My imac is connected to a marantz amp which is used with some epos es14 speakers and the sound is superb.However im wondering if i introduced a dac into the system would i get an improved quality of sound?
If so where would it go in the system etc?
Thanks in advance for any recommendations,advice or ideas.
Mac OS X (10.6.6)
Are you currently using a digital or analog connection to the Marantz? If it is analog, a DAC converter probably will improve the sound quality, assuming it is a high quality one. But without the details (like the model of the amp & the DAC you are considering) it is hard to say if you would hear a noticeable improvement.
Thanks,the amp is marantz pm6002 and at the moment its coming from the headphone output at the back of the mac.Ive just ordered a project dac box s which i understand will connect at a usb point at the back........what do you reckon?
I imagine it will sound better. 🙂
EDIT: you will need to get a TOSLink to Mini Optical Digital SPDIF cable similar to this one to connect the DAC to your iMac. The mini-plug end goes into the headphone jack on the iMac. The iMac should automatically switch from analog to optical digital output mode.
Note: I don't know anything about this vendor. The link is provided just to show the kind of cable you need, not as a recommendation of what brand to buy or who to buy it from.
Cheers for your help,its much appreciated.I was under the impression that it was connected to the usb port at the back,which i was told would then automatically by pass the macs soundcard?
Sorry for the confusion. I found at least two different models for a search on "project dac box s." This one, the "Pro-Ject DAC Box S USB," has three inputs, one of which is USB.
But what came up first in my search was this one, which does not have the USB port.
If you ordered the USB version, you don't need the optical cable or connection.
Check out this DAC also. I use it with a pair of powered Audioengine A5+ speakers.
Cheers guys,the one ive ordered is indeed the usb one, so the cables wont be needed.It seems to get great reviews both on amazon and from various mags,although the proof will be in the pudding!
It also seems to be able to use and compliment different sources/inputs ie cd player, but i dont quite get that bit.As youve probably gathered im a total novice re this stuff but im always loking to improve the sounds i hear.
How are things stateside?I was in Boston a few years ago with my orchestra and then worked down the east coast and totally loved it but have unfortunately never made it to Texas.
Keep something in mind about a USB DAC. The Dac will disable the computer System sound. That means from the keyboard, Menubar or System Preferences/Sound. With my Dac, and probably with all Dacs, you can still use the iTunes volume slider, strangely.
Again with mine, I can control the sound via the Dac or the powered speakers and this can sometimes become a pain with all the places to adjust!
So I assume with your setup, you will control the sound via iTunes, the Marantz or Dac, if it has a volume control. Getting those all in sync can be a challenge, especially if a few people are using the setup and have their own way of adjusting the sound.
indiajazz wrote:
It also seems to be able to use and compliment different sources/inputs ie cd player, but i dont quite get that bit.As youve probably gathered im a total novice re this stuff but im always loking to improve the sounds i hear.
Some CD players & many TV's have a digital audio output, usually a TOSLink optical {'light pipe') one. A few have a coax S/PDIF connector. Your DAC has inputs for both types as well as the USB input so you could connect any of these devices to it as well as your Mac. The push button on the front cycles through the three inputs so you can choose which one to send to the Marantz. It also has an 'auto-seek' feature: when you turn it on it automatically cycles through the inputs & will select the first one that has a signal on it.
dac help and advice please
