Audiophile output on Mac OSX

[Shovel_Knight]

I run i-Tunes usually through the optical out into a DAC, but I also have some files that are only avaialble in FLAC so have to run a second app, VLC. I tried Audirvana but I didn't much care for the interface and I also had some difficulty integrating it with i-Tunes, so once the trial expired I left things as they were. Personally I'm not overwhelmed with HiRez as it doesn't seem to me to justify the price charged for the (often minimal) improvement over a red book CD. Others clearly get a good deal of pleasure out of HiRez music. Perhaps having 58 year-old hearing minimizes the impact of HiRez tracks too.

I like the idea of a computer into a pair of active speakers as music centre, with an HPA handy for nightime.

There is a free app called XLD (X Lossless Decoder) that can transcode FLAC files into ALAC (Apple Lossless). There's no loss of quality and ALAC files are fully supported by iTunes.

[pcourtney]

Hi Joanna, thank you, much appreciated - what DAC do you have ?

[Landloper]

Hi Joanna, thank you, much appreciated - what DAC do you have ?

A few standalones: Roksan K3, Audiolab M-DAC, Myryad Z20, Beresford SEG, Starting Point Systems DAC 3, and an Audioquest Dragonfly Black for peripatetic duties.

[Landloper]

thanks, Peter. I'll give the XLD a go.

[pcourtney]

A few standalones: Roksan K3, Audiolab M-DAC, Myryad Z20, Beresford SEG, Starting Point Systems DAC 3, and an Audioquest Dragonfly Black for peripatetic duties.

just a few then !

what is your favourite DAC connected to the mac ?

[Filterlab]

I still use XLD on the rare occasions I rip CDs, it uses the Paranoia engine to give a bit perfect rip, and a sodding good job it does too.

Fidelia is my playback app of choice. Massively flexible and superb quality; I’ve found nothing to beat it. It also supports audio plugins so one can play about if it tickles one’s fancy.

[Landloper]

just a few then !

what is your favourite DAC connected to the mac ?

I like them all so it is hard to elect a primus inter pares, there are but small variations in the width of the soundstage and the 'nearness' of the sound within the audio depth of field. I find that the differences in sound between DACs, unlike the price tags, are not so great.

For functionality the Roksan is best, I use this with better recordings feeding my best HP set up, a Lehmann Linear with Sennheiser HD700s. The others I rotate using each for a few weeks at a time. I like them all and would find it hard to sell any off.

The Starting Point SP3 is a NOS DAC using a TDA1543 chip. I use that for older recordings, circ 1920-1949. It is also well suited for long listening sessions and has a small footprint and can switch over to battery power as it has two 9v batteries inside.

The Beresford SEG I use along with a Beresford Capella HPA and Sennheiser HD650s. A super pairing IMO, and the two boxes can run off a single power supply as the Capella has a DC out that the SEG can run off.

The Myryad has a laid-back sound and matches a Myryad Z40 HPA I have, another pairing that i can use for long hours without fatigue.

The Dragonfly I use when away from home and it feeds a pair of Grado SR80s.

I do most of my listening over headphones and find swapping out DACs less of a changer than using other headphone amps or headphones.

[pcourtney]

that sounds like you have most everything under control there !
love my K-1000's :-)