Mac vs. PC differences to Airport Express?

Do yourself a big favor and take the Airport Express out of the equation. Yes, either get a USB converter, or get a USB DAC (which essentially puts the converter in the box). I've tried getting good sound from an AE but could not (flat, narrow soundstage, and not very engaging). I did not like the HagUSB device I tried out. I liked the Waveterminal U24 very much, but their not available anymore. Check out the offerings at Empirical Audio. He also does some mods to the Benchmark that may interest you.

Love your light bulb idea...and the movie projector thing, well you rock dude! Keep up the great work!

Marco

I find that the MAC is just all around better when it comes to dishing out the music. The MAC mini has an optical output that is fantastic and plugged into a good DAC is all you need. Also the Transporter is a nice solution.

I tried using a PC/XP with an M-Audio audiophile192 card using s/pif out to my MDA1000 but it sound was dull and did not sound right. I have never heard a PC sound really really good and I don't know why I really wonder about the Microsoft O/S and drivers.

The MAC mini has an optical output that is fantastic and plugged into a good DAC is all you need.

Personally, I would not allow the S/PDIF conversion to be done inside a computer. If you use the Toslink on the MacMini or their towers or laptops then the conversion is being done in noisy electronic environment of the computer. I would bet you'd get an audible improvement by taking that conversion outside of the computer, as it would be with a USB DAC, USB Converter, or better still, a device like Empirical offers that goes direct to I2S which is the native language of the DAC chip.

Marco