Mac Mini used as a D/A converter

My bad as far as the mac mini having an digital input - the minis since late 2006 have this feature - however it looks like a pass thru when used in the digital domain (for surround sound)it looks like you could use the analog outs of the CD changer to a 3.5 mini pin into the mini - then the mini could do the D/A - or course this way the D/a is occuring twice (at CD and mac mini) I've looked extensivly for the quality of Apples DAC chip they use but there isnt much info I can find - I did find a Developer note saying the signal to noise is >90 which isnt great - I've found the Berhinger does a much better job at D/A than the mac mini - (much smoother and not "digital sounding")there are also other D/A convertors that are inexpensive and would do a much better job than the mac minis DAC.

Firstly...Thank you very much for your help...

The question is that what I want to test if is if a good idea to use other D/A different than the Sony's changer...Because using this, it sounds too brilliant to me..It could be a problem with other of my components (A Rotel RA-06 amp and a Focal JMLAB 807V speakers), but testing them with a SB3, all works OK...

Then my idea is to test this with the Mini as D/A converter and if it works, buying a external D/A...as you suggest to me, for example the Berhinger...

My question now, is if need any software in mac Mini to use it as D/A converter...

Thank you again for your help

JP

Do a google search for "LineIn for Mac OS X". It is freeware.

Hello:

If you do a google search for "LineIn for Mac OS X" it appears pages about a development programming environment called "Ruby on Rails" :) :)

Seriously, linein is for using a analog input...I know that there are several programs to do this... My question is about digital input (not analog input)...

Thanks

JP