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Requesting input from iMac users

I have been playing my iTunes library through (into) the main system via a Toslink coming from the headphone jack on the iMac to the input of the Krell HTS 7.1 processor. It sounds good to me, however, a friend is telling me that this is the lowest quality option for playing the music. According to him the headphone jack is putting the music out through a very inexpensive DAC in the iMac thus diminishing the quality out and causing the processor to accept the music via analog, converting to digital and then back out again in analog. A series of distortion causing steps.

I do have a Pop Pulse (never used) that would allow for coming out of the iMac via USB into the Pop Pulse and back out with digital cable (SPDIF) to the processor. Apparently this eliminates some extra DAC conversions. Would this be a better option? How do you do it?
puerto
audioguru1
19 posts
 
Your friend is sadly mistaken as your mac outputs digital. However, toslink is generally considered lower quality than coaxial digital. My understanding is that toslink cable quality matters a lot. I use (when I use toslink) a sysconcept cable. (http://www.sysconcept.ca/product_info.php?cPath=25_29&products_id=219 )

Some time back I had a pop pulse, it was relatively poor quality compared to my trends ud10.1. Its hard to say how the pop-pulse would compare to toslink, but I can tell you that toslink is a little bit more closed in sounding, with a somewhat more shallow soundstage compared to my toslink (set to 16bit output on the mac - it defaults to 24 bit, you need to open audio midi setup)
rbstehno
1,483 posts
 
the sound you get from the mac is ok, nothing to write home about. when you attach a jitter device to the mac using the toslink to reduce or eliminate the jitter and at the same time converting to a coax cable, then attach an external dac to that, then you are getting there. forget about usb setups also. get an external dac that supports toslink and/or coax, those are still the best sounding.
leahy's avatar
leahy
80 posts
 
Hi,

I use Firewire out to an M-Audio Audiophile Firewire DAC. It sounds fantastic, and I have no issue giving up any of the traditional CD players I have used. I haven't tried the headphone jack, but there is no doubt that it will be inferior to the Firewire setup.

The M-Audio part isn't current, but it's worth seeking out used. Probably around $100 now. Try it, and I think you will be very surprised. A nice option is that you can record vinyl to digital if you are so inclined.

Good luck.
mb9061
137 posts
 
USB beats out the toslink on the IMac in my setup hands down. That was into a Bel Canto DAC3 at the time I tried the comparison. Using an Empirical Audio Turbo-3 converter now which is pricey but about as good as you can get for USB conversion.

At the end of the day, it depends on how much you want to spend and whether you're happy with the sound you have. USB should win out everytime compared to toslink, but the USB implementation of your DAC (or conversion device ahead of the DAC) is crucial and you generally get what you pay for.

IMacs are nice to in that they respond as well as any other source device to power cord changes and conditioners, but that's a whole other can of worms for people to debate.
puerto OP
372 posts
 
Thank you for the responses I'll be checking out the advice!
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