Is using an Apple Computer a weak link...?

@jomonhifi,

Please stop using your MacPro. I had a Mac Mini and even waited 2 years for my Paul Hynes linear power supply to be built. I converted my Mac to DC only, and it still was far inferior to a dedicated streamer. I now have an Auralic Aries G2.1 and installed an internal SSD.

@audio troy wrote “theses critical boards are powered independently to keep noise from jumping into the usb output”. This is absolutely critical to have dedicated linear power supplies to each board. Btw, isn’t your Aurender A10 a streamer and DAC in one package? If so, then remove the MacPro and use the A10 alone. You’ll also benefit from not needing a digital cable from streamer to DAC or an Ethernet cable.


Edit to add…I believe the A10 has a 4TB internal HD. Transfer a few songs you know well from the MacPro to the A10. Then disconnect your MacPro and play the tracks directly from the A10. Please let us know how this experiment ends up.

@craig  Good questions.

@jomonhifi  OP: "Is using the apple computer a weak link...?"

Not necessarily. Things have come around (significantly), though not quite full on YET.

If you go with the Denafrips GAIA, inserting an Ethernet to USB convertor (as one example) will help tremendously. Sonore comes to mind. There are others.

Apple computer > Ethernet > Sonore > USB > GAIA

Again, one example for illustration purposes.

Also consider HQPlayer for a software solution. It plays well with iOS and Denafrips. [Audirvana was previously mentioned]

Another approach is to "isolate" using wireless. A DAC with a wireless receiver will address this. 

Another approach is to go with a DAC (or a DDC prior to the DAC) that offers a LAN input. You will need to add a quality network switch to optimize this approach.

A standalone high quality audio server ($$$) is still the best solution for the highest levels of performance. However, one can achieve excellent results using a computer at this point in time, at a much lower spend.

@audiotroy 

my first sentence was “Streamers are just computers that have been optimized for audio performance “

Your post isn’t a refutation, it just supplies the details for a particular streamer that you sell.  It’s still a computer.
Why am I being so pedantic?  Because while I am sure that what you sell is a fine product, my point is that the vast majority of streamers are bound to offer some advantage over a standard, multi functional personal computer, because they have been optimized to do just 1 task that such a computer has to perform.  For a newbie, it might make more sense to compare a more entry level model to a personal computer.  Then, if the experience takes and funds allow, start going after premium products such as the one you sell.

mahler we have tested mny dedicated streamers vs a pc the streamers always sounded  better

it is the fact that these are dedicated is why they perform better