iTunes setting in mac mini

Posted by: Kage on 25 August 2011

Hey people.

In system preferences/sound do I set the output volume to max like it is recommended in the dsc guide advises to set the iTunes volume setting. Not sure if it's better to have less output and control the volume from my xs.

Rega DAC a good alternative to the naim dac?

How comes some of my CDs won't register so I can rip them? Various Nick Cave, Coldplay, magic numbers won't register. Damn clean discs so should work!

Thanks

Posted on: 25 August 2011 by winkyincanada

Set the volume in iTunes a 100%. It is a digital volume control and will affect quality if it less than 100%.

Posted on: 25 August 2011 by winkyincanada

An older version of iTunes used to be a bit flaky recognizing discs. Remounting using OS disc utility was the workaround.

Posted on: 25 August 2011 by Kage

Winky

I've done that as suggested in a setup guide. But in system preferences (outside of iTunes), there's the sound menu with another volume slider. I want to know what this should be set at? I remember on my sound engineering course, we were told to have volume settings set at max. For what reason I cannot remember.

Well, any advice appreciated.

Regards

Posted on: 25 August 2011 by alainbil

Originally Posted by Kage:

Rega DAC a good alternative to the naim dac?

To my ears, the MacBook+Rega DAC combination is much below the CD5XS+FC (but is quite cheaper)

The MacBook+nDAC combination is better than the CD5XS+FC

Posted on: 26 August 2011 by alainbil

Originally Posted by Kage:

This is an interesting point.

If you are using a DAC, and if the DAC receives a 16-bit integer signal from the Mac, then I believe that using the digital volume control of the Mac is bad for the S Q, as soon as you decrease the volume substantially. To take an extreme example you do not want to digitally decrease the volume so strongly that the DAC receives what is in fact an 8-bit signal.

In other circumstances, e.g. if you are using the analog output of the Mac, I do not know for sure, but would be glad to learn.

Posted on: 26 August 2011 by The Hawk

Kage, the question may be, how does the Rega dac compare to the Qute dac?

In system preferences, keep volume at Max!

I have a Rega dac, it is good vfm.

Dave

Posted on: 26 August 2011 by Kage

Alainbil, I don't want to control volume levels via the mac output. That I will do by my nait xs. I just want to set it and forget about it. Hawk recommends having the slider up at full. I was just wondering by doing this am I affecting sq.

Regarding DAC's. Ideally an nDac would be great, but very expensive. So for a fair bit less I was wondering how a rega dac would work alongside my mini, nait xs and harbeth c7's. I suppose I just need to do some demos to get a proper analysis. The Dac is the missing link now, so I either get one quickly or if the expensive naim dac is that much better hold out until I can get one.

Cheers

Posted on: 26 August 2011 by winkyincanada

Set it all to 100%. Can't hurt. Provided that you are taking a DIGITAL signal out of the Mac.

But as you are apparently using the analoge output of the Mac, you are not getting the best quality (DAC in the Mini is a bit "ordinary").......but still best to experiment to optimise the voltage of the analogue signal to the XS.

The Rega DAC would be a great upgrade for you.

But really, why didn't you just get a SuperNait?

Posted on: 27 August 2011 by alainbil

Originally Posted by Kage:

I suppose I just need to do some demos to get a proper analysis. .

Cheers

Yes indeed.

Posted on: 27 August 2011 by Ismaningerman

Guys,

I don't think the volume settings have any effect on the digital output - which makes sense.

Regards,

Nigel

Posted on: 28 August 2011 by Kage

Winky

The reason I didn't get a supernait is because I was originally concentrating on my vinyl set up and the XS came up at a good price. I was also looking at pairing it with the cd5 XS. But now I'm going to skip the cdp and play my digital music through the mac and a dac. Now you have me thinking though. Would a supernait be a better solution than my nait xs and the nDac? I'd certainly consider it...

Posted on: 28 August 2011 by badlyread

I would suggest that you wait to hear the new SuperUniti....

Posted on: 28 August 2011 by Kage

...but what would the connectivity be as I want to connect my planar25 record player as well as my digital source. Other than that the superuniti sounds great.

Posted on: 28 August 2011 by badlyread

How is the Rega 25 connected to the Nait XS at present? Presumably via a phono preamp? The SuperUniti has analogue inputs as well as lots of digit inputs.

Neil

Posted on: 29 August 2011 by Kage

That's right Neil. I have a Heed Audio preamp.

So, the superuniti sounds pretty good for me. I'd imagine the retail cost to be high. I'm assuming I transfer my files onto a server, that's linked to the uniti and then controlled via the console's screen or the iPhone naim app? Or I get a cheaper supernait and just run from iTunes on my mac.

I'll see what happens.

Cheers

Posted on: 29 August 2011 by badlyread

Retail price is £3275 I believe. You can just play the files from your Mac using uPnP software (as long as the Mac is on your network) or if you really like Remote as a lot of people do, then connect the Mac via HiFace or a Bridge to one of the digital inputs on the back of the SUniti (uPnP is still not brilliant for mac).

Neil