Mac mini to eq using toslink?

You are right. I messed up the question. I meant from mac mini to behringer eq then to a paradesea dac. Sorry for the confusion

Mac mini has only optical out and if your Beringer EQ has coax input use adaptor toslink/coax on the side of EQ (run Toslink all the way). Toslink is not very good for jitter (but good for braking ground loops) being slow but you don't have a choice with MAC-mini. If you make your own coax, like I did, be sure to use proper impedance cable and connectors. Typical RCA connector for S/PDIF, for instance, is not 75 Ohm and you'll get reflections on impedance boundaries but 75 ohm RCA connectors are available.

go out and purchase a jitter device (monarch, audio alchemy, genesis, etc..) and go from your mac into this jitter device using a toslink cable. then go from the jitter device into an external dac using a digital coax cable. this will give you optimal sound. don't try to make cables or convert 1 type of cable to another. also, skip the usb connection until somebody comes out with a dac that actually will work with a usb cable. the new audio research dac just might be the ticket for the folks loooking for a usb dac.

Rb,
I have a paradesea usb dac, what is a matter with that? Also, to use a toslink from the mac mini you would need to use an adapter{ mini jack/toslink } as there is not an optical output that i know of.

you need to get an adapter at your closest fry's for $2 and place it onto your toslink cable and plug it into your mac. the adapter is a little longer and allows the mac to send digital signals. all of my mac and airport express devices uses this setup. i have never heard of your dac. what you can do is try the connection from your mac to the dac using a toslink cable and see for yourself if there is a difference. only you can tell. if you don;t hear a difference then you are in good shape.