I suspect this question has been answered a zillion times. I may have did a few times too. But here's my two cents on what I did:
(Not recommended)
1) use Mac's PnP (with, say, a cheap Sony DVD / Blu-ray as streamer to your DAC)
--- slow, unsearchable, many files not recognized, complete waste of time; poor sound quality
2) use Mac's headphone jack as analog audio in
--- just don't!
3) use Mac's Toslink digital output (same headphone jack as also an Toslink out) to your DAC, with some software like VOX
--- inferior quality, also, you cannot do web browsing on your Mac at the same time
4) Sonos (OMG)
5) Denon Helios (OMFG)
--- only saving grace is integration with Amazon Music, plus playing directly from your iPhone's library (very convenient ... I don't need to power up my Mac yet I could listen to my music library thru Helios --- as long as I don't downgrade the format while syncing thru iTunes)
6) Pioneer N50 (OMOMFG)
(works for me)
7) Logitech Transporter as a streamer to your DAC, Mac runs the Logitech Media Server. The Mac and the external drives are all SDD.
--- the iOS app only works on older iOS, I use browser interface instead (typically <your mac's IP>:9000 in Chrome / Firefox et al)
--- only 24/96 output from Transporter
The key is convenience at the expense of quality, much like vinyl -> CD. You get the idea. But mostly, the music is 100% enjoyable to listen to.
There are some very expensive solutions out there, like memory player, et al. But at that level, I'd rather pop a CD onto my CD player.
(Not recommended)
1) use Mac's PnP (with, say, a cheap Sony DVD / Blu-ray as streamer to your DAC)
--- slow, unsearchable, many files not recognized, complete waste of time; poor sound quality
2) use Mac's headphone jack as analog audio in
--- just don't!
3) use Mac's Toslink digital output (same headphone jack as also an Toslink out) to your DAC, with some software like VOX
--- inferior quality, also, you cannot do web browsing on your Mac at the same time
4) Sonos (OMG)
5) Denon Helios (OMFG)
--- only saving grace is integration with Amazon Music, plus playing directly from your iPhone's library (very convenient ... I don't need to power up my Mac yet I could listen to my music library thru Helios --- as long as I don't downgrade the format while syncing thru iTunes)
6) Pioneer N50 (OMOMFG)
(works for me)
7) Logitech Transporter as a streamer to your DAC, Mac runs the Logitech Media Server. The Mac and the external drives are all SDD.
--- the iOS app only works on older iOS, I use browser interface instead (typically <your mac's IP>:9000 in Chrome / Firefox et al)
--- only 24/96 output from Transporter
The key is convenience at the expense of quality, much like vinyl -> CD. You get the idea. But mostly, the music is 100% enjoyable to listen to.
There are some very expensive solutions out there, like memory player, et al. But at that level, I'd rather pop a CD onto my CD player.