MacBook Pro or PC soundcard


Hi,

My system components are:

MacBook Pro >> Dock >> PreAmp >> PowerAmp >> Speakers.

I have some concerns regarding my MacBook Pro soundcard quality. Comparing MacBook Pro with PC. Which is the better way to play 24 Bit. 'Cause I do not know what they use in MAC but If I build a PC It would be made of the best components up. Does it make changes ?
nickodavidoff
A usb dac is nothing like a soundcard, all due respect. A sound card goes into a PCI (or PCIe) slot and outputs music via an spdif connector. A usb dac tries very poorly to convert usb audio into spdif, though it does a very poor job. USB was invented to conect printers and mice, not for music.
USB may have started off clumsily but that's the thing with PC audio. It keeps getting better. The async USB interface from Gordon Rankin and Nugent were big strides in getting to a good quality connection from PC to DAC. Most PCs are full of EMI and RF noise that affects the internal sound card.
It is better than what you are suggesting though (an internal soundcard).

I've found that a Mac with Audirvana Plus and a decent USB interface is now very close to a disc spinner.
I just thought of something. There are no cd transports with a USB output. They are all spdif (or aes/ebu). Plenty of "excellent" USB dacs, yet no transport mfg has gone with USB. Wonder why? We all know.

It's just wrong ;)