Macbook vs Squeezebox 3

Not sure whether it has optical out or not. I'll have to check. As for the V-Link, I don't really want to buy any more hardware. Was hoping I could plug the Macbook into the USB input, tweak some settings and have better sound than my modded SB3.

Must say, I was expecting more comments.

My Macbook does have optical digital output. I did a little more testing last night, using iTunes w/Pure Music in the "memory mode". Did sound a little better than the USB, but still the Macbook sounded very flat, undynamic and one dimensional compared to the Squeezebox.

I guess my next step will be to try something like a V-Link and see what that sounds like.

My ultimate goal is to replace the Squeezebox with a Mac Mini.

Steve,

Not disagreeing, just asking. Are you saying that I will not be able to get sound that equals or betters my Squeezebox, from my Mac, without a USB converter and an expensive digital cable? It seems like the converter is the more important piece at this point?

Before putting a lot of money into this, I am going to try the Musical Fidelity V-Link, to see if that improves things at all. It will go to the same DAC, I'll use the same digital cable that I currently use from the SB3 -> DAC. Then at least I'm eliminating some of the variables.

Do you expect that this set up would bring the Mac closer to the SB3? Again, I want to migrate from the SB3 to the Mac. This seems like a simpler solution in the long run. As long as I can get as good or better sound out of it.

Thanks

Why migrate away from the SB3 if it sounds so good? Because it has been obsolete'd by Logitech, i.e. no support?

Exactly.

The V-Link came today. I just finished playing with it, for the last hour or so. Using optical wasn't much better than optical straight out of the Mac. However, once I switched to spdif, things came to life. Finally! Pretty darn close to the SB3, without any tweaking at all. This is on my regular Macbook, using a regular USB cable, iTunes and Pure Music. I now feel confident that I can go to a Mac Mini optimized for music, without compromising sound quality and possibly improving sound quality.

I got a demo V-Link II from Crutchfield for $109. But on your recommendation, I just ordered a V-Link 192 from Music Direct for $199 & free shipping. I'll compare them and see if I can hear a difference, then return one of them. Once I get use to this setup, I'll try a couple of USB cables also. My digital cable is an Acoustic Zen Silver Bytes. I also just downloaded the free "Musical Fidelity" version of Amarra. I'll compare it to Pure Music and see if I can hear a difference there.

Thanks for your input.