PC audio out USB to external DAC

You can use a device like an Airport Express (new version just out),

Jax, I see the new Extreme (which does not have a digital out) is supposed to start shipping next month but haven't seen anything about a new Express. Did I miss something?

Jax, I see the new Extreme (which does not have a digital out) is supposed to start shipping next month but haven't seen anything about a new Express. Did I miss something?

Nope, you didn't miss anything...I did! My bad, I scanned that email from Apple quickly and didn't read the details. Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!

Marco

Check out the CEC DA53 DAC which has a USB connector and does the job quite well.

Marco,
I've been reading some great things about the Waveterminal,I may have to pick one up for a head to head comparison with the HagUSB. The Meridian unfortunately does not have a digital input, that would make things too easy! I have a Bel Canto DAC2, with full mods done by Empirical Audio. I recently bought this dac to use with the Squeezebox, which of course I no longer have. Yes, Steve's gear there at EA looks like the ideal equipment for audiophile PC audio, if you can swing the cost. BTW, when I got the modded Bel Canto DAC2, I connected to the digital coax out on my Meridian 508.24 to hear if there was an improvement over the stock Meridian. While the Bel Canto sounded good, the Meridian clearly sounded better without it. In all fairness, I was using a new (not yet broken-in) Blue Dragon coax interconnect from Moon Audio, so my initial impressions my not be accurate. I'm looking forward to seeing how the DAC2 does with the digital input from my PC. Thanks for your thoughts on ripping audio files, I am currently using Itunes in the Apple Lossless format. I can't say that I'm pleased with the way the Itunes compresses the songs that you purchase from them though.
Regards, Mike

I'd like to post my first ever Audiogon post as a reply to this thread.

Just to add to the discussion and share my Computer Digital Audio or CDA :oP setup (I'm not big on the PC Audio term, seems...cheap computer-y).

In a nutshell, I have a Mac Mini with a MiniStack 250 GB, will most likely upgrade to a 400 or 500 GB one day.

I had a Xitel USB to Optical out converter I had from an early MiniDisc portable.

The Xitel goes out to an input of a Denon DVD-5000 which as AL 24 Bit Processing or up-processing which upgrades so to speak, the audio thats fed into its Coaxial or Optical input.

The Denon DVD-5000 serves not only as a DVD/CD/HDCD player but also as a great DAC.

Then out to my reciever/amp.

Very simple and the move from the built in audio analog output on the mini to Xitel USB>DVD-5000 was significant and a great upgrade. Sound quality is fantastic.

I use a Menu Item for Mac OS X named SoundSource which allows me to select on the fly either the built in mini audio out or the Xitel which shows up nicely in Sound Preferences panel.

A very simple and great setup which I'm enjoying very much.

And to add to the experience, of course, I use the latest iTunes, but also YouTunes for track and cover display and a few other things to turn my Apple LCD display into a Jukebox/server! I use Menushade to hide the Mac OS Menu bar at top and Backlight 2 for some crazy background screensaver action!

AND a Griffin Technology Powermate USB volume control knob which looks hi-fi and glows a cool ice blue at the bottom of it and controls iTunes volume, track queing, ejecting, etc.

I rip at Apple Lossless. Occassionally an AAC at 320 but I'm phasing out my use MP3s, I want the highest quality. HD storage is increasing and I just dont see the need for it anymore as I also want the highest on my iPod and really listen to a few albums at a time.

Just my setup which I enjoy very much. With a few clicks from browing the internet, I can turn my Mac mini into a Jukebox.

Want screenshots?! Thanks for reading!