USB-C to SPDIF Coaxial in Mac Mini 2018 - not working

[Oswald Behring]

Hello,

I recently bought a Mac Mini (2018) to be used as a source of hi-res video and audio.
To listen to music I used to connect the source (a Mac Mini 2014) to an external digital-to-audio unit. Thus, I need Toslink/Coaxial output.

Since Apple dumped the SPIDIF connections from the last Mini, I bought a USB-C to Coaxial cable.

Unfortunately, the Mac doesn't identify the device. I was expecting "USB" or something like that, but nothing at all.

Is there something to be done or the 2018 Mini's gonna dump my DAC?

 

[Duncan68]

Hello,

I recently bought a Mac Mini (2018) to be used as a source of hi-res video and audio.
To listen to music I used to connect the source (a Mac Mini 2014) to an external digital-to-audio unit. Thus, I need Toslink/Coaxial output.

Since Apple dumped the SPIDIF connections from the last Mini, I bought a USB-C to Coaxial cable.

Unfortunately, the Mac doesn't identify the device. I was expecting "USB" or something like that, but nothing at all.

Is there something to be done or the 2018 Mini's gonna dump my DAC?

I use a Schiit Eitr to get a SPDIF signal to my DAC. Works well.

Schiit Audio: Audio Products Made in USA

www.schiit.com

 

[toke lahti]

Cheap solution, if you’re using hdmi, is to extract audio from hdmi signal, lots of cheap boxes available.

 

[Oswald Behring]

Cheap solution, if you’re using hdmi, is to extract audio from hdmi signal, lots of cheap boxes available.

The Rega DAC only supports toslink and coax input. Thanks for your answer.

 

[Oswald Behring]

I use a Schiit Eitr to get a SPDIF signal to my DAC. Works well.

Schiit Audio: Audio Products Made in USA

www.schiit.com

Yup, I'll have to use a dedicated USB-to-Coax converter. Looks like the "nobody uses it anymore" Apple's excuse to forfeit its "pro"/"hardcore" users. By the way, extracting DTS-MA or Atmos from a Mac is a gargantuan task - I felt like pinpointing glitches in Windows registry's mess.

Not a surprise that Apple users are switching to Windows machines for hi-res audio and video. I did the other way around to enjoy macOS, just to be forced to burn cash to deal with Apple's antics.

 

[D.T.]

The Rega DAC only supports toslink and coax input. Thanks for your answer.

He was suggesting getting an optical out of the HDMI - so HDMI out, through this box, video in, and this would give you the optical from the HDMI passthrough:

Monoprice Blackbird 4K HDMI Audio Extractor, 18Gbps, HDCP 2.2 - Monoprice.com

This Blackbird™ 4K HDMI® Audio Extractor extracts the audio signals from HDMI video streams. It supports analog stereo audio, as well as high‑definition multichannel audio st

www.monoprice.com

 

[Sarpanch]

You may find the following thread and post helpful.

Toslink Optical Audio Gone in 2018?

I am a big fan of hearing music with a good headphone setup. So much, that my quest for finding a clean audio source led me to my 1st Mac purchase in 2011, a Mac Mini. Before I had bought the Mini, I had tried various USB powered DACS and struggled to get consistent sound quality with my PC and...

forums.macrumors.com

I wish Apple had not dropped Digital Out from the MAC Mini.

 

[jnachbar]

I've been using the Behringer UCAA202 with my 2018 Macmini and it works flawlessly. I'm not sure how "audiophile" it is but it solved my problem of getting digital audio out of the mini and for $30, I can't complain!

It also has a second use, if you need to get digital input into the mini it does that as well. I've "digitized" a few LPs with it and again, it serves it's purpose. If cheap and simple is what you're looking for, give it a try...