Preferred Audio Output, USB or 3.5mm?

What is the preferred 2CH audio out selection from an iMac (or PC) to my preamp, USB or the 3.5mm headphone jack? Either output will run through a separate DAC before the preamp. Mainly listening to iTunes or Pandora.

stevensctt02-16-2011 1:50am

Showing 7 responses by rwwear

rwwear Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 2,889 posts 05-25-2011 at 12:43am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete What about Hi Rez Bluray audio?
rwwear Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 2,889 posts 02-16-2011 at 02:23pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete HDMI would be the better way to go.
rwwear Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 2,889 posts 02-17-2011 at 02:52pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete They should have HDMI. I know you can get an adapter. But why should you have to? It needs to be connected to a TV at least. Does the mini display port pass audio? I'm sure Apple will catch up at some point.
rwwear Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 2,889 posts 05-04-2011 at 10:47pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Good Tahoe, now you need an adapter and a DAC with HDMI in.
rwwear Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 2,889 posts 05-05-2011 at 01:48pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete HDMI has higher bandwidth than USB and transmits video. Firewire is on it's way out. You will not find a new processor with it. You may find it on a few DACs.
rwwear Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 2,889 posts 05-06-2011 at 03:28am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I know most DACs that use HDMI for I2s only but they should use regular HDMI. HDMI will transmit SACD, DSD, DVDA, FLAC and every other HI REZ format I know of. USB is good but limited to what HI REZ formats it can transmit and so is SPDIF. Plus if you want to be able to use Bluray audio with your fancy DAC, SPIDF will not pass the uncompressed audio. This is the same for computers with Bluray drives.
rwwear Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 2,889 posts 05-25-2011 at 10:33pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Video is important with Bluray, DVDA and music/video DVDs.

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