I'm looking at an older Esoteric DAC to possibly buy but have only connected my current DAC with a USB to my Macbook Pro. The Esoteric doesn't have a USB. How would I connect it? Thanks for any input.
I would go with a USB/SPDIF converter. I have used many with older DACs. Use an Audiophileo 2 with Pure Power power supply. They come up used here on AG. Wiith the added power supply probably run ~$500-$600. In the interim you might get a Music Fidelity V-Link or M2tech Hiface converter. Either should run~$100 used and easier to find I use the Hiface in a 2nd system.
Or just use the digital optical output on the macbook. Like @randy-11 said, the headphone output is also the toslink output. You’ll just need one of those little adapters to put on the end of the optical cable so it can attach to the ’headphone’ jack. That will be way less expensive than multi hundred dollar converters.
Thank you for the replies. The last one seems the most likely. I guess that's why those Dac prices seem to drop so much. Features and current connections are very important.
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