USB Audio Interface or External Sound Card for Playback

[hashilli]

I have a new set of Mackie MR8 monitors and unfortunately there is too much internal component noise coming through the iMac 1/8 audio jack. So, now I am on a mission to find a good USB interface or sound card that I can bypass this with. I use the Firewire on the computer for external hard disks. It is a iMac i7 so I only have the one firewire port. =( I don't do any recording, this is for playback only.

I've been searching over many threads and I can't seem to get a good opinion on a decent USB device that won't have driver issues and just give me clean playback.

 

[Fishrrman]

"I've been searching over many threads and I can't seem to get a good opinion on a decent USB device that won't have driver issues and just give me clean playback."

Get a USB/DAC box:
http://www.slate.com/id/2279137/

Some examples from amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=usb+dac+converter&x=0&y=0

 

[hashilli]

Thanks, after much looking into, I have foregone trying to get an audio interface and decided to just get a Nuforce uDAC-2 which is a simple USB DAC with a headphone preamp. http://www.nuforce.com/hp/products/iconudac2/

Your suggestion pointed me completely in the right direction. Thanks.