I hate to be the wet blanket here but you should keep the distance from the iMac to your stereo about 2 meters or less.
I have a similar dilemma as yours where my iMac is across the room from my stereo. I used a 15' run of WireWorld USB to a Centrance Mini and 15' of Zu Mission ICs and thought I was getting really great sound. I also used the Centrance for headphone listening.
When I got a Schiit Bifrost, out came the Centrance to see duty as my desktop DAC for my headphone listening and for the Audioengine speakers. It was only then that I realized just how much better it sounded when using just 1 meter of USB. So I know that there was some degradation with the greater length.
The Bifrost sounded a bit better serving duty as the conduit from iMac to stereo until I changed around some ICs between my CDP and amp and then I knew I would have to spend a lot more to equal that quality of sound I was getting. I have since stopped listening to my iMac because it doesn't even come close to what I get with my good old CDP.
This is not to say that you'll get the same results as I did. But I'm a firm believer in hard wiring everything. I've read enough to tell me that wireless is good enough for casual listening but not for critical listening. Too much chance for something to drop off or interfere.
I don't want to start a war here about wireless. IMO it's just a convenience and not entirely reliable. Just my take on it. Maybe one of the PC gurus on this site can chime it with their take on it.
All the best,
Nonoise
I have a similar dilemma as yours where my iMac is across the room from my stereo. I used a 15' run of WireWorld USB to a Centrance Mini and 15' of Zu Mission ICs and thought I was getting really great sound. I also used the Centrance for headphone listening.
When I got a Schiit Bifrost, out came the Centrance to see duty as my desktop DAC for my headphone listening and for the Audioengine speakers. It was only then that I realized just how much better it sounded when using just 1 meter of USB. So I know that there was some degradation with the greater length.
The Bifrost sounded a bit better serving duty as the conduit from iMac to stereo until I changed around some ICs between my CDP and amp and then I knew I would have to spend a lot more to equal that quality of sound I was getting. I have since stopped listening to my iMac because it doesn't even come close to what I get with my good old CDP.
This is not to say that you'll get the same results as I did. But I'm a firm believer in hard wiring everything. I've read enough to tell me that wireless is good enough for casual listening but not for critical listening. Too much chance for something to drop off or interfere.
I don't want to start a war here about wireless. IMO it's just a convenience and not entirely reliable. Just my take on it. Maybe one of the PC gurus on this site can chime it with their take on it.
All the best,
Nonoise