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
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
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
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.
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
The mac mini has no digital inputs that the Sony would hook up to - you'll need a external D/a convertor to do the conversion - i'm using a Berhinger deq2496 D/A that works great(better than the Minis output) it was under $200 - it will accept inputs from both the mac mini and the CD changer - tou may need bal to unbal cabling though