Mind bottled about digital audio from computer.. best option?

[belgiumbilygoat]

hi there, newb here!
although this is a car audio application, i do believe it belongs here instead(i hope).


ill jump right in... im in the process of installing a sq system in my truck. The head unit will actually be an apple mac-mini with a touch screen in the dash. Now here is my question...

The Mac will be running to an audison bit one processor via toslink optical cable. ive been reading for HOUURSSSS keep seeing "usb to s/pdif" & "DACs".

usb to spdif - since the mac-mini already has an optical out, wont this usb to spdif conversion be pointless and produce a lower quality signal? isnt the toslink already carrying a spdif signal?

DAC- will this eliminate the digital signal that i want to be sent to the processor?

Shall i just run the toslink to the processor & forget about all the talk of these other options?

looking for the best sq option here, pleeaseeee helppp!!

 

[ImcLoud]

Honestly I think you are better off with a regular head unit and an ipod, not sure why you want the apple... You are going to spend all that money on that system when a simple cd player and nice set of components will sound better... and be less trouble, I don't know of a toslink cable that is going to like being bounced around and constantly moving, I have had them go bad just lying behind the audio rack untouched...

Anyway I think you are better off asking this question on a car audio forum, them guys most likely will know better what to use for cables in a car.

I know people have used mac minis in cars before, I seen pics of a system not long ago, but for sq I don't think its going to be any better than a decent head unit..

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I don't know if you're aware of this, but your apple mac-mini already has a digital spdif out port (it's combined with 3.55mm headphones) you'd need an a cheap adapter to use it or a special cable...
https://discussions.apple.com/message/18152999#18152999