Use of DAC in my Marantz CD6004

[ematthews]

This may be a stupid question but here it goes. Can I run my Imac out via Toslink to the digital input of my CD6004 Marantz CD player to use the DAC? I need to purchase a DAC for my computer audio and wondered before I purchased one I could do this.
Would this be what they call using the CD player as a transport? Little help if you can. Thanks

 

[ematthews]

Oh no.. I guess there isn't a digital in except the USP Coonection in the front. Would this do the same thing? Not sure how I use the USB out on my IMAC since I have always used the toslink cable

 

[Mo Noyz]

Just get a male to male USB cable. You should be able to find one for about $5.

Example: Amazon.com : SANOXY® USB 2.0 Cable, A Male To A Male, Beige, 3ft : Usb Male To Male : Computers & Accessories

 

[ematthews]

OK. So in your opinion would using the USP connection from mac to Marantz be as good as adding a dedicated DAC in the system by toslink connection. I was looking at the Emotiva XDA-2 or the Cambridge DAC Magic.

 

[ematthews]

The audio out jack from the mac is where I plug in my toslink.

 

[Mo Noyz]

Speaking from my experience, I feel like a dedicated DAC is a close second behind your loudspeakers for most important component in your audio chain.

Even my wife, who couldn't care less about audio quality, still raves about what a difference the XDA-2 made in our system.

 

[ematthews]

Speaking from my experience, I feel like a dedicated DAC is a close second behind your loudspeakers for most important component in your audio chain.

Even my wife, who couldn't care less about audio quality, still raves about what a difference the XDA-2 made in our system.

Yep. I just upgraded my speakers to Ascend Sierra 2's.. What a difference these made.. Incredible sounding. Now I am looking for HD tracks and need a good DAC to run it through.

 

[Mo Noyz]

I personally wouldn't waste my money on HD Tracks. I purchased stuff from them that I had on CD (which hadn't been remastered) and found zero difference.

Now I save my money and just download through iTunes. Comparing several AAC tracks at 256kbps VBR has convinced me that if there truly is a difference between Red Book audio on CD and the VBR AAC's at 256+ that it's so minute that my ears simply cannot hear it.

And it's not like I'm playing it through piss poor equipment.

Either way, grab a DAC and enjoy!