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Best USB port on a late 2012 Mac mini

Hi guys, got me a late 2012 Mac mini with 16GB of ram, a 500GB ssd and a 1TB normal HD. I am running the OS and Roon from the ssd, my music library is on a 2TB ext HD connected to the mini with FireWire 800.
My question is this, when connecting my dac to the mini, is there, between the 3 USB port, one that is better sounding ? Like it used to be on the old Mac Book Pro ?
Thanks.
gryphongryph
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yanc's avatar
yanc
20 posts
 

+1 on the Intona USB

How to determine, which USB is best for connection to DAC:

  • Plug in your device
  • Choose Apple Menu → About This Mac
  • Click More Info
  • Click System Report
  • Click USB (from the hardware list),
  • Off the various USB Ports, ensure you are using a Hi-Speed one, that is not shared with anything else.

That's it!

arbaz
1 posts
 

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piaudiol
73 posts
 

I use one and will not change. A 2012 Core i7 2.3 GHz machine with 16GB of RAM is an amazing music server when running dB Audio Labs software.

The USB port on the opposite end of the IEC power inlet is the one to use.

If you have not tried this simple, no cost SQ hack, do this:

listen to your favorite reference track.

shut the mini down and invert the polarity of the IEC C7 connector.

reboot and listen to that same track again without doing any system changes other than the PC polarity inversion.

report back with your findings.

other, no cost Mac mini tweaks may well be forthcoming if you all are interested.

What we don't know or understand about how to achieve the most gratifying musical enjoyment could fill a book.  Most of it doesn't make sense. It just IS.

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