Naim Dac with Mac mini

Given the Mac isn't for "critical" music listening, the optical will work fine.

It's not my preferred choice though. Rather I use USB > SPDIF converter (Halide Bridge) > nDAC.

The optical connection to me sounds a bit dark and laboured.

The MF transport should be pretty good in front of an an nDAC.

I used a MF A5 CDP for a while into an nDAC with excellent results. I then went to a CD5XS/nDAC.

If you do play music via the Mac, make sure you have decent playback software.

Amarra HiFi is very good value for money.

Thanks James,

so you bought the cd5xs just to be a transport? Is it worth it?

Yes, the CD5XS/DAC combo is awesome.

I also use this combo and it's awesome.

Cheers

Flettster

The mini  is just fine via optical to the nDac. The later Minis (anything less than 4 years old?) have lower jitter and reportedly sound better if you want to use the optical connection directly. 

I tried a Halide Bridge cable, but had two fail in a row. I gave up.

I predict that you will move more and more towards computer-based audio. The convenience and lack of clutter is a real appeal.

I use BitPerfect, mainly for the automatic bit-rate switching, but perhaps also sounds a bit better.

1. You should be able to connect a mac mini directly to a Naim DAC via optical SPDIF or indirectly, through a USB to SPDIF converter, via optical or electrical SPDIF.

2. I do not know, I have not made a direct comparison.

3. Possibly. The V1 also has a pretty good headphones out.

3. I do not know, I have no experience with Naim CD players. A power supply is reported to bring a significant improvement to the Naim DAC but I have not yet tested it.

4. No, I have no experience with Naim CD players.

Hi,

I have a similar set up to you and my thoughts are:

1. Others have commented on this, essentially two options: a USB to SPDIF bridge or optical cable  (search under Guido Fawkes and you'll see a lot of info on optical). There is a maximum limit of 24/192 with SPDIF in the NDAC with PCM files (24/384 with the V1's asynchronous USB) - for CD rips this is not an issue.
2. I auditioned both when buying the V1 I have now and preferred the V1 presentation at that time. I suggest that you try out both.
3. The V1 is designed to primarily for use with a computer such as the Mini (it's SPDIF inouts are great, too. The NDAC just plays back from USB sticks).  The answer to which you prefer, to an extent, depends  what feel about question 2.
4. No experience of Naim CD players. I'm sure you'll  get a a variety of responses here.  If you want to stick with Naim for a DAC, then a CD Naim CD player and the V1 or a second hand NDAC fits.  If not, then a Naim CD player and any DAC (Audioquest Dragonfly perhaps for example).

Jude

ok, roon labs doesn't pay me but roon on mac is a killer :-) soundwise!

do this: macmini+roon sw+usb----dac or

macmini+roon sw+usb/spdif converter-----dac

control your mac headleass via ipad works, roon sw is available for test (think 20 days), if you don't like it just quit it.

Ralf

As I wanted to have only one digital source, I sold my CD player and have all my CD-rips as well as the high-res-downloads and streaming-apps on my MacBook.

I have tried several ways to connect the MacBook to the nDac: different optical cables aswell as different usb-s/pdif-converters: I have not managed to find an optical cable that I liked sound-wise, they all sounded like a curtain covering the speakers.

Currently I use Audiophilleo2+PurePower as USB-S/PDIF-converter and I really love it

Amarra Hifi on my MacBoom brings a real improvement over iTunes replay.

Recently tried a Jitterbug between MacBook and AP2+PP and liked the result, yet I'm not yet convinced the improvement is big enough to buy it...

I used to own Stello U3 also. It was good and outclassed my previous USB to S/PDIF converter but didn't match the one I currently use, TeddyPardo U2S. It uses the same XMOS chip than U3 but has its own PSU compared to U3 using USB power. Also it should have superior clocks. This made a HUGE difference in sound quality. U3 sounded muffled and veiled in comparison. U2S added clarity and punch to the sound, bass hit deeper with better grip. I used to think Naim DAC would eliminate the differences between the converters but it doesn't. I've also owned M2Tech HiFace and many other converters before. I guess my point is that It clearly isn't the same which way you connect your computer to the DAC. 

This is also my experience and in this respect I found the Naim DAC a bit disappointing. On the other hand, I have bought it second hand and for about the same price as a new V1 and I can understand that, given the way most DAC work (included NDAC and V1), they cannot be really source agnostic. I feed my NDAC via a M2Tech HiFace Evo powered by a 9V Teddy Pardo power supply. Best, nbpf

Unfortunately, any mention of dac or source, inevitably, directly or indirectly, hugo will appear ......

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...64#49295593307589864

Naim DAC is better than DAC V1 and for connecting any Mac to the DAC, it is fine with a WireWorld Supernova 6 which will be 3.5 optical SPDIF straight to the Naim DAC.  No need to fanny around with USB to SPDIF conversion things, unless you really can hear massive improvements by taking those options.

If Vinyl is really your main playback, then you could also consider Chord 2Qute DAC which some people will say has more 'vinyl-like' characteristics.  it is not a Naim product however if you look at the price level of the Chord 2Qute and its physical dimensions and hear a good quality sound, it is likely to be a decent value option.

-Does it makes any difference to where music is stored? examples: Mac mini's internal HDD, external USB HDD, or NAS

-Any advantage replacing mac mini's power supply?

-USB to SPDIF solutions are better than a UQ2 ? In some cases the cost is comparable to UQ.

-Anyone have tried upmarket USB to SPDIF converter like Weiss INT204 with Ndac?

in short, yes.  I get better results with the current setup than without the upgrades. Namely SSD Macbook with max memory, music on USB hard drive, Ndac / XPS2DR linked via firewire Weiss INT202 and Nordost digital cables.  Add A Paul Hynes SR7 dual rail to run he Weiss and the Macbook and it becomes a very expensive source.  

Starting again i would look at a Chord 2qute first. 

Great to hear that the Audiiophilleo gets good results with the NDAC.

It is this tech that is used and amazingly intergrated into the V1.  I have tried some modest optimisations of the Mac Mini and seen no significant change in SQ, which I conclude is down to Naim and Audiophilleo's design in keeping out noise from the Mac Mini (or other computers) on Asynchronous USB  and sources/transports using SPDIF.

I largely agree with Wat's points regarding Audirvana and MM (albeit that I do not use room correction or forced upsampling features in Audirvana or a SSD ( yet) ).

My conclusion regarding USB to SPDIF bridges is that in DACs with minimal noise rejection from sources/transports built in (such as the NDAC and Hugo), there is a stronger need for these.  In DACs like the V1 and 2Qute, with noise rejection designed in , the need is very low / un necessary.

As I wrote earlier, I used to own Stello U3. It's very good performer but suffers from the use of USB power. I never tried it with 3rd party solutions like iFI USB but I'm sure powering it better will improve the sound. I still strongly recommend trying out TeddyPard U2S since there you you have the great XMOS chip and great PSU in same package. 

I remember when the first USB to S/PDIF converters started to appear on the market. M2Tech HiFace was probably the first one and I had to get it immediately. Even then the improvement over optical/coaxial connection from soundcard was clear. I used professional sound cards by ESI or M-Audio back then, not the integrated ones on the motherboard. Even they didn't match the HiFace. Now I haven't heard MacBook optical out but I feel little suspicious that it could match the external converters. Professional sound cards on PC couldn't match.

My thought process was very similar two years ago and I haven't regretted it all.

Jude