[phoward]

I've just ordered the Frank Van Alstines fet valve, pre amp & dac.  Currently using Harman Kardon 990 into Salk HT2-TL speakers.

I'm trying to decide whether to keep as is using optical, converting USB to coax,  or upgrade to Franks USB $150 or streaming $300 connectivity options. 

In the past I have used optical from Apple TV playing Apple Match which is convenient but not great sound quality. Replacing with Mac mini  and need to figure out best way to connect to Franks DAC. Thoughts?  Opinions?

All of my ripped music is apple lossless.

Thanks in advance,

Peter

[srb]

If I'm not mistaken, Frank is using miniDSP's miniStreamer USB interface board which can be connected to the DAC by either S/PDIF or I2S.  The I2S is generally preferred as a more direct connection as opposed to converting to S/PDIF, and if that's how it's implemented in the AVA DAC, and 24-bit/96KHz is sufficient resolution for you, that's the option I would go with.

Steve

[avahifi]

Actually we are using the mindSP USBstreamer board internally which is good for 192/24 directly from a Mac with no drivers needed.

Frank Van Alstine

[simon wagstaff]

How do you like your HK 990?  I love mine. I run my older Mac Mini using the optical output. One thing to consider is getting an HK HD990 CD player. They are a little tricky to find but it can be done. Then you can connect the CD player via the HRS-III link. Cds have never sounded better. An added benefit is that the HD990 has both a coaxial and optical input and they take advantage of the jitter reduction circuitry in the HD990. Sounds fantastic. However, my Mac Mini is an older one and will only output 24/96 and I think the HD990 will only accept 24/92, but I am not sure about that. Hardly a deal breaker for me.

[jarcher]

In my general experience with the Mac mini I'd do USB to  USB if  that DAC has a good USB (which it seems to have a good optional board). Second choice would be USB to a spdif converter to coax RCA digital. Last place would be optical.

Don't know how much it costs, but you'd probably be better off ponying up for the optional USB board. A decent spdif converter is gonna run you probably at least $200 and your going to need an additional decent digital cable that may be an extra $100, and all for no likely improvement in sound and potentially lower resale on both the converter and DAC.

[simon wagstaff]

The optical out on my Mac Mini sounds great, especially when routed through the HD990 digital input. it is an older Mac mini though, single core processor. The optical is limited to 24/96 but that doesn't bother me one bit.