USB DAC's ?


I am seeking advice / recommendations for a USB Dac to connect a Mac Mini to an Emm Labs DCC2.

The basic system is Emm Labs DCC2 SE & CDSD SE, ATC 50 ACM Actives, Vertex AQ Taga mains filtration, Mac Mini & WD Hard Drives.

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated, I have looked at Empirical Audio Off-Ramp Turbo 2 & Benchmark Dac 1 USB but am not able to audition.
gsm
Auditioning Vinnie's (Red Wine Audio) new NOS non-up sampling/no over sampling Isabellina DAC in my system along with Mac-book laptop as the source lead me to believe that it is in fact possible to achieve very good results with PC. The Pace Car from Steve (Empirical Audio)is also very promising. Short encounter during 2008 CES proved that this guy knows a thing or two about digital.

My main concern is the digital glare and usual edginess of digital file that is all so common these days. Even from highly regarded brands and products that are considered the "high end"

From what I have heard with my own ears, the above mentioned - accomplished very difficult task of music reproduction that I can connect to and enjoy.
I agree - your question doesn't make sense: Are you looking for ways to connect a Mac Mini to your Emm Labs DCC2?

Well, the Emm Labs DCC2 is DAC so why not just connect the Mini directly as Lbmp suggests. Or get a HagUSB or Emirical Offramp to convert USB to SPDIF and use that to go into your DCC2 DAC.
YOu don't need a DAC from Wavelength or Benchmark. You need an interface to get from USB out from your mini to a digital format your Emm Labs DAC will accept. This would be perfect and on the cheap. http://www.trendsaudio.com/EN/Index.htm
You might want to try out a Blue Circle Thingee between your Mac and your Emm Labs DCC2. In my experience it works well between mine and a Bel Canto DAC2. It's a good sounding and very flexible unit. Here's a review .......
http://www.goodsound.com/equipment/blue_circle_usb_thingee.htm
.

I really like the Ultra Fi USB iRocs I own. Be sure to test out several different USB cables (I like the Ridge Street Audio Poiema).

With the MacMini the iRocs and RSA cables are very surprising in all respects with both ripped discs and on-line music sources, such as iTunes or Rhapsody.

:) Listening,

Ed

.