Why does it have to be optical (toslink)?
The MacMini can also be connected to a DAC via a USB connection, which is a better solution in my opinion.
old guy, old set up, 4 dvd-cd carousel 400 cd, only working in toslink for digital and only autoswitch i found was toslink, so whatever the cd player i use, when i push play, the toslink server identify it and send it to the dac. l loved my CD and instead of shelving them, i purchase a carousel every 400 cd i had purchased. i listen to them and discard music, that i don't like anymore and this way it make room for another cd purchase. So this is why i need a better toslink optic DAC.
Also, i don't find the extra 1000$ worth it to invest in better DAC, because:
1- 1000$ is a lot of new CD
2- streaming with mostly loudness hi-res recording, sound worst than NOS old CD from the 1980 -2000 era.
3- because remastering those day, is to saturate recording for streaming or tiny earring headphone, than i don't invest in those.
4- My old McMini, is the only one, working with my carousel by RS-232!
5- I'm old, i don't have time to mess everything up, for the new "soupe du jour"!
Enjoying music, the most i can, and reading good book and watching movie, is my main goal before my expiration date arrived!
Like Dick van Dike said at 99years old, huge bank account, 17 cars, don't mathers much, enjoying, music and life and friend is the essence of life!
hope it help you understand it!
Don't wait for the Doctor, to tell you, you better start living, because, you're expiration date, is comming!