I have my library, iTunes with ALAC lossless ripped CD’s, on my iMac. First I bought a Stellar Gain Cell DAC, and did what Paul had recommended, use a plug in app to play DSD. Both devices connected by USB. What I remember is that it just sounded great. What a treat in my home office.
The downside, oh my goodness was it cumbersome, the Stellar Gain Cell DAC display only showed 44.1 kHz, no matter the software on the computer said it feeds the USB connection. PS Audio would/could not fix that. At a certain point I exchanged the SGCD by the NAD C658 BluOS Streamer / DAC / DSP (Dirac) / analog pre-amp with e-arc hdmi input and 2 expansion slots.
I will never ever go back to USB.
Switching was easy, I use the same iTunes library as BluOS recognizes the structure, file format and metadata. I converted the DSD music I bought from Blue Coast Records to High Res PCM and everything works just fantastic via Ethernet and WiFi controls from all devices of the entire family.
We tested the iMac in A-B listening, same electronics, same music files agaunst the BlueSound Vault2 with added SilentAngel audiophile switch and Atlas Hyper Ethernet cable. We do not know why and how, but the iMac sounded better. Furthermore the iMac serves the files whether AirPlay or BluOS, with display and threads sleeping (off). So all the terrifying horror stories that a computer is no good because of all the other stuff going on: total B.S.
By the way, I can’t hear the difference whether I am editing photos, browsing the internet or reading e-mail or am boring you on the forum. For BluOS users a Mac is a great solution. All BluOS units are AirPlay certified. Convenience is a big joy factor when playing beautiful music.
I know for a fact the Mano Ultra does. I’m using the Mano Ultra MkI right now into my new DS DAC MkII It does not do DSD 256 however. DSD 64 max. Just like the BridgeII
I own an iFi Neo Stream I2S and is compatible with the PS Audio pin layout.
I do not know if the Holo Audio Red is. I ordered one about 3 weeks ago so eventually I will be able to test it first-hand with my DS Sr. and let you know.
The Holo Audio DACs all accept I2S over HDMI - although I believe the channels are reversed compared to PS Audios. Not sure about that though, I have a Holo Audio DAC but no PS Audio i2S source to plug into it
If it is only a matter of reversing channels for DSD with the Holo Audio pinout, the DS MKII will be able to reverse them back in a future firmware update.
@shankha The Silent Angel Munich M1T is good for up to DSD128 with I2S over HDMI to PS Audio DACs. If you have a large audio library, then go for a model with more memory. I went with the 8GB model for a 4TB library. PS: The library is on a NAS.
I to am waiting to the get the AL but wanted to know how your system would look. MK2 / I2s - I2s AL - NAS ? + Streaming or something else. I would use it more for downloaded DSD256 locally and have Streamer as secondary.
Note that my Mano is a very early example. You may remember the time a couple (or more) years ago the BridgeII would tick all the way through playback of DSD files. Many of us experienced the issue.
I purchased the Mano back then to overcome it.
The latest MkIII gets a rave from Hans Beekhuyzen. But even that is limited to DSD64:
“HDMI I2S LVDS = 44.1 Khz – 192 Khz | 16-24 bit – DSD64 (DoP)”
The AirLens is going to be my wife’s new friend; it supports Spotify Connect. Too bad about AirPlay, though.
While I could care less, swapping a Rotel preamp for the BHK preamp, and adopting the Roon Nucleus has left her favorite service orphaned. I’ve tried to get her appreciate the merits of Tidal… but not gonna happen.
Quick question about I2S: Any HDMI-certified cable will work, right?
The Holo Red has switches on the bottom for four different I2S settings same as the DAC’s so it should be fully compatible. There is now a link to the Red manual on the Holo Red thread on Head-Fi.
The “server” should not have influence on the streamer across the network. I know a lot of people say it does but most of the time I can pinpoint the difference in playback chain and it was never the server. When you say “iMac won” you mean you were comparing iMac to C658 vs. Vault2? The C658 certainly should win because I don’t find any of the BlueSound devices to sound great but that has nothing to do with the iMac.
Thanks for the link. It relates to the HiFiBerry DAC+ Pro. The Magna Mano has a HiFiBerry Digi + However I believe they both operate similarly in this regard:
What that article is saying is that it will accept a DSD 64 or 128 file as input but it will be converted to PCM by Roon.
In the case of the Digi+ it seems it can accept a DSD128 input but the Digi+ itself will convert to DSD64. I have not tested this case however.
This is spelled out in the spec sheet:
Roon understands the capabilities of the Digi+ and will convert DSD > 64 to DSD64. The Digi+ does not do the conversion.
It does not do DSD 256 however. DSD 64 max. Just like the BridgeII
