and Amarra, and I seem to like the sound of Pure Vinyl better at this point, but I can't yet tell why. Seems to sound better than just iTunes.

Dave

For my 'portable' system, I'm using a MacBook Pro with Pure Music/Amarra (not sure which I prefer), the new Weiss DAC 202, and Ultrasone Edition 8 headphones. The system sounds amazing. Great DAC. However, I'm having a little problem with the headphone out jack, so the unit is being shipped back to Switzerland (their dime!) and apparently a replacement unit will be sent to me (great service from Sanjay at Ciamara in New York).