Macbook to USB to which one?

Which model MacBook do you have? If it Is a pro or the 2009 aluminum chassis MacBook it has a digital audio out on the headphone port. I have been using mine via the digital audio out. Via toslink directly to my pre-pro with great success.

Not to say a good external DAC would not improve the sound however if your MacBook has a digital audio out the right cable would let you dabble before you dropped the coin on the DAC.

Regards,
Wes

Thank you Dynfan and Hotmailjbc. I appreciate the guidance. My main concern is an easy to use item with great sound.

I have an original MacBook (white casing). I have no other output than USB.

Buy a 2010 Mac Mini instead, they sound much better than the MacBook. I have tried both. The Mac Mini is much quieter and has much lower noise floor. The power supply in the Mac Book has to power the screen which makes the MacBook noisy by comparison to the 2010 Mac Mini. Check out www.mach2music.com these guys know their stuff. I have one of their modified Mac Minis and I have not been able to find any CD player at any price that even compares to the Mach2Music Mac Mini.

Thesoundhouse ... I respect that your a dealer and that your experience is vast , but I find it hard to believe you can't find a CD player at any price that compares to a music server used at the same bit rate . I have the new IMac , ( no fan noise at all ) run from its digital output to a Levinson Dac ( #360s ) I've tried others , and the sound is considerable thiner than my mid fi CD player ( Marantz SA11 ) . The IMac has its own power conditioner and i'm using an audio grade power cord and digital link . If I'm doing something wrong please let me know .
Have just ordered the Ayre C5 .

Thank you TheSoundhouse, my goal was to spend very little (hence the HRT streamer and V-dac questions. I already have a MacBook and buying a mini would be needless cost. I appreciate your idea though.