*nice setup !* So, imho, as a digital transport, you should not notice any difference between the SB3 and the Receiver. Te SBR has a tad better S/N ratio but I doubt you can make the difference on a headphone (except perhaps the Shure, I couldn't anyway). Theoretically, coax digital is better, but the same notes as above apply.
As for your last question, no I don't think your giving anything up by not using the Mac's optical (or USB) output. Nothing at all. On the contrary, there are fewer parameters which might affect the digital output of the SB3/SBR : computer setup can be tricky (especially on sound cards) and you -may- easily forget/pass by an important driver setting on a computer, without even noticing it. ;) Hope this helps. Have fun ! :) -- Themis SB3 - North Star dac 192 - Denon 3808 - Sonus Faber Grand Piano Domus ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Themis's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=14700 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=55089 _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
