Mac Mini USB output sounds "garbled"


In my smaller second system I have a Mac Mini with songs ripped into WAV with error correction turned on going into a dac via USB. Why does the music sound "garbled" or "crackled" most of the time? I run a composite output from a CDP into the same dac and it's fine. What am I doing wrong/not doing right?
devilboy

Showing 2 responses by devilboy

Jax2: I'm using a Cambridge Audio DacMagic. I'm running USB 2 out of the Mini into USB 1 in the DacMagic. I will try the toslink next.
I found out what was wrong. Go into iTunes, then click window. Then click "Equalizer". This next part is the key.....make sure equalizer is OFF. Just to be sure, turn preamplifier down to 0db, but absolutely turn off EQ. This fixed my problem. If that doesn't work, go to "System Preferences" and click "sound". Then go to the bottom of the screen and turn down volume to 75%. There may be too much gain going to your dac at 100%. If that doesn't work, continue lowering output volume until distortion goes away. Turning off the preamplifier in windows did the trick for me. Thanks to all who gave info, though.

D.