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| 11/23 |
| 2004/10/19-21 [Computer/Companies/Apple, Computer/SW/OS/OsX] UID:34237 Activity:high |
10/19 I'm looking at an apple laptop, and I'd prefer something that can put
out high quality audio (I'm not the monster cable guy though)-- do the
ibook or powerbook have optical audio out? tia.
\_ no, neither of them does.
\_ If you want high-quality output from any computer, your best bet
is for an external DAC, which is usually connected by USB. You
might try looking for a CardBus optical out, don't know if they
exist.
\_ Strictly speaking, a USB->Optical out is not a DAC
Nevertheless, that's a good suggestion if OP can find one that
is supported in OSX.
\_ He was asking for high-quality audio, not necessarily
optical out. The USB DAC I was referring to is a DAC. More
info:
http://www.stereophile.com/digitalsourcereviews/731/index1.html
\_ The higher quality digitial audio interfaces are either
PCMCIA or Firewire -- they range from 600-1200, give or take.
There are plenty that work with OS X. Echo Audio, MOTU,
M-Audio, and Metric Halo all make nice ones. Stay away from
Digidesign, though.
\_ The best bang for buck Firewire interface at the moment, IMHO,
is the Edirol FA101:
http://www.edirol.com/products/info/fa101.html
--lye
\_ The hardware looks good, but how are the drivers?
I had an Edirol USB interface several years back, but
i couldn't use it at low latencies (below 256 frames [or
was it samples?] per buffer), because the drivers
introduced too much overhead. I've had a MOTU 828
since then. A bit pricier, but I've been very happy
with it. -pp
\_Only the g5 has an optical out. But there are plenty of USB DAC that\
work for the mac...also there is the Airport Express (with Monster cables).
\_ 828mkII is the STANDARD (!!11!) but I think its been
surpassed by the competing Metric Halo interface. As
for the Edirol, the FA101's drivers on OSX are reported
to be rock solid and fast. I don't own one personally
though, so that's secondhand information from a friend
who does serious semi-pro sound design work. Can't
speak for Windows, but then this question wasn't
originally about Windows.
\_ why would latency matter unless you are trying to do
realtime mixing or studio work?
\_ For music creators, it's nice to at least have
the option to get low latency, but if you just
want to play music off your laptop, then you are
right, latency doesn't matter (in fact, you can
set it as high as possible to minimize resource
utilization) -pp
\_ Only the g5 has an optical out. But there are plenty of USB DAC that
work for the mac...also there is the Airport Express (with Monster
cables).
\_ Does Mac OSX have issues with standard usb audio endpoints? I spent
about $70 on a USB->toslink optical adapter from a mail order shop
in Berkeley that markets to minidisc player owners. Works great
from my thinkpad to my Yamaha receiver, but this old model only
provided 2 channel 44.1 and 48 KHz. I use it with linux to play
MP3s and DVDs with downsampled dolby surround. |
| 11/23 |
|
| www.stereophile.com/digitalsourcereviews/731/index1.html Peak LE 258 for Mac), I can feed it a cassette deck's anal og output and store it digitally on the G4's hard drive. The Onkyo also has a headphone jack with volume control, which the Sutherland 12dAX7 do esn't, so for sheer versatility, the SE-U55 can't be beat. But while the Onkyo sounds pretty good, and much better than the G4's internal conver ter, it didn't come close to matching the 12dAX7's sound: rich, warm, sw eet, airy, a bit fat on bottom, and, overall, BIG. In a computer-based sound system of small satellites and a sub listened t o in the nearfield, "accuracy" in the usual audiophile sense isn't the i ssue. It's more about compensating for the limitations of the associated equipment and, especially when listening to MP3s, the software. com to listen to a track from Peter Gab riel's new album, Up. The MP3 didn't sound bad, mind you, especially the bass, which was robust and well-controlled, but from the midrange and up it sounded gau zy, kind of flat, and cartoony. But compared to Evatone "sheets"which i s how I got to hear promo music as a kidthis was da bomb! The 12dAX7 greatly improved the sound of all three satellite subwoofer sy stems I used it with, providing a cushion of air where otherwise there w ould have been a parched sonic landscape. It smoothed over jagged edges and softened the impact of barbed-wire transients. Most impressive were the improvements in imaging, soundstaging, and harmonic development. the soundstage widened and deepened, with far more coherent center-fill; The added midbass warmth meant that I needed to adjust the various subwoofers' levels and/or placements, but once I'd achieved that balance, the sound had a rich, addictive, honeyed glow th at was particularly effective for classical music and acoustic rock. Beck's new Sea Change is a string-drenched, minor-key acoustic set magnif icently recorded at Ocean Way Studios. The CD sounded dramatically full- bodied and detailed without giving up transient clarity or the resolutio n of inner details. As good as the Aego2 system sounded connected direct ly to the Mac's analog audio output, it sounded cleaner, clearer, and mo re detailed using the USB-based Onkyo SE-U55. The 12dAX7 took the Aego2' s performance to a higher level, and did likewise for the two other comp uter speaker systems I tried. Another Configuration I tried the 12dAX7 in my main stereo system, driving it with my Mac iBook . I got the same rich, full-bodied sound as with my G4 system, but somet hing about the overall presentation bothered me. I didn't take the time to analyze precisely what was going on, because I suspect that most purc hasers will be using the 12dAX7 on their computer desktops, and not as a component of their main systems. But if you are thinking of using the S utherland with a laptop in your big rig, don't let my experience deter y ouespecially as Sutherland Engineering offers a money-back guaranty. Conclusion Sutherland Engineering has come up with a unique, fine-sounding, computer -friendly DAC/vacuum-tube preamplifier. It should enrich and improve the sound of any computer-based sound system. I'm not sure what justifies this price, given that the 1 2dAX7 is sold factory-direct and is basically a full-function USB receiv er, digital filter, and DAC, all on an over-the-counter chip to which ha s been added a case, a decent power supply, and a pair of one-tube gain stages with volume control. With a 12dAX7 in the system, there's no reason not to invest in a good po wered satellite-subwoofer system, or even a pair of high-quality convent ional speakers driven by an external amplifier. add a 12dAX7, and the total of $2000 spent offers a level of sonic performance I hadn't thought any desktop rig could prov ide. If you spend a lot of time at your computer, can crank it up, and h ave $1600 to drop, the innovative 12dAX7 is definitely worth considering . Here's the fastest way to bring home the only magazine that entertains, i nforms and educates its readers about the latest technology--Stereophile Magazine--at no risk! If you choose not to subscribe, just write "cancel" on your invoice, send it back and owe nothing. Either way the trial issue is yours to keep--w ithout obligation. Email: First Name: Last Name: Address Line 1: Address Line 2: City: State: __ Zip: Select a payment option: Charge my credit card Bill me later Do you have a promotional coupon code? |
| www.edirol.com/products/info/fa101.html The FA-101, Edirol's first Firewire audio interface is a smashing 10x10 a udio interface, capable of 24-bit/96 kHz at a full 10 channels in & out. You can record and monitor all 10 channels simultaneously in full dupl ex- phenomenal audio power for the studio musician. In addition to 10x1 0 24-bit/96kHz performance, the FA-101 also offers stereo recording & pl ayback at 24-bit/192kHz for performance at DVD-A quality. The portable musician will love that the FA-101 draws its power completel y from the Firewire bus - there is no need for an electrical hookup. At an event, all of the band's hardware can be routed through the FA-101 t o output to monitors and at the same time the show can be recorded and d uring the break, CD's burned to sell on the spot. The Performance DJ wi ll rely on the FA-101's rugged metal chassis to allow him to pound the c lubs without worrying about the state of his audio interface. Back at home, the FA-101 will return as the centerpiece to the home studio. Because of the FA-101's ability to supply so many simultaneous inputs, it 's perfect for any portable audio application. Portability with no limi tation means you'll be able to take the FA-101 to any kind of performanc e to record multi-track audio. The two Phantom-power XLR/TRS combo jacks offer premium mic preamps for i ncredibly clean recording with studio condenser mics or dynamic stage mi cs. The back of the FA-101 hosts a number of 1/4" TRS balances inputs & outputs: six inputs and eight outputs in all. The front-mounted S/P DI F optical I/Os transfer audio to & from other digital devices and the bu ilt-in MIDI interface allows a synthesizer or controller keyboard to be connected to the FA-101 for sequencing directly into a software program. If you're looking for an audio interface capable of simultaneous multi-ch annel recording on your computer at the highest quality possible... you need the Edirol FA-101, particularly if you have Firewire. |