macmini spdif out vs. usb

Bruce - your current arrangement is less than optimal, IMO. You should use an external USB/SPDIF convertor. This would add a standard USB cable to the equation, as well as a digital cable of your preference (Toslink or Coaxial) depending on the device. The latter would go to the digital input on your MF. Empirical Audio's Offramp would serve that purpose. I use a Waveterminal U24 for the same purpose, but those are no longer avaialable, or I would recommend them. I believe Hagtech offers an alternative, as do several other companies, both in pro-audio and specialty audiophile. They are available at various pricepoints, as most things in this hobby. You can get a convertor from PartsExpress for $20, or spend $1K+ on one from Empirical or spend several thousand on a new USB DAC from Wavelength. Since the conversion and clocking is critical I'd say it's an investment you shouldn't take lightly (skip the Parts Express route). The idea is take the conversion of your computer audio files output, into SPDIF, outside of the electro-magnetically noisy environment of your MacBook (where it currently is taking place given the arrangement you describe). USB seems to be the best interface for doing that. I'm no expert, consult someone like Steve from Empirical, or Gordon Rankin from Wavelength for various points of view on the subject, complete with technical details up the Wazoo. There are also plenty of threads in the archives here and over at PCAudioAsylum that may give you additional real-world opinions and advice. I think most would agree that getting the coversion/re-clocking out of the noisy computer environment will be a significant improvement.

Marco

Marco,
Thank you very much for the very informative reply. I don't know if I was the only one helped by your response, but you certainly helped me. I will begin researching what is the most cost effective way of converting a USB signal to SPDIF. Given my level of involvement in this hobby, I'm afraid I know which end of the cost scale I'll end up at! Thanks again for your help.

Bruce_1- is there some wrong with the sound quailty you're getting with the MacBook Pro- mini to Toslink connection to your MF Tri-Vista?

How does it sound compared to CDs played on the MF Tri-Vista?

Here are some interesting threads running currently on Asylum:

Which is better format sonically: USB or S/DIF?

SB3 versa USB to S/PDIF converter?

Why no "reasonably" priced USB Dacs?

Enjoy!

Kana813,
I'm actually quite impressed with the sound quality of the current set-up (Mac->optical cable->MF Tri-Vista), and find it sounds as good (some listeners I've had over say "better than")as playing a CD using the Tri-vista as both transport and DAC. However, as a card carrying member of the audiophile community, I'm always interested incremental improvements in sound quality. In my case, I would add "Cost effective" to that search. That is why I was hoping for a relatively inexpensive cable solution to improving the sound quality. I'm not going to spend a thousand dollars on this unless it makes a discernable improvement over the current set-up. Howver, if I can do a lot better than I am now with a relatively small investment, I'll do it. I would like to try it out before making the investment though.