Why Mac Mini Over Slim Systems Products?

if you use a mac or an airport express as a music server and you are going into a jitter device or an external dac, get a good quality toslink cable and then go out and buy the adapter that connects onto the cable to plug it into the mac. i purchased a few of them at fry's for $3 each. much better alternative than the apple or monster options.

Rbstehno-

Any recommendations for a "good quality toslink". I don't even know where to begin looking or what to look for.

Ecruz-

Take a look at:

www.lifatec.com/toslink4.html

before you spend a lot of money on a Toslink cable.

Van den Hul makes Toslink cables with mini jacks on one end and standard on the other, which is perfect for Mac Mini or notebook applications. Unfortunately, my Lavry DAC has what appears to be a slightly non-standard Toslink input and the VDH's is a bit large and wouldn't fit. I now have one from Wireworld on the way. I'm not convinced that Toslink straight out of the computer is workable for me sonically, but I want to see if a better cable will make a difference.

In my system, I would describe the Toslink sound as having a smaller sound stage than USB, less apparent clarity, and whereas USB has a "black background" (perhaps too much so), the Toslink is, uh, not-black.

As I experiment with this stuff, I am finding that you need to give it a good long listening session and not just a back and forth comparison. Some configurations appear to produce listener fatigue. Unfortunately, I don't remember which. (Memory loss may be another side effect.)

Drubin-
How can the background be "too black"? Do you mean, kind of lifeless?

I'm starting out with an inexpensive "glass" toslink and a mini adapter. They should be here early next week. That should tell me if I'm even in the ball park. If so, then I can go from there. If not, then I'll start looking at a USB option.