mac mini

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).

I'm doing the same thing with a mini PC (aopen) of the same form factor running Vista and media center... Just purchased a Bel Canto Dac3 (TTVJ) and a Van Den Hul Opto Link II mini to toslink (from Eugene Audio in Eugene OR - these are hard to find..hence the shameless plug). The Dac3 has a balanced output to drive a nice 2 channel rig (mine's a Krell 400xi). I run applelossless (ALAC) and wavs into this gear. Sounds pretty good so far. I'm still tweaking though.