Is this a reasonable Audiophile Mac-based Server?

S789F ... I had the EXACT same problem last month with the exact same set up. It was a digital locking issue with the Bel Canto. My solution is below ... I also went to Radio Shack and found a shorter USB cable with gold plated connectors. I don't know if that helped, but everything works perfectly now with no drop-outs.

"I think that it is a digital lock problem as the first decimal point in the display lights up just before I get a drop-out or pop. Hold on, I am going to try something ...

... I think I have found the problem. I connected my USB cable directly to the Mac Mini, instead of going through the USB Hub, and the drop-outs have almost completely disappeared. I am now using a 20ft USB cable ... I'll try a shorter one and see if that removes the remaining pops.

I guess the Benchmark has better digital locking as it was able to lock on with my old set up without issue. Anyway, this looks like it is going to solve the problem ... now to spend a couple of days doing an A/B comparison between the two ..."

thanks pwfletcher,
i really hope its not a prob with the dac. i've talked to bel canto directly and they think the issue is with the mac.i tried a little experiment which was using my dvd player as a transport feeding the dac. seemed to work fine! connection made with digital coax. next i tried using the mac as the transport (no rip, just playback). no luck, same results- does the dac read usb and coax differently?
I just got off the apple site and apparently it sounds like itunes 7.6 might be the issue. many people complaining about similar problems. (skipping, drop outs) i tried trashing the itunes app., then reinstalling it. - no luck -
man, it would really be nice to get to the bottom of this.
oh yea, apple care hasn't a clue! ?????????

Go here to get an older version and try that

http://www.oldapps.com/download_iTunes_mac.php

I still don't believe that toslink is inferior. If all the bits get there and the interface is designed properly how could it be inferior. It has to be a problem with the DAC or jitter from the source if it sounds different. Perhaps the DAC designer figures no self respecting audiophile will use toslink so they don't put any effort in to it. These comparisons I see prove nothing about toslink, just about toslink on the particular DACs and sources used in the shoot out.

That said if the DAC you choose does have an inferior optical input then you should use another input.

As Pwfletcher says: Plug the USB cable directly into the Mini and not a hub (if you are going to use a hub make sure it a powered one with its own wall wart). Because a) it will have direct access to the USB and because b) it will have sufficient power - remember USB carries 5v.

Yes a DAC will probably see USB differently then coax. Coax is coming in SPDIF, USB is coming in USB and then has to be converted to SPDIF.

Based on everyone's comments it is starting to sound as though the Bel Canto is very sensitive to signal level.

Although it is a very nice piece of equipment, I find it hard to believe that the USB DAC sounds better than a Transporter set up correctly using the optimal hardware and software settings for the Transporter and slim server. There are so many factors that make a BIG difference. For example, the TP balanced output is dramatically different than the SE output. MP3 transcoding is dramatically different than other options, etc. You simply cannot do a simple A/B test. The basic beauty of the TP is that it contains a great DAC and you eliminate more jitter inducing steps (USB, Toslink, etc.).

I have a SILVERSTONE ENSEMBLE EB01 USB DAC connected to my MacPro, i then stream my music via AirPort Express to my Cambridge Audio Azur 540v2 via Toslink.

My Question is: Does having my USB DAC connected to my computer before I stream the music to my receiver a good thing? I wasnt sure if having the DAC connected to my computer before streaming the music defeated the purpose of having a DAC. I have noticed that everyone else has their DAC connected to to AirPort Express.

Let me know if this doesnt make sense? Thanks for any insight.

Now that both the Wavelength Cosecant USB DAC v3 (now with ASYNC mode) and the Benchmark USB DAC 1 and DAC 1-PRE support 24-bit audio at sample rates up to 96 kHz without the installation of any drivers or other special software. I am having a hard time choosing between them. My primary headphones are the Ultrasone UE 9 and the Grado GS 1000. Has anyone out there heard both side to side at any of the meets??? Are there specific advantages of one over the other?

Someone is using a DAC as EMM labs, dCS,Zanden, MBL with one MAc system? how they connect it to the Mac?thanks

hi Newly, there are 2 options... either get connect them via TOSlink cable (in which case, you need to make sure your DAC has a TOSlink input). you could also get a USB > AES/EBU or SPDIF converter (there are a number of these converters aval.).

several newer DACs hv USB inputs. you can connect these directly using a USB cable.

To my ears, the Benchmark is extremely accurate, but also edgy, sterile, and overly analytical. The Cosecant by comparison and without any harshness gets tone and timbre right, and is musical and involving.

The Cosecant is better; no contest, and the price difference reflects that.