iTunes+MacBook+Built-in optical digital output

I've been round and round with all the settings you describe ...
and .... as more than one re-masterer has suggested in differentiating
high quality CDs from even DVD-As ... if you can tell the difference in a
bonafide blind testing ordeal, from one to the other, assuming
high quality both, you are just lucky, and you won't repeat those
test results again. ( FWIW, I've lost on 50% of such tests,
over 20 and counting. ) The differences you don't hear are not perceptible,
reliably. I love my Mac MIni server, the convenience, the high
quality sound. Thanks Apple and thanks Bel Canto DAC 3, M300s.
Yep, someone will tell you there's a better DAC. Have fun with the cords,
the mixing, etc. The more you fuss, the better it will sound ... or maybe not. :-)

Are you sure the mac upsamples or is it just that it can handle 24/96 if that is what it is presented.

tunrs to be a genuine 24bit/96KHz digital CD transport. Then hooking an external DAC (24bit/96KHz) to this port through an optical cable, MacBook and an external DAC will play a role of a high end CD player. Furthermore, when inserting a upsampling device from 96KHz to 192KHz, then it would give a higher resosution audio than usual.

I believe you are incorectly equating higher bit rates with better sound. If the original data is 16/44.1K then going up to 24/96 or 24/192 does not increase resolution. There is nothing you can do to increase the resolution beyond this. You change the data and thus change the sound but the resolution cannot increase. Upsampling does not turn it into a high end CD palyers since many DACs and "high end" CD players don't upsample.

BTW the Accuphase and Northstar both upsample

The MAC definitely upsamples and it is great-sounding. Selected in Utilities/MIDI options. The problem with toslink out of a MAC MINI is the jitter, and Toslink in general for that matter.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

Michaelct,

Would you please priovide some detail about your audio set up? How do have it configured? Is it on your audio rack or wireless? What interface to control -- squeeze box or something else?

I am interested in the mac mini as a possible server.

Fred

Fred/Sammie,

I spend too many hours a day in front of computers.
It's my work. I have used both Mac and Windows machines
every day for many many years. If only I could use just a Mac.
When I read the convolutions folks are going through to get
Windows machines to sound as good as their CD players ...
sorry, but just in case my life will be shorter than I plan,
I'm not going there. Just my experience, and just my opinion though.

I have a Mac Mini dedicated music server, connected directly
via USB to a Bel Canto DAC3. ( Then to Bel Canto M300 monoblocs,
and on to Monitor Audio GS 20 speakers. )
CDs ripped to hard drive in Apple Lossless, in some cases ripped
at 44, and duplicate rips at 48 -- just for fun. I can't say that there's
an appreciable difference between 44 and 48 in, and/or 44 or 48 out.
I am entirely willing to admit though, that I might be missing subtleties.

I avoided the wireless rigamarole because I had no particular reason
to do wireless. More expense and more ... stuff.

Sound quality ... I can only comfortably compare the above set-up
to Arcam FMJ CD36, C31, P1 monoblocs, running the same well
recorded and mixed source material ... I cannot reliably tell
the difference between the two systems. ( same speakers in each case ).
So darn close it just doesn't matter. Not to me.

I also bought a ~$40 Keyspan USB/Bluetooth remote-control that lets me
control the Mini from other rooms if I need to. Keyspan has recently announced a ~$150 remote with a display that mimics an iPod display, also
Bluetooth/USB. Another kind of 'wireless' set up, I guess one could say.