mac mini

Here is what I did.

- Get a Benchmark DAC-1 USB.
- Connect Mac Mini to DAC-1 using USB cable.
- Connect DAC-1 to master system.
- Run Audio Midi Setup on the Mac, select DAC-1 as Default Output, change Format to 96,000Hz and 2ch-24bit, set both volume sliders to maximum.
- Start iTunes, import Apple Lossless tracks, set iTunes volume at maximum, turn off iTunes equalizer, and play.
- Volume should be controlled from preamp or DAC-1. Do not use volume controls on the Mac.

Sidssp, it could be different under different versions of OS X and iTunes, but wouldn't what you've recommended activate the iTunes sample rate converter?

Why spend on the Benchmark when the Cayin iDAC-1 Vacuum Tube line amplifier will do the same thing, even better, at half the cost. No, I am not a Cayin dealer or distributor, just someone who likes the tube sound.

sounds good....i'll probably check out the scott nixon usb dac beings i already have the tube dac for my aloia transport, but never the less, thanks for the responses....

I am doing almost the same as Sidssp, but I run an iMac into a non-USB Benchmark. This means using the optical out from the Mac. This is a mini-optical, you can either use a converter or buy a cable that has mini-optical in one end and regular Toslink in the other (I bought a Monster for about 50 bucks, I though that it would be best to avoid an extra glass surface transfer). You are in business if your DAC has an unused Toslink input!

The comments about being careful about the transfer rates to avoid any conversion that reduces the sampling frequency still apply (most people says that it is OK for iTunes to upsample to 96k).