Hi all,
I'm looking to move to a high quality digital music server. I'm thinking of using a Mac Mini with a 2TB drive as my base. I need the 2TB drive since I rip all of my music to wav. I have a Cambridge Audio DacMagic and I was planning on connecting the Mac via digital output (USB, SPDIF, Toslink) to the DacMagic. The rest of my system is:
Rotel preamp and amp (RC-1550 & RB-1582) and B&W 803s.
Today I'm using the DacMagic with an inexpensive CD player and I like the sound.
I'm kind of new the audiophile world so I have a few questions and need some help:
- Will the Mac produce the same digital signal as my CD player? From what I read, a lot of ppl say Macs produce a lot of jitter? I'm using a $100 Sony DVD player as my transport to the DacMagic; I'm wondering if the Mac will somehow sound worse than the CD player; playing through the same DAC?
- What is the best way to connect my Mac and DAC? USB, SPDIF, Toslink? Are there any advantages to one or the other?
- Can I play 24-bit audio with the Mac? It doesn't seem like iTunes supports 24-bit?
- Another option would be to use something like an Olive 4HD music server. Since they are both hard drive based solutions; I think the Mac would be more flexible and I have to think that they would sound the same going through the same DAC. Am I wrong?
- Am I missing anything? I just want to make sure I have all of my bases covered. Example: remote control - I was planning on using an iPod Touch as the iTunes remote. I've seen this before and it looks like a great interface! Is there anything I'm missing?
Many thanks! Any help would be greatly appreciated! :T
I'm looking to move to a high quality digital music server. I'm thinking of using a Mac Mini with a 2TB drive as my base. I need the 2TB drive since I rip all of my music to wav. I have a Cambridge Audio DacMagic and I was planning on connecting the Mac via digital output (USB, SPDIF, Toslink) to the DacMagic. The rest of my system is:
Rotel preamp and amp (RC-1550 & RB-1582) and B&W 803s.
Today I'm using the DacMagic with an inexpensive CD player and I like the sound.
I'm kind of new the audiophile world so I have a few questions and need some help:
- Will the Mac produce the same digital signal as my CD player? From what I read, a lot of ppl say Macs produce a lot of jitter? I'm using a $100 Sony DVD player as my transport to the DacMagic; I'm wondering if the Mac will somehow sound worse than the CD player; playing through the same DAC?
- What is the best way to connect my Mac and DAC? USB, SPDIF, Toslink? Are there any advantages to one or the other?
- Can I play 24-bit audio with the Mac? It doesn't seem like iTunes supports 24-bit?
- Another option would be to use something like an Olive 4HD music server. Since they are both hard drive based solutions; I think the Mac would be more flexible and I have to think that they would sound the same going through the same DAC. Am I wrong?
- Am I missing anything? I just want to make sure I have all of my bases covered. Example: remote control - I was planning on using an iPod Touch as the iTunes remote. I've seen this before and it looks like a great interface! Is there anything I'm missing?
Many thanks! Any help would be greatly appreciated! :T
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