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New to HiFi, need digital advice.

I am not an audiophile but I recently acquired a really nice high end system for free. (AR LS16 preamp, Madrigal Proceed HPA2 amp, Arcam CD92 CD player, Aerial Acoustics 7B tower speakers.  I have been learning as much as I can over the last week since I got it.

Now I'm trying to figure out how to put together a decent but not necessarily high end digital input system for as little money as possible.

So here is my plan. I know it is not high end and probably not commensurate with my system but hopefully will meet my needs:

Old iMac using iTunes to manage flac or alac files plugged into Schiit Modi 2 via USB cable and then into preamp via USB cable. I can us Apple's remote app on my iPhone to select/play music remotely (Works great).

Does this sound reasonable? If so it will only cost me about $100 for the Schiit DAC and $25 for a decent set of RCA cables (already purchased) and whatever I might need to spend on the USB cable. Anything I should know about the USB cable for this?

Thanks for the advice and apologies for my ignorance in all of this.

George
n80
n80 OP
2,133 posts
 
That's correct, I meant RCA into pre-amp. 

So why not iTunes? I'm not defending it and don't like it very much, I'm just curious. I've read articles where other audiophiles use it when it is set up properly (not to mess with the files) and apparently the USB bypasses the computer's sound card. Can anyone explain (in simple terms)?

This old iMac will also not run the latest OS and not sure the recommended apps will run on it.

Also, keep in mind, I'm not a audiophile yet and to be honest the regular iTunes files run through the RCA to 3.5mm jack sound decent to me. Alac files sound even better by the same route....so maybe I would notice? I don't know.
clio09
3,363 posts
 
When I first tested out computer audio I used an old MacBook computer and played files through iTunes using Audirvana as the front end. Hooked up a USB cable to my USB DAC and then connected the DAC to the preamp. It worked just fine. I have since found a better way to do this that has resulted in much better sound quality, but if you are just starting out this is probably one of the easiest and least expensive ways to get going. As time goes on and funds allow you can upgrade.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 

Audirvana is another good choice.  When you use Amarra or Audirvana with iTunes, they do not use the iTunes playback engine.  They only use iTunes for track selection and playlist construction.

In simple terms, these other players sound better, better focus, imaging and liveness.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

n80 OP
2,133 posts
 
I see. Unfortunately neither Amarra or Audirvana will run on this old iMac so it seems either it or they are out of the picture and I guess I'm back to square one. I'll check with some of the other apps mentioned here. Or maybe I'll just try it the way I said just to see what it sounds like. If I don't like the SQ I will not have lost more than $100 in the low end DAC.

Thanks for the help and the info.
mahler123
3,486 posts
 
I recently set up a NAS—network associated server-and am currently burning CDs to it.  I added dbpoweramp to burn the CDs. I compared one CD that I had ripped in iTunes to the same ripped with dbpoweramp and it wasn’t a subtle difference.  The dbpoweramp rip was so much more alive with presence and impact.
It was like everything else in Audio—the iTunes sounded fine until you discover what you are missing.  Dbpoweramp is also better at finding metadata.
  I use Audirvana Plus for playback.  The 2 programs together cost about $150 and IMO justify the expense, but you sound as though the budget might be tight, and you would definitely need a new computer.  You may just want to stick with iTunes and get an accessory hard drive for now, and if you can, save the CDs and re rip them later when you can afford to upgrade, or after spending some time investigating what works for you.
  Alternatives to consider are streaming services, such as Tidal, or dispensing with the Computer and dealing with an audio component customized for digital playback and/or ripping
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