Hellofidelity: Thank you for the response. I have an iMac 8.1 Intel Duo. It does have optical/usb/firewire capabilities. I am currently using a Pop Pulse USB to SPDIF converter (it also converts the Toslink) which has worked well up until about a week ago. Thank you for clearing up the DAC/external sound card issue. I never did get that straight.
Can I assume then that an external sound card puts "out" a digital signal and then my headset amp and/or big system processor does the D/A conversion?
And finally . . . .let's assume that my internal sound card is the issue then would coming out with USB or Toslink to an external sound card actually bypass the internal sound card?
Can I assume then that an external sound card puts "out" a digital signal and then my headset amp and/or big system processor does the D/A conversion?
And finally . . . .let's assume that my internal sound card is the issue then would coming out with USB or Toslink to an external sound card actually bypass the internal sound card?