Beo-Mac

Re: DAC/ Beoport/Mac Mini

TWG — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 04:31:07 GMT

k984942:

Hi All,

I love the DacMagic - its lifted my music collection no end!

The problem I have is that I've placed it in a cupboard so have to go in an turn it on everytime I listen to iTunes over my Airport Express.

This is especially annoying when listening to iTunes in a link room since the cupboard is in the living room.

Does anyone know of a way to switch it on and off remotely? I got so used to hitting a button on my Beo4/5 + play on my Macbook Pro = music!

A very good solution comes from Germany: The Lightmanager PRO from JBmedia.

It allows you to control remote sockets via Beo 4 and Beo 5. It's not only intended for lightning control, so I used it to control lights and for example switching on/off the power amp of my subwoofer.

Have a look:

http://cms.jbmedia.de/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=95&Itemid=74

NOTE that you have to use the Lightmanager PRO B&O version!

Online shop:

http://cms.jbmedia.de/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=8&lang=en

Re: DAC/ Beoport/Mac Mini

Dave — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 23:43:10 GMT

david coyne:

Hello All

I have recently purchased a DAC by Cambridge Audio

http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/assets/documents/DAC_Magic_rear.jpg

I was quite unhappy with the sound of some of my digital music libray, even some of it being at high bit rates or 320 or lossless.

My digital library is on a mac mini. I also have beoport, beocentre 2 socket box and beolab 9 speakers.

The set up is as follows:

USB from MacMini to BeoPort

USB from MacMini to DAC

1/4 inch headphone jack from DAC to BeoPort

Essentially the DAC is used as an external sound card whilst retaining the functionality of the BeoPort.

Hi all, just bringing this thread up again, i will have a very similar setup soon, (however i'm considering using beoport with BC2 with a desktop iMac)

i wanted to know if this setup with a DAC and beoport can be connected via an airport express (so i don't have a usb and headphone cable runing through my livivng room)

Any suggeastions??

Re: DAC/ Beoport/Mac Mini

Stoney3K — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:37:35 GMT

david coyne:
Hi Soundproof et.al

Sorry for the slow reply...

I have checked the connections and Im using the unbalanced RCA outputs. So still dont understand why I'd get crackling when itunes volume is turned up to full.

I've had this problem numerous times with artists and laptops being used on stage. In those situations, the 'crackling' sounds like a low rumble with a high-pitched noise on top of it, the higher pitched noise responding to the activity of the hard drive. In those cases, the 'crackling' is always audible, no matter the volume setting on your sound card or if there's any music playing.

It's being caused by the power supply of most laptops (and the Mini), which is a switch-mode and doesn't care about leakage currents to ground. Combined with longer RCA cables and/or ungrounded Beosystems, ground loops will crank up the noise level consderably.

The easiest way out is galvanic separation: Connect your Mac Mini to a DAC via a S/PDIF optical cable, not a coaxial one or USB. The Mini has a TOSlink output socket on the headphone jack.

If the 'crackling' is only audible when the iTunes volume is all the way up and your music has loud passages, that means either your DAC output or the Beosystem input is clipping. Simple remedy: Reduce the volume.

Re: DAC/ Beoport/Mac Mini

tournedos — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:24:20 GMT

It's not going to improve the end result, more likely just makes it worse. Since the compression is lossy, the damage was already done when the original full quality rip was compressed to the bitrate you have in your files now. If you now decode the music and then recompress again, it will be altered once more and it will only get further away from the original data.

I would rip again those files that are annoyingly low quality (and easily available), and just leave the rest be. A rerip will probably take much less time now than it did 7 years ago

Re: DAC/ Beoport/Mac Mini

burantek — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:07:01 GMT

While replying to some other threads, and considering a DacMagic myself...

I have a painfully dumb question for you folks!

My iTunes library is several years old (~7ish). When I first started using it and ripping/dloading music to it, I frankly never paid much attention to the rip rates as the content was almost exclusively used on iPods. FFWD a few years and connecting to other devices, I have started being more careful to rip using much higher quality. The problem now is my library (~20,000 tracks) is a hodge-podge mix of music at all different rates. Short of starting from scratch (not going to happen), might the upsampling from an external DAC turn my oldest, lowest quality rips into something perhaps respectable? What should I expect?

Thanks in advance!

Re: DAC/ Beoport/Mac Mini

david coyne — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 19:12:08 GMT

Hi Soundproof et.al

Sorry for the slow reply...

I have checked the connections and Im using the unbalanced RCA outputs. So still dont understand why I'd get crackling when itunes volume is turned up to full.

I'm assuming it must be to do with the beoport amplifying the sound as well????

Toslink and good quality cabling is being used. Ive tried different usb connections from the mac mini, that doesnt change the crackling either.

It is mysterious isn't it??!!!

David Coyne

Re: DAC/ Beoport/Mac Mini

soundproof — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 03:58:18 GMT

Level of volume out is not an issue with QuickTime 7 and 8, and I'm guessing you have QuickTime 8 - so no need to worry about that.

I'm guessing that the increased volume raises the V RMS output through the analog connection to a level that the speakers can't handle. On my BL5s this should be less than or equal to 2 V RMS. As a general rule, when connecting to non-B&O equipment, it's wise to start with the volume low, and then find the best level.

I just checked the output level of the DacMagic. I take it you're using the unbalanced RCA outs? These are rated at 2.1V RMS, while the balanced outs are rated at 4.2V rms - if you're using the latter, then you should get crackling! Way too much for the speakers, and it would explain why you have to turn down the volume.

Which output are you using?

Re: DAC/ Beoport/Mac Mini

david coyne — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:41:59 GMT

Hello All

Changing usb connection between the mac and beoport didnt make any difference re the crackling.

So im back to having itunes on at about 3/4 volume. Interstingly there was no crackle until the DAC was connected.

Other connections are toslink..mac to dac

All operations in itunes are off- i.e equaliser and enhancer/sound check

I may just need to accept this is an unsolved mystery...?????

Still the DAC has improved the quality of sound from my digital files greatly.

Soundproof..any other ideas? Does it really matter that itunes volume is not on full? Is this going to effect overall sound quality?

Regards

David Coyne

Sydney, Australia

Re: DAC/ Beoport/Mac Mini

soundproof — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:30:49 GMT

One could also argue that switching on-and-off a component will heat and cool it every day, ensuring greater wear from expansion and contraction, rather than having it at the same temperature.

What's important is that it's placed somewhere it doesn't overheat, not in a closed, small box, for instance. My Mac mini has been on for two years now ... My ReadyNAS+ NV showed 14.000 hours of running time last I checked.

Re: DAC/ Beoport/Mac Mini

Stefan Zueger — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:16:23 GMT

Which would bring us to the question of what lifespan we expect from our electronic gadgets.

I for myself am very happy to report that I have my BS9000 in operation for ten years now - I am using it almost every day, at least every day I am at home. I am happy with this and see no point in exchanging it.

Whereas when it comes to digital media, I seldom use a device more than two years - after that it will be replaced by a newer device that follows technical progress.

Re: DAC/ Beoport/Mac Mini

k984942 — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:05:16 GMT

Hi All,

I've now had a response from Cambridge Audio regarding leaving the DAC on all the time.

The first point they made was that the DAC needs to be run in for 30-40 hours to achieve its full potential. After that, warming it up (leaving it on for a few hours prior to use) makes no difference.

Regarding leaving it on 24/7 - the response was a little more vague!

It was along the lines of 'all electronic devices will have a shortened life the longer they are used. It will also use more power that way'!

Not sure that really helped much! I guess they're trying to say that you can leave it on if you like but we've warned you that it might not last as long if you do

Re: DAC/ Beoport/Mac Mini

david coyne — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 05:20:00 GMT

HI Guys

You know Ive done everything to try and rectify the crackling issue..including buying toslink cables and very expensive cables elsewhere...

I didn't however try moving the beoport usb connection to another usb in the mac... I'll try that. Could be a sneaky solution.

I'll also try leaving the DAC on..didn't realise it needed to warm up. Must train the partner to stop turning it off!!!!

Regards

David Coyne

Sydney, Australia

Re: DAC/ Beoport/Mac Mini

RobN — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:44:55 GMT

Hi there,

I'd agree with the hi-fi dealer, the DAC sounds much better when "burned-in" for a few days and then left on. It's also true for most electronic devices.

The small amount of power used is well worth the boost in sound quality

Best,

Rob

Re: DAC/ Beoport/Mac Mini

soundproof — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:21:32 GMT

Crackling from USB ports to DACs, and not just Cambridge's, is due to the USB ports on the Macs. Since you're using USB for both your connections, David, you're bound to have one "lousy" port. It's thought to be a result of interference from keyboard USB interface.

Usually disappears if you switch the USB connector to the other USB-port. Would like to suggest that you use the toslink optical out for your other connection, once you find which USB port does not create distortion.

Make certain that you have the sample-rates, etc. set up right in Audio MIDI Setup.

You shouldn't need to reduce the volume output, but if it works then go for it.

But the USB port issue is well known, and should resolve things for you.

Check out this link for proper set-up:

http://extra.benchmarkmedia.com/wiki/index.php/OS_X_Audio_Playback_-_Setup_Guide

Here's a little on the USB port problem. There are various other articles on the net on this. Depending upon the hardware configuration, it's the left or right port, or the rear or front port of your Mac. You can map this differently, but just switching ports solves the problem:

http://createdigitalmusic.com/2009/04/27/mac-usb-audio-woes-m-audio-says-avoid-the-left-hand-usb-port/

And just leave the DAC on, no need to switch it off. I've had my DAC on for about five months now without interruption, and it doesn't use a lot of power.

Good luck!

The use of USB Audio Devices on the Left-Hand USB Port Is Not Recommended. This applies to ALL MacBook Pro Models (Core Duo and Core 2 Duo).

• The 15" MacBook Pro models have 1 USB port on the left side, and one USB port on the right side.
• The 17" MacBook Pro models have 2 USB ports on the left side, and one USB port on the right side.

Due to the current USB configuration of the 15" MacBook Pro under OS X, use of USB audio devices is supported on the right-hand USB port only. Use of such devices on the left-hand USB port(s) is not advised because it may cause audio interrupts and/or dropped samples. However, the use of an iLok on the left-hand port has been qualified and is fully supported.

Due to the current USB configuration of the 17" MacBook Pro under OS X, use of USB audio devices is only supported on the right-hand USB port, and the left-hand USB port farthest from the screen. Use of such devices on the left-hand USB port closest to the screen is not advised because it may cause audio interrupts and/or dropped samples. However, the use of an iLok on the left-hand port has been qualified and is fully supported.

These USB port recommendations are specific to USB Audio devices only (such as the FastTrack USB or Audiophile USB). USB Keyboard and Control Surface products do not have a recommended USB port at this time.

Re: DAC/ Beoport/Mac Mini

Stefan Zueger — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:56:36 GMT

Scott,

This is the Master/Slave Power-Plug I am using:

http://www.conrad.ch/goto.php?artikel=059713

STEBA Vario mit einstellb. Schaltschwell (Conrad Electronic)

This is a Swiss product, it costs about EUR 60.

I am not sure if you can obtain it in France, too. I am sure there must be similar products with the same functionality.

(Please read also the post of the user proposing to have the DAC always on)