Tmsorosk-Name based on being U.S. Navy Retired.
Many in Computer Audio swear by Firewire, others USB, still
some by Wireless, others by Toslink/ST-glass optical, some
by AES/EBU. You simply can't design a DAC that is optimized
for all of these Inputs, unless you have $20,000.00 to throw away on Inputs you will never use. Manufacturers know
more customers available at lower price. The best that can
be done is to design DAC to be optimized with one or two of
these Inputs. They will throw in other Inputs as nothing more than marketing hype, trying to sell Swiss Army Knife.
Optimum Input is highly dependent on DAC design. There is no "TRUE" Input for all DACs. DAC will be designed to be
optimized with ANY specific Input, but not ALL Inputs. USB
DAC that you tried could only be optimized for Firewire, or
any other type of Input. Not all USB Inputs are of same quality. Not all Firewire Inputs are of same quality either. Neither are all Toslink, ST-glass optical, or even
AES/EBU. Everyone thinks each class is the same quality, after all the connectors in each class look the same.
Manufacturers make profit on Customers presuming that USB
Input on one DAC, will sound just as good as USB Input on
another DAC. The up side of optical connectors, is electrical isolation between Source and DAC. The Downside is having to insert two convertion stages in the signal path. Manufacturer can easily design DAC to maximize advantage of one, and minimize disadvantage of other.
Manufacturer can design DAC to maximize advantage of AES/EBU, like Mark Levinson 360S. Maybe not so much for its
optical input. Not all inputs on all DACs are created equal. Not all DACs are created equal to be maximized with all of their Inputs. Reviewers will usually try all inputs,
and tell you where the sweet spot is. Other Owners of same
Equipment can relate sweet spot Input as well. Just beware
of Pundits who claim that only just one type of Input, is the only ideal Input for all DACs. Unless they Manufactured
the particular DAC, or tried all Inputs with multitude of
other Equipment with various Outputs, how would they know?
I am complete Novice at PC Audio. I would still recommend
the suggestions on this Thread. I would then try a multitude of different DACS with a multitude of different
Inputs. Don't just try one Input type and give up. You could try your friends, or even your local High End Store.
I am sure that they could find you a good combination. They
could even listen to your IMac, and make recommendations.
You could also try the place that you purchased your IMac.
Just make sure that it is someone who is extremely
knowledgable about PC Audio. High End Store is usually best place for knowledge about PC Audio. PC Audio is more
elusive, and alot more complicated mating various components, than other source material. Not to say that other source material is any easier either. PC Audio is
definitely do-able in High End Terms. It just takes more
patience, and time. Sorry, I meant MAC Audio, or however
you classify it (joke! joke!).
