2. pc-audio
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Requesting input from iMac users

I have been playing my iTunes library through (into) the main system via a Toslink coming from the headphone jack on the iMac to the input of the Krell HTS 7.1 processor. It sounds good to me, however, a friend is telling me that this is the lowest quality option for playing the music. According to him the headphone jack is putting the music out through a very inexpensive DAC in the iMac thus diminishing the quality out and causing the processor to accept the music via analog, converting to digital and then back out again in analog. A series of distortion causing steps.

I do have a Pop Pulse (never used) that would allow for coming out of the iMac via USB into the Pop Pulse and back out with digital cable (SPDIF) to the processor. Apparently this eliminates some extra DAC conversions. Would this be a better option? How do you do it?
puerto

Showing 2 responses by puerto

puerto OP
372 posts
 
Michael: I believe you are correct in saying that using headphone jacks give you analog output (into a headset) but when plugging a Toslink mini-jack into the same port you get digital output. That's how I had interpreted the iMac description of the headphone port in their manual but my friend had me wondering.

I'm glad to read that at least one other iMac user is happy with the Toslink connection. Thanks for the reply.

Pete
puerto OP
372 posts
 
Thank you for the responses I'll be checking out the advice!
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