MacMini USB ports which is better?

Ed

Yes, I have a mini as well. I was asking for a professional opinion on WHY it would sound different (i.e. circuit design etc).

Can't comment on the Mac Mini, but the IMac is a similiar scenario. Facing the back of my IMac 20, the one on the right is the "warmest" by a very large margin, the one in the middle more balanced/neutral and the one on the left far too etched/bright. It's very obvious to anyone listening, not subtle at all. Has to be due to the way the ports are wired/configured internally. Better thing about the IMac too is that it reacts the same to power cords as does any CD player or DAC. Makes it handy if you have something like a Shunyata Vx power cord.

Hey Ed.

Yea, I need a break so I'm just having some fun but I am being serious about which ports seem to sound better. Your experience on the Mini corresponds with mine and a few other reports I've heard.

Cheers my friend!

Robert
RSAD

Mb9061 are you serious about the PC making a difference on your iMac? If so, what do you hear?

Yes. Same changes that you hear on DACs and CD players, etc. I put a Taipan Helix on it and the sound was more punchy, dynamic and a bit smoother. I put a Taipan Helix Vx on it and the dynamics were lessened a bit, but the higher frequency response was cleaned up more to my liking(i.e. smothered).

For whatever reason, I can't run it through my Hydra. Everytime I try, it makes the upper frequencies far too strident (like having all silver cabling). My amp/dac are run off another Hydra connected to another outlet.

I tried a Mamba V2 and the Taipan Helix Vx on it recently and went with the Taipan Vx because it did a better job of "smothering" the high frequencies and dulling things a bit more (which balanced well with the rest of my system being too forward/detailed). I don't think I could stand the Taipan Vx on a DAC or CD player, but it does fantastic on a computer.