Mac Mini settings for audio via USB ?

Posted by: Will99 on 29 June 2016

Apologies for this question which makes me feel like I am clueless -

I am confused about the correct settings in both System Preferences / Sound / Output and Audio Midi Setup. I have had it working fine but today when I played some music it came out of my TV (which I have connected to the MM via HDMI) instead of my hi-if system which I have connected to the MM via USB (DAC-V1).

Not sure what I have done as it now seems to be coming out of the hi-fi system. In Audio Midi Setup I can see the DAC-V1 and I can select this and then select 'Use this device for sound output' so maybe that is all that is needed ? However I am confused because in System Preferences / Sound / Output  it also seems to have devices available for sound output but I can't see the DAC-V1 here but I can see my TV (as Type HDMI) along with other options such as Internal Speakers and Soundflower. Also it doesn't seem to make any difference which of these I select as the music still comes out of the hi-fi. 

So I'm generally confused about the settings required in both these places on my MM. Any help much appreciated. I also feel dumb because I can't seem to find the answers to this on the search function. Maybe I'll wake up tomorrow and all will be clear ....

Posted on: 29 June 2016 by Innocent Bystander

Neither of the following points are direct answers, as that will no doubt depend what you're running on the MM, but these are offered in case they help:

Best output from the MM means avoiding its sound card entirely. If you use Audirvana (possibly the best for sound quality), it can easily be set up (clear in the manual) to use a dedicated usb bus.

I think this might not be relevant with the V1 as it may well have adequate isolation/filtering built in (I don't have direct experience with it), but Usb output from MM, though possibly better than some computers, is still electrically 'noisy' and unless the DAC has galvanic isolation and effective rf filters it will need isolating to get best sound. (Not all DACs do - with Chord Hugo I use the inexpensive Gustard U12 usb/spdif isolator/convertor, which is excellent at the job.)

 

Posted on: 29 June 2016 by Peter Dinh

Audio Mini Setup is all you need to set up an output device if you do not use any 3rd party app like Audirvana.

Posted on: 30 June 2016 by Jude2012

Not sure whether you've tried this already.  

All I did when I first got the V1 and MM is follow the Naim set up guides , which can be found by clicking on 'manuals and downloads' on this page https://www.naimaudio.com/product/dac-v1

I have the TV input via a coax SPDIF input to the V1.  My Apple TV box is connected to the TV via HMDI and sound from this is also gets to the V1 via the TV's coax SPDIF output (I found this got rid of lip sync issues).

HTH

Jude