Older DAC connection to my Macbook??

Or just use the digital optical output on the macbook. Like @randy-11 said, the headphone output is also the toslink output. You’ll just need one of those little adapters to put on the end of the optical cable so it can attach to the ’headphone’ jack. That will be way less expensive than multi hundred dollar converters.

Indeed. As well as constantly advancing DAC chip technology. But there's nothing wrong with older units if the rest of your system isn't top of the line, state of the art stuff.

Have you tried it? What do you think? You definitely have an amazing system. When I said sota, I was thinking $100k+ systems.. Still think you've a ways to go to reach my completely arbitrary definition.