ndac

It appears that the Gustard U12 is the hype at the moment I am in fact using it and to my ears, this little device brings the nDac's performance up to another level.

Btw, the interesting about this device is that you can send dsd64 to nDac, which otherwise is not possible. Some folks here seem to prefer dsd to pcm.

Yes, it definitely would. IME, USB always outperforms optical/coaxial output from PC. No experience with mac though. Gustard U12 would probably be the best bang for the buck at the moment. I've been using TeddyPardo U2S with great results, tried many others also like Stello U3, some Musical Fidelity products and M2Tech HiFace (1 and 2). 

From my MacBook/Audirvana I used to use the M2Tech HiFace which was good, I now use the Ciunas usb converter which is much better esp when it and my Lacie 4tb drive are powered by a TeddyPardo dual12v.

The Gustard sounds interesting but I'm not clear about how it's powered and the nDac only does DSD via usb sticks doesn't it?

I have no experience of the Mac pro tower, but, on the Mac Mini, Audirvana enables usb output, and indeed it enables one of the usb buses to be dedicated, with nothing else on it. Most significantly, that bypasses the computer's  own sound card, unlike using any of the other output options like optical. So usb output is the best quality. Unfortunately, computers are electrically noisy environments, so unless the DAC has galvanic isolation and good RF filtering, sound quality is almost certain to be degraded, which is one function of an isolator like the Gustard U12. And if the DAC has no usb input, e.g nDAC, the Gustard also functions as a convertor, with a choice of several outputs.

SAT posted:

The Gustard sounds interesting but I'm not clear about how it's powered and the nDac only does DSD via usb sticks doesn't it?

It's powered by its own power supply so power cable needed. Though it probably still needs the power line from USB also. At least this is how my U2S works. 

I've understood that DSD works via USB bridge also. Of course the bridge must also support DSD then. 

Patu posted:

I've understood that DSD works via USB bridge also. Of course the bridge must also support DSD then. 

As the DSD is sent via DoP, which is DSD encapsulated within stereo PCM samples, the bridge (transport converter) simply needs to support hidef PCM, and need know nothing about DSD.

i believe the current NDAC can support DSD64 via optical or coax SPDIF using DoP.. as with most DACs that support DSD. The Naim streamers output DSD via DoP over SPDIF.

SAT posted:

From my MacBook/Audirvana I used to use the M2Tech HiFace which was good, I now use the Ciunas usb converter which is much better esp when it and my Lacie 4tb drive are powered by a TeddyPardo dual12v.

The Gustard sounds interesting but I'm not clear about how it's powered and the nDac only does DSD via usb sticks doesn't it?

it has its own internal power supply (connects to mains), while it senses power on its usb input to switch on. Given its proven excellent performance, its power supply would seem quite adequate.

SAT posted:

From my MacBook/Audirvana I used to use the M2Tech HiFace which was good, I now use the Ciunas usb converter which is much better esp when it and my Lacie 4tb drive are powered by a TeddyPardo dual12v.

The Gustard sounds interesting but I'm not clear about how it's powered and the nDac only does DSD via usb sticks doesn't it?

Gustard has its own internal power supply, though senses power on its usb input to switch on. Given the proven performance of the Gustard, its  power supply seems quite adequate.

thanks guys, sounds like i should try the gustard then. any thought on cabling from the gustard to the ndac?

Some insight and info here for the OP - 

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...91#59572673813910891

Jude

And this thread: Gustard U12 burn in?