mac vs pc


Wondering if anyone else has compared mac vs pc?

I used a mac mini with bootcamp and a hiface m2tech bnc > benchmark dac1. Foobar2000 with kernel streaming and xp, and itunes on both 10.5 and 10.6 (tested both) - I have multiple mac minis.

First a bit about windows and playback:
Out of the box windows is not bit perfect and is doing poor quality up-sampling. Itunes on a pc cannot output bit-perfect like the mac version can. As stated above I used foobar2000 to get around this.

10.5 vs 10.6:
I believe that snow lep is better at not automatically padding word length to 24 bit, it not figures out that it should stick to 16... which is likely the reason sl sounds better. Out of the box 10.4 and 10.5 set output to 24 bit instead of 16 bit, doing poor quality conversion. Last time I tried 10.6 it got it right at 16 bit.

After setting 10.5 to 16 bit / 44.1 to match snow lep they sounded the same. (using audio midi setup with itunes closed, then opening itunes per benchmark recommendations)

A things stand now:
mac vs windows sound better out of the box on a mac with itunes and is much much easier to setup.
after you setup windows right with asio / kernel streaming that sounds better than the mac. This is unfortunate since I prefer macs as a computer, and the mac setup is so much easier. I really wanted the mac to sound better!

Im curious mac users has anyone else compared with bootcamp running on the same hardware? using different hardware is not really fair since individual design characteristics come into play (how the fans and cpu throttles effect noise on the +5v computer power and usb signals)
audioguru1
Most do perceive macs to be better (I know I used to). They have a long history in recording studios with pro tools etc. Not many audiophiles have compared though it seems direct a/b.

One word of caution, using a usb external runs on the same bus as your digital output can cause noise and jitter (its pulling off the same +5 supply which is carried on that usb cable to your ayre). Also I have had the worst luck with Seagate drives in my fleet laptops at work. I see many more failures of seagate than any other company.

Your right. Mac is much easier to use. I am writing this post on a mac for those exact reasons, fewer viruses less of a pain. Its also easier to setup with music for non technical users.

Speaking of hardware...I just built an atom based d510mo board which is fan-less fed with a power factor correcting power supply.It has significantly more depth than the mac mini (likely due to the lack of a fan injecting noise into the +5v supply) not to mention that everything shares a common ground with your computer when its connected via usb.

Your right about putting the computer on a filtered jack. That is important. Very important.

how do you like the Ayre btw? Looks like a great dac. have you played at all with USB cables? I'll be dammed if I know why but they sound different.... ironically some of the cheaper cables sound better than the kimber cable silver.... dont ask me why.
I have had no problems with the Seagate FreeAgent Go™ Pro for Mac (500gb). My computer is connected to the external drive with a firewire cable. I like the Ayre QB-9 USB DAC very much. My DAC is connected to the Ayre AX-7e Integrated amp with balanced cables (using Sonus Faber Auditor M Speakers). My Transparent USB Cable from the computer to the Ayre DAC is fine and I am not looking at other cables. The system sounds great and I find myself listening to CD's more than I did before.
In sound regards my mac is perfect for handling all kind of files and formats, i usually use my mac as media center for videos and music. Currenly im looking for a dac upgrade.