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Advice on Setting Up A Laptop-Based Audio System?

Hey, I'm looking to set up a workspace audio system based around my Apple Powerbook G4. I've got about 100 GB of uncompressed audio on an external hard drive. I currently have Monsoon planar speakers and matching subwoofer hooked into the laptop through the 1/8" audio out, which soundsokay, but I think I could do better.

I don't have a PC card slot in the Powerbook, so I'm limited to a USB audio connection. I'm not looking to hook this system up to my "big rig" -- it's just for my workspace. I was looking to bypass getting an amplifier, unless it's fairly small.

I was thinking of going with some powered mini-monitors and maybe some kind of adapter/DAC in between, but I'm space-constrained and not looking to spend more than say, $600 total.

Any suggestions?
marc_dc
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
I've tested the Transit with a Big Ben. I had trouble at first, but with the right settings, it changed from 44.1 to 96 and back. You need to set the correct frequency in the Transit panel and then set either 16 or 24 bits in the Foobar output panel.

According to the ua-1d documentation, it only does 48 kHz.
edumke
32 posts
 
For those of you with PCs, a Transit might sound great, but if you have a Apple Mac, DO NOT get the Transit. It sounds BAD. this is not a subtle difference. This has been verified with 3 different Transits on high end systems. Two with with blind switching back and forth.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Sounds like the S/W is a bit hosed for the transit using the apple equipment. At least on a PC, you can use ASIO to bypass the windows Kmixer. Maybe this is not possible on an apple system. Good to know, thanks.
dshea_32665
28 posts
 
I have a Mac and a Transit. The analogue out leaves something to be desired, but is it really that bad if you are just using it to get the optical digital signal to a DAC? I think my setup sounds really quite good, but I would be happy to explore replacing the Transit if it really is a problem. Of course my DAC is not very expensive, so perhaps it is the higher end equipment that the shortcomings of the Transit would be more noticeable?

I have heard dozens of positive and rave reviews of using the Transit to provide a digital out of an iBook. This is the first time I have heard of it being so terrible. Can you elaborate?

dshea
edumke
32 posts
 
I now have confirmation from 5 Mac based transit users - I should say former users.

The whole idea for a device like the Transit is to pass un-altered PCM to your DAC. The transit just does not do a good job of it. It really is noticeable.

I don't think this is unique to the Transit either. I think several of the popular low end devices actual mess with the PCM stream to one extent or another.

If you are concerned, call the manufacturer and verify that the device supports Core Audio (Mac OSX) and passes the PCM data unaltered.

I know that the Waveterminal U24 and the Edirol U25 both do a good job. There are probably many more.

As always, though, if you are happy with what you have, why change?
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