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New iMac, now what?

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Posted on July 23, 2016 at 16:55:31
SteveBrown
Audiophile

Posts: 2454
Location: Portland, OR
Joined: November 14, 2002
 Prior to buying a new iMac, I used a MacBook Pro to play Apple Lossless files from an external drive. I piped them from the MacBook to my PS Audio DAC via fiber optic. I bought a new iMac which isn't portable, and resides in a different room (and floor of the house) from my "Man Cave" stereo room. My question is, what do the gurus here recommend to 1) connect to my files on the external drive; 2) connect to the DAC; 3) control what songs are being played. Oh, and yes, I could dedicate the MacBook to this function, but I'd really rather sell it.

 

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nonsense, posted on July 23, 2016 at 19:06:48
bullethead
 just hook up the MacBook and dedicate it to that function.

 

RE: nonsense, posted on July 23, 2016 at 20:58:21
SteveBrown
Audiophile

Posts: 2454
Location: Portland, OR
Joined: November 14, 2002
 Thanks but as I mentioned, I'd like to sell the MacBook

 

RE: New iMac, now what?, posted on July 23, 2016 at 22:32:28
airheadair
Audiophile

Posts: 393
Location: California
Joined: October 18, 2010
 I'm not a guru, but I'm in a similar situation, with an iMac in a room adjacent to the room containing the stereo system. Too far to run a USB cable to the DAC. For now I am using an Airport Express, and I stream music to it. Then I use the optical out of the airport express to connect to the DAC.
This is limited to 44K. I am considering using a USB-ethernet-USB connection, eg. the one made by Startech or the LANRover being planned by PS Audio. I use iTunes and/or Audirvana to play the music.

I have no definitive recommendations at this time, just mention the possibilities.

 

RE: New iMac, now what?, posted on July 24, 2016 at 13:20:39
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 I have an iMac with external FireWire 800 drive located in a corner alcove of my listening room, and use a 35 foot Toslink cable to run the signal via digital optical output across the listening room. But rather than connecting the Toslink cable directly to the DAC, I connect it to a Monarchy Audio DIP (Digital Interface Processor) for jitter reduction, signal conditioning, conversion from digital optical to digital electrical interface, then to the DAC via a short-length 0.5 meter AES/EBU digital cable. Careful selection of a Toslink cable that will pass signal 35 feet away is vital (a 35 foot Monoprice Premium Toslink Cable is surprisingly good), and if an even longer distance is required, an active (not passive) splitter/repeater can be used to extend the distance without sonic degradation if an audiophile quality linear power supply is implemented for the active splitter/repeater device. As for a controller, I run a 35 foot HDMI cable for *video only" across the room (Toslink for audio), and use a wireless mouse and keyboard as a controller.

 

RE: New iMac, now what?, posted on July 24, 2016 at 14:35:10
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46295
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 A few important questions need to be answered.

- Do you simply want a standalone device that you attach your music disk to down in your 'man cave'? Or...

- Do you want to 'stream' from your music disk attached to your iMac down to the 'man cave'?

- Do you have hardwired Ethernet networking set up where your iMac will be located as well as down in your 'man cave'? Or...

- Do you plan to run a long Optical cable or coax from your iMac down to the 'man cave'?

There are several solutions and the one that you choose depends on how you want to do it. Consider your cabling infrastructure including Ethernet networking, Optical TOSLINk, Coax, and possibly Wifi (although a hardwired network would be better).

It depends on what you already have, what you're willing to install, and where you want your music disk located.


 

RE: New iMac, now what?, posted on July 24, 2016 at 16:08:49
SteveBrown
Audiophile

Posts: 2454
Location: Portland, OR
Joined: November 14, 2002
 Hi Abe, thanks for the questions. I do not have an Ethernet network, and no, I can't run a fiber cable from the iMac to the Man Cave. As for what I want, I would like the best possible audio from my Lossless copies to my DAC.

 

RE: New iMac, now what?, posted on July 24, 2016 at 16:11:55
SteveBrown
Audiophile

Posts: 2454
Location: Portland, OR
Joined: November 14, 2002
 Unfortunately, the iMac is on a different floor and different side of the house to reach the DAC - would require a 100 ft minimum run through walls. And FYI, my dad had a Duster back in the mid- 70's when I was in high school. I loved that car for "date nights" except for the time we had the "moon roof" open and a Great Dane poked it's head in! Yikes!

 

RE: New iMac, now what?, posted on July 24, 2016 at 18:31:07
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46295
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
There are number of network audio players / streamers on the market that also allow you to directly attach your USB drive containing your music files. You can play those files and/or play files that reside remotely on a PC/Mac or NAS via Ethernet or Wifi.

Some brands include Marantz, Oppo, Bryston, Cambridge, AURALiC, etc.

 

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