18-Jan-2017, 01:02
So I connected my iMac to phantoms using a $8 mini optical to optical cable. Simple, one end into the iMac headphone jack (the jack is analogue/didital by the way) and the other into one of the phantoms optical. I have my tv plugged into optical on the dialogue. Next, enable optical on the phantom through spark, and you are ready to go.
I went back and forth between spark, tidal air play on IPad mini, and Mqa from the iMac. On the spark and air play, they sound about the same.
Once I played the iMac with Mqa, WOW. Everything was much better. It was like everyone on the stage moved from a close group to their appropriate positions. I could hear individual instruments much better. Everything was much more lifelike.
I like the simplicity of air play with tidal and the iPad mini. However, after a few hours with Mqa, I have decided to get a Mac mini and add it to the system. I just hope tidal stays around and continues to add more mqa selections.
I went back and forth between spark, tidal air play on IPad mini, and Mqa from the iMac. On the spark and air play, they sound about the same.
Once I played the iMac with Mqa, WOW. Everything was much better. It was like everyone on the stage moved from a close group to their appropriate positions. I could hear individual instruments much better. Everything was much more lifelike.
I like the simplicity of air play with tidal and the iPad mini. However, after a few hours with Mqa, I have decided to get a Mac mini and add it to the system. I just hope tidal stays around and continues to add more mqa selections.
