MacBook Pro, ATV(2), DacMagic, XS

JBG

Optical out from the Mac is a second choice for many. Using a USB to S/PDIF interface is the way to go, such as "The Bridge" or "Hi-Face". However in the context of your system the optical is just fine and it'll cost you very little to buy a decent optical cable.

Use a Chord Optichord as you mention. The often Apple supplied Monster cable is very average, IMO.

Can't comment on the Apple TV sorry. My knowledge extends to a Mac Book only...

Long term though, look to a Naim DAC...!

James,

Thanks for the reply.  I look forward to auditioning a Naim DAC.  Not available in my area, unfortunately.   Recently, I came mighty close to buying used and doing the "buy and try" routine. 

Much of a difference in performance in optical cables?  I already own a navy blue Monster optical.  If I used this, I would need a miniplug adaptor.  Unfortunately, Chord Cables are not that easily available in the US either.  For example, the web dealer for Chord- The Cord Company- does not carry the Optichord. 

I've read strong reviews on the USB to S/PDIF interfaces you mentioned.  Pricey, but I'm guessing they are worth it.  "The Bridge" sells for $450 (US) on their website.  Not sure where I would purchase a Hi-Face in the US and at what cost.

Bad idea to use a miniplug adaptor on an optical cable?

http://www.m2tech.biz/world.html

Go the whole hog with a M2Tech Young Dac in the chain.

Tog

Hi !

Even if the result is fine with AT2 you may consider the optical out of the macbook pro straight to the dac for Hi-Fi and Pure Direct consideration. Indeed, the AT2 resamples everything to 16bit / 48 kHz whereas you can choose "pure" 16 bit / 44,1 kHz with intregated optical out.

Best regards

But then the ATV2 is the bottle neck. Most on this forum seem to be of the opinion that USB out clearly delivers the best results. Naim actually recommend the M2Tech Hiface for direct audio replay from a MacBook Pro or laptop to me. This was before the M2Tech Evo came out. Same with Naim's distributor here in Germany. Generally people seem to favour coax over optical...

Call the Sound Organisation @ 972-234-0182 for Chord products.  Easy too!

Thanks realhifi.  Much appreciated.

JB

Iver. Tongue in cheek, right?

....and the Airport isn't?

Easy there....  This forum is nicely void of such suggestions.  Keep it clean!

-p

Dear Forum members. excuses for my feedback. I am not from the UK, so maybe my words were mis-perceived. This wasn't my intention. I only wanted to express my enthusiasm with Airport Express in combination with my Naim gear. It took quite some listening, testing and reading to find a solution for streaming my musin onto the Naim bearing in mind a limited budget and respecting quality of music as much as possible. It now works very well. The next step is to buy a DAC. Currently considering a DacMagic or V-Dac (any experience from the forum memebers ??).

A totally other discussion was activating/installing the Airport Express. Here the media/manuals are misleading mentioning how easy that is. It is definately not :-). Took my quite some time to have it all running smoothly. I am heavily involved in IT, so I now a little bit my way-around, but still not easy

Kindest regards,

Iver

They are the importer.  They can steer him to a retailer near him that carries that product.  No hidden agenda there.

I wasn't claiming anything was hidden.

I know who they are, hence the italicized "suggestion".

Im just sayin'................