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Mac Mini used as a D/A converter

Hi:
I have a music equipment SB3..etc...The question is that I hear most music about a SB3 with a Mac Mini as server...but some music is heared using a Sony 400CD charger...When hearing this, it sounds too "brilliant". The Sony has a digital out (coax and toslink)..The question is if I could use my mini as D/A and how...I read in this forum that the best path is using a USB D/A converter...Anyway I want to test is the Sony works OK using the digital out...

Then the question is if I can connect the Sony to Mini..I think I need a Toslink to MiniTosLink cable...and here my doubt...

Can I use the mac as D/A converter and use then the the Mac Mini analog out...? What software is needed to do this?

With many thanks in advance

JP
jotap_66
jotap_66 OP
5 posts
 
Please, could you be more explicit...My sony has a digital TOS LINK out, and my Mac mini (latest generation C2DUO) has a MiniTOsLink input and a MiniTosLink Output

Could you please explain me this plase...

Thank you

JP
thymanst
35 posts
 
My bad as far as the mac mini having an digital input - the minis since late 2006 have this feature - however it looks like a pass thru when used in the digital domain (for surround sound)it looks like you could use the analog outs of the CD changer to a 3.5 mini pin into the mini - then the mini could do the D/A - or course this way the D/a is occuring twice (at CD and mac mini) I've looked extensivly for the quality of Apples DAC chip they use but there isnt much info I can find - I did find a Developer note saying the signal to noise is >90 which isnt great - I've found the Berhinger does a much better job at D/A than the mac mini - (much smoother and not "digital sounding")there are also other D/A convertors that are inexpensive and would do a much better job than the mac minis DAC.
jotap_66 OP
5 posts
 
Firstly...Thank you very much for your help...

The question is that what I want to test if is if a good idea to use other D/A different than the Sony's changer...Because using this, it sounds too brilliant to me..It could be a problem with other of my components (A Rotel RA-06 amp and a Focal JMLAB 807V speakers), but testing them with a SB3, all works OK...

Then my idea is to test this with the Mini as D/A converter and if it works, buying a external D/A...as you suggest to me, for example the Berhinger...

My question now, is if need any software in mac Mini to use it as D/A converter...

Thank you again for your help

JP
pschoi
23 posts
 
Do a google search for "LineIn for Mac OS X". It is freeware.
jotap_66 OP
5 posts
 
Hello:

If you do a google search for "LineIn for Mac OS X" it appears pages about a development programming environment called "Ruby on Rails" :) :)

Seriously, linein is for using a analog input...I know that there are several programs to do this... My question is about digital input (not analog input)...

Thanks

JP
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