Digital Audio Converters (DAC) and Lossless playback

[jam>]

I'm curious how you guys get the most out of your lossless files, and how you play them on your home system. My vinyl sounds great and my digital music doesn't.

I'm pretty sure I want to get a stand-alone DAC (no pre-amp / no wifi) to connect my MacBook Pro to my home stereo via RCA and USB cables. I'll use iTunes and Apple Lossless files, or maybe play iTunes through my iPad (which would be better, but that would involve getting AirPort or figuring out how to get Home Sharing to work with it).

I'm looking at these two models at the moment. They seem solid and in my price range (<$200):
• JDS Labs, Stand Alone ODAC (http://www.jdslabs.com/products/46/standalone-odac/)
• Audio Engine D1 (http://audioengineusa.com/Store/D1-24-Bit-DAC)

What do you guys have going?

[antelope19]

If you're just trying to hook your computer up to your stereo receiver, Allow me to save you about $195

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00004Z5CP

[mbw]

 :roll:

I Dont have one yet,  but you hear nothing but good things about the D1.
Another to look at is schitt audio.  Terrible name.  Supposedly great, very affordable DAC's.

eta link:  http://schiit.com/products/modi

[antelope19]

Obviously I misunderstood if you're rolling your eyes. Based on what he posted though, he just wants to "hook his MacBook up to his stereo via RCA and USB?

[mbw]

Obviously I misunderstood if you're rolling your eyes. Based on what he posted though, he just wants to "hook his MacBook up to his stereo via RCA and USB?

don't make me roll my eyes at you a second time.  he wants to "get the most out of" his lossless files.
a stand alone DAC will bypass your computers sound card and improve the sound.

he did not say, "can someone link me to the crappiest cables on amazon?"   :evil:

[VDB]

My music goes: iMac > Airplay via wifi > Apple TV > optical audio out > receiver

A lot of my music is Apple Lossless. I don't bother with anything above 16 bit, which I've read is the max Airplay will handle. I certainly don't qualify as an audiophile, but when I pipe music to the main system it sounds good to me.

If you aren't concerned with going above 16 bits, the Airplay route could be a good solution. You wouldn't have to worry about having your MBP tethered to a system, either. If you have no use for the video functions of Apple TV, an Airport Express will also output audio over Airplay (you can use it as your wifi router or just in client mode for music). A new ATV actually costs less than AE, but you can buy a used AE on Amazon for $50.

Here's an interesting discussion.

[antelope19]

Obviously I misunderstood if you're rolling your eyes. Based on what he posted though, he just wants to "hook his MacBook up to his stereo via RCA and USB?

don't make me roll my eyes at you a second time.  he wants to "get the most out of" his lossless files.
a stand alone DAC will bypass your computers sound card and improve the sound.

he did not say, "can someone link me to the crappiest cables on amazon?"   :evil:

Lol. Ok, ok. I'm done here.

[barnesy305]

:roll:

I Dont have one yet,  but you hear nothing but good things about the D1.
Another to look at is schitt audio.  Terrible name.  Supposedly great, very affordable DAC's.

eta link:  http://schiit.com/products/modi

I always knew Modi was a piece of schiit.

[twatts]

I've heard good things about the Dragonfly:

http://www.audioquest.com/usb_digital_analog_converter/dragonfly-dac

Terry

[rowjimmy]

:roll:

I Dont have one yet,  but you hear nothing but good things about the D1.
Another to look at is schitt audio.  Terrible name.  Supposedly great, very affordable DAC's.

eta link:  http://schiit.com/products/modi

I always knew Modi was a piece of schiit.

[Lifeboy]

:roll:

I Dont have one yet,  but you hear nothing but good things about the D1.
Another to look at is schitt audio.  Terrible name.  Supposedly great, very affordable DAC's.

eta link:  http://schiit.com/products/modi

I always knew Modi was a piece of schiit.

:hereitisyousentimentalbastard :hereitisyousentimentalbastard :hereitisyousentimentalbastard :hereitisyousentimentalbastard :hereitisyousentimentalbastard

Oh, man. That's gold.

[twatts]

Also, there are various ways to tweak Foobar to playback "better" - if you use it...  check it out...

My own experience is very limited - I did the cheap RCA cable route and killed my JVC...  I did the Squeezebox thing, but could never get it to work right...  I got a Denon and did some HDMI playback via my wife's lappy, but the Denon got hit by lightning...

Now, I'm slowly saving my penny's for something... 

Terry

[twatts]

:roll:

I Dont have one yet,  but you hear nothing but good things about the D1.
Another to look at is schitt audio.  Terrible name.  Supposedly great, very affordable DAC's.

eta link:  http://schiit.com/products/modi

Send me the loot and I'll pick this up for you...

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/4235311301.html

Terry

[antelope19]

Also, there are various ways to tweak Foobar to playback "better" - if you use it...  check it out...

My own experience is very limited - I did the cheap RCA cable route and killed my JVC...  I did the Squeezebox thing, but could never get it to work right...  I got a Denon and did some HDMI playback via my wife's lappy, but the Denon got hit by lightning...

Now, I'm slowly saving my penny's for something... 

Terry

Damn, that's some bad luck!!!!

[twatts]

Oh yeah...  this guy lives in my neighborhood:  http://www.kandkaudio.com/digitalaudio.html

I went to a yard sale at his house and bought a power supply from him:  http://www.oneac.com/

I didn't realize who he was until a couple of months later...

Terry