DACMagic with AppleTV

[Armbender]

Anyone have any experiences (good or bad) with this set-up...Im looking to add an external DAC to my AppleTV and the DAC Magic certainly fits the price range and the reviews seem really decent...

I plan on running optical from Apple TV to Dac, then Analog from Dac to reciever for 2ch and also optical from dac to receiver for 5.1 videos...

Thanks

[mjb]

Nope, no experiences I'm affraid. But, points to bear in mind are:

1. the DAC's in your 1056 are already pretty good - I'm not sure what improvement you'd notice.

2. connecting optical from the DAC to your reciever is IMO pointless, although I haven't looked up if the DAC Magic is supposed to do some magic vodoo shaping or reclocking. Again, I'm not sure what improvement you'd notice.

[Armbender]

Nope, no experiences I'm affraid. But, points to bear in mind are:

1. the DAC's in your 1056 are already pretty good - I'm not sure what improvement you'd notice.

2. connecting optical from the DAC to your reciever is IMO pointless, although I haven't looked up if the DAC Magic is supposed to do some magic vodoo shaping or reclocking. Again, I'm not sure what improvement you'd notice.

Thanks for your comments...might be also worth mentioning that I will be upgrading my 1056 for a Classe SSP-600 in the next year...

[mjb]

Thanks for your comments...might be also worth mentioning that I will be upgrading my 1056 for a Classe SSP-600 in the next year...

In that case, I'd say don't bother with an external DAC, and save your money for the SSP-600 :T

[Brandon B]

2. connecting optical from the DAC to your reciever is IMO pointless, although I haven't looked up if the DAC Magic is supposed to do some magic vodoo shaping or reclocking. Again, I'm not sure what improvement you'd notice.

To pass the 5.1 audio on to the Rotel that the DACMagic doesn't know what to do with, like he said in the OP.

[gross30]

I am currently using the benchmark dac1 usb with the apple tv setup, and it works very well. No problems here. Great sound as well.

[Armbender]

I am currently using the benchmark dac1 usb with the apple tv setup, and it works very well. No problems here. Great sound as well.

the benchmark is certainly a step-up from the dacmagic

so, usb from apple to DAC..what are you running from DAC to processor?...

id like to run 2ch pcm and also optical for 5.1..

[gross30]

I am utilizing the balanced l/r into my Mac C-46, then to the MC 1201's. I listened to the dac magic, and it was a great product, but after trying the Benchmark, that was the one. I have only used the Apple tv for music, easy to use etc. etc. and display it on a 22" monitor instead of firing up the big screen when listening to 2 channel.

[Armbender]

thanks for all of the advice guys...

[whoaru99]

You keep mentioning 5.1; those external DACs don't/won't work with 5.1 bitstreams. Perhaps I'm missing the point of why 5.1 is mentioned?

[Armbender]

You keep mentioning 5.1; those external DACs don't/won't work with 5.1 bitstreams. Perhaps I'm missing the point of why 5.1 is mentioned?

when i rent movies from the appletv, I have it in 5.1 Dolby...but when i listen to music, i have it in 2.1 PCM...just wondering if I add an external DAC, would I be able to improve the sound...and have the benifit of both sound formats...

[whoaru99]

External DACs typically handle only 2-ch PCM input. External DACs are not Dolby Digital, DTS, etc., decoders.

[Armbender]

External DACs typically handle only 2-ch PCM input. External DACs are not Dolby Digital, DTS, etc., decoders.

u just answered my main question right there...thanks....