Music quality output - Is a USB connection better than a 3.5 Phone Jack?

[Marty_Macfly]

Hi All,



Music quality output - Is a USB connection better than a 3.5 Phone Jack?
I.e. Connecting the M1 MBA to an external music system:



Hardward scenarios:

(a) MBA > USB-C Hub > Music System.

Or

(b) MBA > Music System.




Hope you can advise.
Regards
Martin

 

[chabig]

A digital connection would be better than an analog connection, as it won't be susceptible to noise. Either way, though, I doubt you'll hear any difference.

 

[coolajami]

That wouldn't be a question when MB's had an optical/digital output

With the right connections and good quality cables there should very limited difference in quality. 100% oxygen free copper cable with gold plated connectors should be enough to connect your MBA with a HiFI system with an auxiliary input. Another option is an audio jack to twin RCA, and usually is what you would need if you have a decent HiFi or speakers.

That said USB interface would give you more options in terms of outputs (RCA, TOSLINK etc) and volume control, and the more expensive ones have their own software for managing your audio output.

I wouldn't disregard also the use of a Bluetooth (preferably with aptX) or WiFI receiver for streaming directly to your HiFI without the use of cables. Bluetooth speakers and streamers with aptX are particularly popular in order to avoid extra wires in the desktop.

Finally, I would consider also a WiFi connection, if you want to retain the portability of the MB. You may find something in Amazon that even supports AirPlay 1 in decent price. The Airport Express 2, that support AirPlay 2, is very popular option and you can grab one from Ebay for about 50$. It has digital output so you get very limited loss of signal and you just connect it directly to your HiFi so you save yourself from annoying wires.

 

[Marty_Macfly]

Hi Guys,


The mystery deepens!

I tried 2 things tonight:



1) MBA > Music System
I connected the MBA with a 3.5mm lead from MBA connected to the input of the sound system
Sounded ok


2) MBA > USB-C Hub > Music System
MBA has a USB-C connection to the USB-C hub. Their was a 3.5mm lead from USB-C hub connected to the input of the sound system.
>>> This sounded so much "More rich, expansive, spacious etc. etc."



So a new question:

Is the sound output from the M1 MBA 3.5mm earphone jack toned down, to avoid people blowing their ear drums out etc? Or is the USB outputs so much more rich out of M1 MBAs?



I see a Bosh PC sound system that has 2 AUX inputs. One specifically for connections to iPhones, and one for the Computer itself. Would this fix the disparity I see, as described above?



Hope you music guys can advise!

Best wishes
Martin

 

[coolajami]

If you're using an external audio interface, you bypassing the internal one, and as such, any volume and equaliser settings will be different, as the MacOS does not control them any more. That is why most of the usb-interfaces come with their own volume control as the audio properties will be controlled by your usb interface or any other equipment you add at this end (amplifier etc). That does not make the audio quality *better* but you may see distinctive differences in the sound properties.
You can alter the audio output from your MB as well by using dedicated virtual audio interface for the MacOS. SoundFlower and SoundFlowerBed are particular popular if you like to test them.

 

[bluespark]

A headphone jack isn't necessarily the same thing as an audio-out port, even if they are the same size and look identical. One is "line-level" and one is not. Many serve both purposes, but I'm not sure about the M1 Mac.

Beyond that, it's a question of where the DAC is in the equation. If you are using an analog out from the Mac, you have used the Mac's DAC for the digital-to-analog conversion. If you are using USB, you are using an external DAC. The relative quality mostly depends on which is better. There is nothing inherently "rich" about the Mac's USB output, but it's very possible your external DAC is better than the Mac's internal DAC (even though it's fine for what it is).