[robster]

Hello- I heard a Hagerman Dac at Hornfest recently and was very impressed. So I'd like to get one soon. Right now all my music (200GB) files are ripped from CD's using Apple Lossless. Can someone please reccommend a quiet lap top?
 I was thinking about getting a Mac G4 iBook off Epay for under $500 and connect it via USB to the latest version Hagerman Chime dac. I think the iBooks are fanless. I'll use the Mac notebook to run iTunes only,I already have a 250GB external hardrive that's super quiet.
As of now I'm I'm listening to CD's using a OPPO DVD player as a transport and Benchmark Dac1 and not using a computer as transport the fan on our Sony Vaio is too annoying!
So would a used Mac G4 iBook be a good choice? also what's the longest I can run a USB cord to the Hagerman Dac 16 feet?
My preamp is Transcendent GG tube and amp is Transcendent Sound SE-OTL tube,speakers are single driver Horn Shoppe.

Many thanks for any help.

Cheers,
Robert

[hagtech]

Yes, 5 meters is maximum USB cable.  Extenders (especially the optical type) add jitter to the signal. 

jh

[Befuddled]

Since I have Henry's DAC sitting right here hooked up to my iBook I can safely say it sounds very good. Remember though, this version of the DAC was far from the final design. They should sound even better. I can't hear the iBook, but I can hear the hard drive heads on the external hard drive. Try and get a quiet one, and remember there are programs, and remotes, out there that will allow you to control the iBook remotely with iTunes. Nothing but lossless!
Joel

[Lizard_King]

How about using a USB extender going through Cat5e shielded, twisted ethernet cable? Say the run is for 40 feet, is that ok or will jitter be added?

Thanks Guru.

Yes, 5 meters is maximum USB cable.  Extenders (especially the optical type) add jitter to the signal. 

jh

[hagtech]

Any extender will add jitter.

jh

[Lizard_King]

How much Jitter will be added? Will it affect the SQ? I know that a pro comapny says with their unit , 150 ft sounds no differnt that a 1.0 meter usb cable.

[hagtech]

It depends on the design of the cable.  It is possible to do a fabulous job.  It is also possible to be very marginal in operation, sort of like toslink, where the cheapest electro-optical converters are used.  You can minimalize the effects by using a DAC like the CHIME or DA-10, which has reclocking circuitry.  Solves all these system issues.

jh