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 sfar

I agree with ljgerens. If what you have is an Airport Express model A1084 or A1264 with the combination optical and analog output, using a mini-Toslink to Toslink optical cable to connect over WiFi to a DAC is an excellent option. Any DAC with an optical input will work, I've been using an AudioEngine D1 for years to connect to my garage system.