Mac Mini Sound Card Opinions?

BennyBenz · 03-15-2008, 07:01 PM

Hey I just hooked up a mac mini and a Lilliput 7" 619 in my car last night. I got a JL Audio 450/4 amp and have 2 12"'s on the way. Want to see what you guys thought would be the ideal software or sound card (internal/external?) to pump out best sound. Thanks.

Area3 · 03-15-2008, 09:28 PM

What Front End Will You be Using?

I am planning a Mac Mini Install In My Car and This is the Sound Card I am Going With...

2 x 8 24-bit/96kHz analog I/O; 192kHz stereo out
2 mic/line ins w/ preamps and phantom power
8 line outs to mixer or direct surround output
S/PDIF digital I/O w/ PCM, AC-3, and DTS support
1 x 1 MIDI I/O
includes Ableton Live Lite music production software, so you can make music right away

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_u...e410-main.html

Any More Questions Just Ask!

Machinehead · 03-17-2008, 07:06 AM

Ahhhh, the M-Audio firewire 410, she is lovely isn't she?

lumansa · 04-01-2008, 05:47 PM

ive had a mini in my car for a year now and im not convinced im using my speakers and sub to their potential. ive got 2 rear and 2 front JBLs and a JBL sub connected to a 6 channel JL amp. the amp connects to the mini through the headphone jack. will the 410 help get a better sound to the amp? sell me on it

Machinehead · 04-02-2008, 08:09 AM

Well, the Firewire 410 is ASIO plug-in compliant, so you can use software to do tuning. From 31 band eqs on every channel to phase control to time alignment to crossovers.

A little more on ASIO:

ASIO: (Audio Stream Input Output) is a protocol for low-latency digital audio specified by Steinberg.

ASIO provides an interface between an application and the sound card. Whereas Microsoft's DirectSound is typically for stereo input and output for consumers, ASIO provides for the needs of musicians and sound engineers. ASIO offers a relatively simple way of accessing multiple audio inputs and outputs independently. It also provides for the synchronization of input with output in a way that is not possible with DirectSound, allowing recording studios to process their audio via software on the computer instead of using thousands of dollars worth of separate equipment. Its main strength relies in its method of bypassing the inherently high latency of operating system audio mixing kernels, allowing direct, high speed communication with audio hardware.

Area3 · 04-02-2008, 09:52 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Machinehead

Ahhhh, the M-Audio firewire 410, she is lovely isn't she?

Shes Ok Nothing Like my SSL at Work

But yes You can use this for Tuning and Stuff!

blackbox1 · 04-10-2008, 04:35 PM

I went low tech. At first I ran the headphone out directly to the amp, but couldn't get the quality of volume control I needed. Eventually, I re-installed my CD player (Apline CDA-9856 w/ external input and 3 sets of pre-amp outputs). Works excellent now, and even allows friends to plug in their iPod via the Alpine AiNet iPod cable.

if you have space for a head unit, go that route, just make sure it has external inputs in the back. I drive an xB so dash space is not an issue.

samantech · 06-26-2008, 01:47 AM

There are some decent sound cards out there and some are expensive.

Duet

http://www.apogeedigital.com/product...?section=specs

Audio Kontrol 1
http://www.native-instruments.com/in...=audiokontrol1

Though I have not tested them in car environment to withstand elements.

sonneboz · 06-26-2008, 06:32 PM

I just picked up this fancy little DAC, haven't hooked it up yet, but sound quality should be very good

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/gene...bloat-dac.html