Mac sound quality

The Mac is a terrific Music Server platform and there are lots of mods you can do to make them better. Your iMac should beat the heck out of mid-fi CD players.

We work with the MacMini's, and they sound fantastic. Many of the same mods can be made to the iMac, although I think the MacMini will have a lower noise floor because of the power supply differences and the fact that the Macmini doesn't have a monitor built in.

iTunes isn't a good player, so consider changing that. Turn off everything you can live without (software, hardware, ports).

Don't stop until you are spanking those mid-fi CD players. ;-)

Darrell
mach2music.com

I guess i'll go back to CDs , Had lots of info from Audiogoner's , and tried many things , but the sound off my Imac is still very low fi . Like to thank the posters for there support .

Get yourself a Weiss DAC202. FireWire connection. You won't ever look back.

Tmsorosk- wouldn't necessarily blame Imac. I have used ML
360S for over 5 years with strictly CD. Had the matching
ML Transport (model escapes me). Certain DAC's are optimized for certain type Digital Input. This goes for CD
as well as Computer Audio. Some DAC's sound best with
Firewire Input, others with USB, some with ST-glass Fiber,
still some with AES/EBU. Sound Quality for specific Input
is extremely DAC dependent. Not all Input types designed
with same quality, still the design of DAC determines
optimum compatibility with type of Input. Try the ML 360S,
with its AES/EBU versus Toslink/ST-Glass Optical, utilizing CD. You will hear a huge difference. The ML 360S is a truly Balanced DAC, designed to maximize Balanced Digital AES/EBU Input. Balanced In, Balanced Out is the only way to maximize what ML 360S can do. Even Reviews of 360S claimed that its Toslink, ST-glass Optical was only so-so. Everyone went nuts over its AES/EBU, claiming that it was miles ahead of its other Inputs. I am pretty certain the same applies, regardless of utilizing CD or Computer Audio Input. Try the ML 360S AES/EBU Input for CD, and you will hear what I am talking about. Then decide if you want to keep 360S for Computer Audio, keeping in mind AES/EBU Input to maximize ML 360S for Computer Audio. Are you still using Balanced Audio Output on ML 360S? This will make a huge difference in conjuction with Balanced Digital Input. If not, you are just not hearing everything the ML 360S was designed to provide by a third-at least! It is how this DAC was designed, to be optimized, by Mark Levinson. You can give the 360S what it needs (USB to AES/EBU Converter-or whatever) or concider another DAC.
Compatibility is hyper critical with PC Audio, and design
of DAC determines optimum compatibility with different
type of Input. It is certainly not "one size (type) fits
all with PC Audio.

Thanks Pettyofficer , for your response and the info . I have to agree with you on the balanced aspect as well as ever thing in regard to the Levinson DAC . But I have tried some friends DACs , including a very well regarded USB DAC ,( the mate for my preamp ) with little or no improvement . Have not tried converters yet , would have to buy one to try it . Have not given up yet , but I 'm glad I still have my disc's .
How did you come up with your user name ?