FairPlayMotty wrote: ↑2020-01-21 23:26
The Mac mini rears it's head again.
Seriously, do you think the headphone output of the Mac mini is the best in the world? I suspect owners of DACs like the Accuphase DC-950 might disagree with you.
I never said the built in Mac DAC was the best in the world. It
is better than every outboard DAC I've tried. Implementation is the key, I believe. Imagine if your HAKAI motherboard had a GIGAPORT HD+ built into it and eliminated all the extra connections and features and just was run stereo. Linn do this in their steamers.
I use my Oppo BDP-105D as a streamer and it sounds better than Spotify or streaming on the Mac mini. However, if I use the Oppo as a DAC for the Mac mini, it sounds worse.
I have a $170 Beresford TC-7510 DAC I've had for years and it still sounds great! I use it in my bedroom system. I compared it to Accuphase and Benchmark DACs traded in at a local dealer several years back. The Accuphase was the worst of the three.
The lack of 24/96 at the playing music stage does not bother me because it's beyond the range of human hearing. The science is pretty clear.
I totally disagree. I don't think it's clear at all.
I've found "Hi-Def" digital versions (software) usually sound worse. However, better "Hi-Def" DACs sound better even on 44.1, so a better DAC is a better DAC. Back to the HD+; I used mine on a Windows XP and 7 computer and it sounded best choosing the 24/96 setting even though I was only playing 44.1 files. Same goes for the Mac mini internal DAC settings.
The GIGAPORT eX is Thunderbolt3/USB-C and can carry more juice; that will work great with Macs. Macs can also now play at 24/196. We'll have to wait 6 or 7 weeks to hear how it sounds.
Do any HAKAI recommended mother boards have USB-C connectors?
Ron The Mon