Macbook Optical Port

thetawave2
thetawave2 Posts: 268
edited July 2011 in Electronics
Has anyone had any experience with the 3.5mm optical port built into Macbooks?
My Stereo: Tannoy D100s, Yaqin MC-100B, VPI Traveler, Dynavector 10x5 MC Phono Cartridge, heavily modified Yaqin MS-22B phono preamp, TEAC EQA-20 equalizer, Belkin PureAV PF30 Power Conditioner, Canare 4s11 speaker cables, Custom dust cover from DigitalDeckCovers
Post edited by thetawave2 on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • jimbo1421
    jimbo1421 Posts: 772
    edited May 2011
    I use the optical out port on my MacBook Pro for playing DVDs with 5.1 surround and iTunes playback. I use a Toslink — Toslink mini-plug cable to my AVR. It works quite well.
    5.1 System:
    TCL R613 55" 4K
    Front: SRS-3.1TL
    Center: CS400i
    Surround: Monitor 10B
    PSW10 subwoofer
    Onkyo PR-SC886P Pre/Pro
    NAD T955 5 channel power amplifier
    Technics SL-1710 MK2 turntable
    Audio-Technica AT14Sa cartridge
    Parasound P3 pre-amp
    Oppo BDP-103 Blu-Ray
    2014 MacBook Pro 2.8 GHz

    2.0 Office System:
    Monitor 10A (Peerless)
    Outlaw 1050 receiver
    Parasound HCA-1000A power amp
    MacPro
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • GoBigBlue
    GoBigBlue Posts: 212
    edited May 2011
    I use the optical out port on my MacBook Pro all the time. I bought a toslink cable from newegg. I love the sound.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mutelight
    mutelight Posts: 1,054
    edited May 2011
    When I had my MacBook Pro, I used this cable from Monoprice.

    http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10229&cs_id=1022902&p_id=1557&seq=1&format=2
    // Panasonic AE8000 // Pioneer SC-57 // Polk Audio RTi A9 // Polk Audio CSiA6 //
    // Polk Audio FXi A6 // SVS PB12-NSD Subwoofer // Logitech Harmony Ultimate // Pro-Ject Debut III //
    // Oppo BDP-103 // Microsoft Xbox One Day One Edition // Sony Playstation 4 1TB SSHD // Nintendo Wii U //
    Photo Gallery
    Movie and Game Collection
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BWilberg266
    BWilberg266 Posts: 191
    edited May 2011
    mutelight wrote: »
    When I had my MacBook Pro, I used this cable from Monoprice.

    http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10229&cs_id=1022902&p_id=1557&seq=1&format=2

    Dito on that, use the same thing for my Mac Mini which has the same outlet as the MacBook.
    Main Setup
    Fronts - Energy RC-50's
    Center - Energy RC-LCR
    Rear - Energy RC-R's
    Subs - Gone...
    AVR - Pioneer SC-37
    Blu-Ray - Sony BDP-S360
    TV - Vizio E550I-B2
    Media Server - Mac Mini
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bklynNupe
    bklynNupe Posts: 728
    edited May 2011
    I prefer the USB output. I didn't really care for sound quality the 3.5mm output, it sounds a bit hollow to me. On another note I'm wondering if I can find additional improvements using a better USB cable such as a Wireworld or similar?

    emotiva xpa-2
    emotiva xpa-3
    Denon 3312ci
    Rtia9 /csia6 / FXi A6
    Samsung LN46A650
    SVS PB-12-NSD sub

    Audio Research SP-9 MKIII (GNSC mods)
    W4S ST250
    Lsi 9 (mods)
    W4S DAC-2
    Mac Mini
    Audio Aero Prima CD player
    Pro-Ject debut
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • thetawave2
    thetawave2 Posts: 268
    edited May 2011
    bklynNupe wrote: »
    I prefer the USB output. I didn't really care for sound quality the 3.5mm output, it sounds a bit hollow to me. On another note I'm wondering if I can find additional improvements using a better USB cable such as a Wireworld or similar?

    You mean with an external soundcard?
    My Stereo: Tannoy D100s, Yaqin MC-100B, VPI Traveler, Dynavector 10x5 MC Phono Cartridge, heavily modified Yaqin MS-22B phono preamp, TEAC EQA-20 equalizer, Belkin PureAV PF30 Power Conditioner, Canare 4s11 speaker cables, Custom dust cover from DigitalDeckCovers
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nguyendot
    nguyendot Posts: 3,594
    edited May 2011
    bklynNupe wrote: »
    I prefer the USB output. I didn't really care for sound quality the 3.5mm output, it sounds a bit hollow to me. On another note I'm wondering if I can find additional improvements using a better USB cable such as a Wireworld or similar?

    You think the optical out sounds hollow?
    Main Surround -
    Epson 8350 Projector/ Elite Screens 120" / Pioneer Elite SC-35 / Sunfire Signature / Focal Chorus 716s / Focal Chorus CC / Polk MC80 / Polk PSW150 sub

    Bedroom - Sharp Aquos 70" 650 / Pioneer SC-1222k / Polk RT-55 / Polk CS-250

    Den - Rotel RSP-1068 / Threshold CAS-2 / Boston VR-M60 / BDP-05FD
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bklynNupe
    bklynNupe Posts: 728
    edited May 2011
    No external soundcard.

    emotiva xpa-2
    emotiva xpa-3
    Denon 3312ci
    Rtia9 /csia6 / FXi A6
    Samsung LN46A650
    SVS PB-12-NSD sub

    Audio Research SP-9 MKIII (GNSC mods)
    W4S ST250
    Lsi 9 (mods)
    W4S DAC-2
    Mac Mini
    Audio Aero Prima CD player
    Pro-Ject debut
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • thetawave2
    thetawave2 Posts: 268
    edited May 2011
    bklynNupe wrote: »
    No external soundcard.

    What kind of cable do you use for that?
    My Stereo: Tannoy D100s, Yaqin MC-100B, VPI Traveler, Dynavector 10x5 MC Phono Cartridge, heavily modified Yaqin MS-22B phono preamp, TEAC EQA-20 equalizer, Belkin PureAV PF30 Power Conditioner, Canare 4s11 speaker cables, Custom dust cover from DigitalDeckCovers
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bklynNupe
    bklynNupe Posts: 728
    edited May 2011
    I use a basic USB cable from my mac to my V-Link SPDIF converter. Coaxial out to my dac. I'm in the process of upgrading my usb and coaxial cables once I narrow down a few options. I hope i'm answering your question?

    emotiva xpa-2
    emotiva xpa-3
    Denon 3312ci
    Rtia9 /csia6 / FXi A6
    Samsung LN46A650
    SVS PB-12-NSD sub

    Audio Research SP-9 MKIII (GNSC mods)
    W4S ST250
    Lsi 9 (mods)
    W4S DAC-2
    Mac Mini
    Audio Aero Prima CD player
    Pro-Ject debut
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • thetawave2
    thetawave2 Posts: 268
    edited May 2011
    That sounds really cool but I don't think I'm in the market for peripherals like that just yet
    My Stereo: Tannoy D100s, Yaqin MC-100B, VPI Traveler, Dynavector 10x5 MC Phono Cartridge, heavily modified Yaqin MS-22B phono preamp, TEAC EQA-20 equalizer, Belkin PureAV PF30 Power Conditioner, Canare 4s11 speaker cables, Custom dust cover from DigitalDeckCovers
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • thetawave2
    thetawave2 Posts: 268
    edited May 2011
    bklynNupe wrote: »
    I prefer the USB output. I didn't really care for sound quality the 3.5mm output, it sounds a bit hollow to me. On another note I'm wondering if I can find additional improvements using a better USB cable such as a Wireworld or similar?

    Just got my cable. It does sound a bit hollow, but using the iTunes equalizer helps quite a bit with that.
    Works like a charm with my DVD player though!
    My Stereo: Tannoy D100s, Yaqin MC-100B, VPI Traveler, Dynavector 10x5 MC Phono Cartridge, heavily modified Yaqin MS-22B phono preamp, TEAC EQA-20 equalizer, Belkin PureAV PF30 Power Conditioner, Canare 4s11 speaker cables, Custom dust cover from DigitalDeckCovers
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited May 2011
    I use the optical out to stream music from iTunes on Macbook Pro through Airport Express to the Pre/Pro. One thing I noticed, it will expose not so optimal MP3 songs very much so. However, on decent bit-rate (256+) songs, they are not bad at all.
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • louhamilton
    louhamilton Posts: 209
    edited May 2011
    I currently use the 3.5mm optical out on my Mac Mini to my Onkyo 5508 processor. I think it sounds pretty good and not hollow. However, I do plan on getting an external DAC and using USB out instead so I can get support for higher resolution audio files (24/192kHz). The optical can only support 24/96kHz and lower AFAIK.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • thetawave2
    thetawave2 Posts: 268
    edited July 2011
    I definitely got what bklynNupe was saying. Did a bit of critical listening with a friend last night. For more information check out my blog at paugustinos.blogspot.com!
    My Stereo: Tannoy D100s, Yaqin MC-100B, VPI Traveler, Dynavector 10x5 MC Phono Cartridge, heavily modified Yaqin MS-22B phono preamp, TEAC EQA-20 equalizer, Belkin PureAV PF30 Power Conditioner, Canare 4s11 speaker cables, Custom dust cover from DigitalDeckCovers
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter