I would like some advice please

[Metronom]

Hello, dear forum members.

This is my first post on ASR and I live in Poland.

I would like to point out that I do not know English, so I am using a translator.

I would like to ask for advice on configuring my audio equipment.

I have:
- Mac Studio Max computer with 96GB RAM
- SMSL DO200 DAC
- Topping E4x4 Pre 9 Audio Interface (bought on the recommendation of pantera)
- OWC Thunderbolt Dock 11 Ports
- CalDigit Element Universal Multi-Port Thunderbolt 4 Hub
- about 15 TB of music on HDD drives in a JBDO housing (not RAID)
I also want to buy the WIIM Ultra streamer recommended on this forum

At the end, of course, there is an amplifier and speakers.

I would like to know what is the correct order of connecting all these audio devices to the Mac computer to get the best results.

Best wishes to all forum members.
I wish you health and the hearing of a bat.

Nicholas

 

[kyuu]

Welcome to ASR!

What is your goal with all this equipment? Are you just looking to listen to music (and other content) from your Mac? Are you using this for professional purposes (mixing, livestreaming, etc.)?

The Wiim Ultra is a terrific device, but it would render the SMSL DAC redundant at the very least.

 

[Metronom]

Just to listen to music in the best possible quality














50 / 5 000

 

[Metronom]

But I am asking for advice on the order in which I should connect my equipment to my Mac.

 

[kemmler3D]

But I am asking for advice on the order in which I should connect my equipment to my Mac.

There is no specific order to connect things unless you find there is a ground loop or interference in the analog audio output from the WiiM or DAC, in which case You need to look into isolating things electrically.

Digital connections can be made at your convenience with no change in quality, this is the nice thing about digital.

 

[kyuu]

But I am asking for advice on the order in which I should connect my equipment to my Mac.

Right, but how you're using it makes a difference in the connections and whether or not you even need certain components.

If you're just listening to music/whatever from your Mac with this setup, I'd do it this way:

Mac to SMSL DAC via USB
SMSL to Amp via RCA/XLR (don't know what your amp accepts)

Plug in your "JBDO" into the Mac or one of your hubs however you like. That's it, you're done unless there's something I'm missing. Without sources like microphones or instruments to plug in, the Topping interface doesn't seem like it serves any purpose for your use case.

While the Wiim devices are great, for your use case I don't see the need. You can use your computer as a source (so no need for the Wiim's streaming features), you already have a DAC, and if you want to do PEQ you can do that on your computer as well.

Edit: I should say that the Wiim makes sense if you want to be able to use your system without the Mac in the loop. But then you don't need the SMSL DAC, as the Wiim Ultra already has a perfectly good DAC.

 

[EERecordist]

Welcome to ASR.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/smsl-do200-pro-dac-review.60095/ has great performance and the https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ds/topping-e2x2-audio-interface-review.49127/ has less, but still good performance.

Connect the SMSL DO200 by USB to your mac. Look search audio on mac discussions on ASR for settings and choice of Internet streaming sources.

Then search Room EQ Wizard REW on ASR and purchase an about 100 Euro calibrated measurement microphone. Connect the microphone through the Topping to your computer for mic input. Measure your room and look up parametric equalizer on mac software. The equalize your room based on REW using the mac parametric equalizer.

The Wiim supports a hard drive music library. Sugget to try the above before spending money on the Wiim. The https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/wiim-ultra-streamer-preamp-review.57342/ is intermediate in SNAD our ASR measure between the SMSL and the Topping, but very usable based on measurements.

 

[Metronom]

....the Topping interface doesn't seem like it serves any purpose for your use case....

I bought this audio interface on the recommendation of this forum because it has a great headphone amplifier
Where should I connect this audio interface audio ?

 

[AnalogSteph]

Just plug it into the Mac via USB as a secondary audio device and select whichever you want to be using at this time, depending on whether you want speaker or headphone output. The E4x4 seems a bit overkill unless you actually need dual headphone outs... you don't generally buy a 4in/4out interface unless you're serious about recording. I mean, it does have enough outputs to accommodate both speakers and headphones at the same time if you want that, but it's not going to be as convenient as having separate audio devices. Things may be different if you were a musician living in a DAW, mind you, so I guess that's where that recommendation came from.

 

[Metronom]

Thank you very much for your answers.

The answer to my question is simple.

INTERface, as the name suggests, is just a link in the audio device chain. Everything is clear now. I am closing the topic.