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USB or Squeezebox Touch from Mac to DAC

Folks,

My first question on Audiogon - so hoping to get useful responses!!

My Setup:

Mac (Runinng Squeezebox server) - All FLAC files!
Squeezebox Touch
Peachtree Nova (as DAC only)
Nait-5i reciever
Harbeth C7 Speakers

The dealer where I brought my speakers told me that I could signifcantly improve my sound by getting rid of Squeezebox and using USB directly from my Mac to the Nova.

Q:

a) Is that true?
b) My Mac is in another room - so will have to be a veeeery long USB. Does that still work?
c) How do I control the music (remote) if I use USB?

Thanks in advance...

Raj
rmata
rmata OP
9 posts
 
Thanks, folks!

Looks like i will need to invest on a mac mini.

However, why do i need a usb to spdf device - and why cant i feed usb direct from mac mini to the peachtree nova dac?

Thanks,
Raj
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Raj - you dont "need" a USB converter with your DAC. It just depends on what kind of SQ you are after. Remember, it is the USB interface that is the most critical part of this. The more you spend on a converter and the S/PDIF and/or USB cable, the better the SQ.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
doggiehowser
672 posts
 
I recall the Nova had a synchronous USB connection that did 24/96

It's decent but not great. Steve's Offramp is by far one of the best USB-SPDIF devices and would be significantly better than the Nova's internal USB.

I remember comparing a SonicWeld Diverter to the Nova's internal USB and it was simply no contest.
cool_jeeves
37 posts
 
RMata thanks for asking all teh questions that I had wanted to ask. I considered also a long optical cable (minijack at one end and regular toslink at the other) from my mac to the dac, but in the end settled for an iMac.
eugene81
270 posts
 
You can use USB through your Touch with EDO if the DAC/converter supports the USB Audio standard. I use a Touch connected to a Wavelength Wavelink HS USB converter in my bedroom and it sounds great.

However, I think the Mac Mini is the best solution, which is what I use in my main system. The Logitech playback software sounds fine, but you can get better sound with other software. I like the Mac Mini because it is extremely quiet and supports both OS X and Windows natively with Bootcamp so you get the best of both worlds in terms of software. I think JPlay (Windows) and Amarra (Mac) are the best sounding, but both interfaces rather suck, so I reserve those for critical listening and mainly use Squeezeplay (this would be useful to you so you can keep your LMS library) or Foobar2000 with an iOS or Android remote app. Having a smartphone/tablet is soooo convenient and is well worth the modest cost for this function alone.

To me the USB converter is a key component and is a worthwhile investment.
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