Long cable run Mac to DC-1

[JohnC]

I'm about to spring for a DC-1, but I've got a cable problem to solve.

The DC-1 will be in the main listening area. The iMac I want to connect it to, is a 100-foot cable run away.

Ideally, I want to connect the USB-out on the iMac, to the USB-in on the DC-1. I can think of several ways to do it:

(1) Run a long Corning glass USB cable. Only question is whether the DC-1 will work happily with a glass USB cable.

(2) Like number 1 above, but with a long run of Ethernet cable and a USB-over-Ethernet converter at each end. End-to-end, this would presumably look like a simple USB cable to the iMac and the DC-1.

(3) Install a USB-to-SPDIF converter near the iMac, and run 75-ohm RG-6 coax cable from the converter to the S/PDIF input on the DC-1. This would exceed the nominal 10-meter max run of the S/PDIF standard. It also makes me wonder if the processing in the converter, e.g., reclocking, would interfere with the functionality of the DC-1.

(4) Ditto number 3 above, but with a USB-to-Toslink converter and a long run of Toslink cable to the optical input of the DC-1.

(5) Some sort of USB-over-wireless solution(?).

Number 5 seems easiest (no cable pulling), if there is a way to do it.

I've got a late model Apple TV, so I could send audio via Airplay, with the ATV connected to the DC-1 via Toslink. However, I don't know if this is the best way to get audio from my iMac. From everything I've read, USB is the best way to get unprocessed audio bits from a Mac.

Any experiences? Ideas? Suggestions?

Thanks!

[audiobill]

Use the ATV with Airplay.

[garbulky]

Apple TV resamples the 44.1 Khz signal to 48 khz so it's not bit perfect to the original stream. But it will work.

[audiobill]

Gar, consider what digital runs of that length will likely do....

[jiml]

Have you considered purchasing something like the Lenovo Q190 ($200), and placing it next to the DAC? Then you could simply share the music on the iMac with the Q190 running J River or Foobar. In this way the iMac serves as a Music NAS. I use a very similar setup and it works very well.

[novisnick]

Apr 21, 2015 8:55:13 GMT -5 jiml said:

Have you considered purchasing something like the Lenovo Q190 ($200), and placing it next to the DAC? Then you could simply share the music on the iMac with the Q190 running J River or Foobar. In this way the iMac serves as a Music NAS. I use a very similar setup and it works very well.

I have done it both ways; Option A) long USB cable of 20' with a doohickey on it ( doohicky= technical term) and the; Option B) cheap laptop with external hard drive and JRiver.

Both have worked well for me,,,,,,,,I use my iPad to control both systems.  


Edit; IMHO go with option B

[JohnC]

I'm looking into an Audioengine D2 24-bit Wireless DAC. Something of a one-of-a-kind, and a pretty good deal. Generally well-reviewed, too.

[ads]

I set up an older Airport Express for Airplay in my daughter's system.  It does not resample, based on the sampling rate displayed on the AVR connected to it.

Not sure if the newer ones resample though.

For $99, I'd rather go with the Airport Express vs. running long cables.

[audiobill]

The Airport Express outputs 44.1, and the Apple TV 48 khz.

[ads]

Apr 25, 2015 11:20:38 GMT -5 audiobill said:

The Airport Express outputs 44.1, and the Apple TV 48 khz.

I wonder if the AE only outputs 44.1, and resamples other rates like 48, 96, etc.

[AudioHTIT]

Apr 21, 2015 10:29:43 GMT -5 JohnC said:

I'm looking into an Audioengine D2 24-bit Wireless DAC. Something of a one-of-a-kind, and a pretty good deal. Generally well-reviewed, too.

One thing you don't mention is whether you have any High Rez files (greater than 44.1)? If not the the AE would do a great job and work with any DAC with a TOSLink input (like the DC-1).

[ludi]

Apr 25, 2015 15:21:59 GMT -5 ads said:

Apr 25, 2015 11:20:38 GMT -5 audiobill said:

The Airport Express outputs 44.1, and the Apple TV 48 khz.

I wonder if the AE only outputs 44.1, and resamples other rates like 48, 96, etc.

Yes, AE only supports 44.1. Resampling is done in iTunes.

[ads]

Apr 26, 2015 4:08:36 GMT -5 ludi said:

Apr 25, 2015 15:21:59 GMT -5 ads said:

I wonder if the AE only outputs 44.1, and resamples other rates like 48, 96, etc.

Yes, AE only supports 44.1. Resampling is done in iTunes.

OK, so as long as your files are 44.1, you will not get resampling when using the AE.

With iTunes volume at 100% and sound check, EQ, etc. set to "off", will the AE provide a bit-perfect stream with 44.1 files?

[ludi]

Apr 26, 2015 9:48:32 GMT -5 ads said:

Apr 26, 2015 4:08:36 GMT -5 ludi said:

Yes, AE only supports 44.1. Resampling is done in iTunes.

OK, so as long as your files are 44.1, you will not get resampling when using the AE.

With iTunes volume at 100% and sound check, EQ, etc. set to "off", will the AE provide a bit-perfect stream with 44.1 files?

Yes. I use these setting also for DTS encoded disks, and these work perfect with this setting. Indeed no sound enhancements, crossfade, or other manipulations.

[GreenKiwi]

If you are OK with 44.1 I'd echo everyone else's comments that the AE is awesome. Not only can it extend your wireless network. The freedom to easily play music from other sources is great too.

If you do want to play high res, you might try getting a USB extender from MonoPrice ($34 for 85')
www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=103&cp_id=10303&cs_id=1030312&p_id=7644&seq=1&format=2

Or look into getting a small cheap device and running something like JRMedia Center on it (or iTunes.) The new Intel Compute Stick is only $150 with windows. It should be more than enough PC for playing music. Just connect an external drive and/or network drive and the DAC.