chuckfromsanjose
Level 1 (4 points)
Desktops

Q: I have a Mac Pro.  Do I need a DAC?

I've got my Mac Pro connected to my amp with an optical connection.  Will a DAC help improve quality?  I know that the internal DAC isn't as good as what's offered in the market, but does it matter?  Connecting to Mcintosh and old Klipsh Forte speakers.

Posted on Oct 15, 2016 10:52 PM

by John Lockwood,Apple recommended
John Lockwood John Lockwood
Level 6 (9,411 points)
Servers Enterprise
A:

If you are using the optical connection from your Mac Pro to the amp and you have your Mac then you should be sending the audio in digital form, therefore the amp will be acting as the DAC - digital audio converter and the quality will be dependent on the DAC built-in to the amp.

 

If you were using an analogue connection on the Mac Pro then the Mac Pro would be acting as the DAC and then this issue might be applicable.

 

While I think it would be fair to say that some third-party DAC interfaces would be superior quality to the built-in one on the Mac Pro unless you were using the Mac Pro in a music studio environment with high-end monitor speakers you are unlikely to hear the difference. (Unless you are a dog.) The other area where it might be applicable is if you want to directly connect a 5.1 speaker setup to the Mac, this is because the built-in analogue interface only supports a maximum of a 2.1 setup.

Posted on Oct 17, 2016 2:07 AM

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chuckfromsanjose

Q: I have a Mac Pro.  Do I need a DAC?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by kahjot,

    kahjot kahjot Oct 16, 2016 8:46 AM in response to chuckfromsanjose
    Level 4 (1,416 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 16, 2016 8:46 AM in response to chuckfromsanjose

    My feeling is that a DAC would help, but I have never used my Mac's optical-out connection so I can't comment on the quality.

     

    I have DACs for my headphones, and that is a huge improvemeant over the headphone jack on my MacBook Pro and Mac Pro.

  • by John Lockwood,Apple recommended

    John Lockwood John Lockwood Oct 17, 2016 2:07 AM in response to chuckfromsanjose
    Level 6 (9,411 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Oct 17, 2016 2:07 AM in response to chuckfromsanjose

    If you are using the optical connection from your Mac Pro to the amp and you have your Mac then you should be sending the audio in digital form, therefore the amp will be acting as the DAC - digital audio converter and the quality will be dependent on the DAC built-in to the amp.

     

    If you were using an analogue connection on the Mac Pro then the Mac Pro would be acting as the DAC and then this issue might be applicable.

     

    While I think it would be fair to say that some third-party DAC interfaces would be superior quality to the built-in one on the Mac Pro unless you were using the Mac Pro in a music studio environment with high-end monitor speakers you are unlikely to hear the difference. (Unless you are a dog.) The other area where it might be applicable is if you want to directly connect a 5.1 speaker setup to the Mac, this is because the built-in analogue interface only supports a maximum of a 2.1 setup.