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50’ Connection Between Mac and DAC

I’m currently wirelessly streaming CD rez AIFF files from iTunes on a 2017 iMac to my main system (2 rooms away) using an older Airport Express device. I want to go with a wired connection from the Mac to a DAC (Looking at the Schiit Bifrost 2 or, less likely, a Chord Qutest.) which will reside in the rack with the main system......I really don’t want to purchase a dedicated streamer at this point. My understanding is that connection runs of this length are best done with something called SPDIF coax (??). Can this be divided up in such a way that I could use 3 runs of this coax - one from the Mac to an adjacent wall plate, an attic run, and then a third run from a wall plate adjacent to the main system to the DAC? If this is possible, would it be a significant SQ improvement over what I’m using now?

Thanks.
lg1

Showing 1 response by ljgerens

ljgerens
152 posts
 
Are you currently using the internal DAC in the Airport Express? If so, just stick with your wireless setup and get a decent DAC. You can use the optical out of the Airport Express into a DAC. It will give you the biggest improvement in SQ. 
My setup is similar to your setup with loseless ripped CDs on a Mac Mini. When I compared my wireless setup to a wired setup, it was either hard to tell any difference or the wireless sounded better, depending on the cabling that I used.
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