Mac Mini/Ayre QB-9 DAC

[K Shep]

I am a new member here. I am looking to purchase a Mac Mini and utilize the Ayre DAC. I called Ayre today, but the specialist will be out of the office until Thursday. Is the connection just plug and play. In other words does the Ayre DAC recognize iTunes and stream the music without using a Logitic type device?

 

 

 

 

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

Hi K Shep - I'm close to finishing my review of the Ayre QB-9. In fact I was listening to the QB-9 for a while tonight. The Ayre is plug n' play and does not require any software or special configuration. All one needs to do is select the Ayre as the audio output device and everything will work great.

 

[K Shep]

I had the pleasure of listening to the Ayre QB-9 a few weeks ago, my favorite audio shop here in S.F. I am venturing into the cpu front end world and IMO the Mac Mini/QB-9 set up is a no brainer. And its nice to have auditioned the Ayre so early from its release date. I love the feeling I get when the wheels in the upgrade machine start spinning. The only hicup is the QB-9 is about 2-3 weeks out. Ayre can't keep up with demand. So tomorrow I'm off to the Apple Store to pick up the Mini, then I will purchase a more reasonably priced monitor and place my order for the QB-9.

 

Now I have much reading to do here.

 

Kirk

 

[dheardzimin]

I took delivery of my QB-9 today!! Granted I also upgraded to an Ayre AX-7e and a lovely pair of Monitor Audio GS-60's

 

Money well spent! I can do nothing but recommend this wonderous device. Having lived with Flat Mac Mini sound for over a year since I ripped all my CD's and sold my CD Player - Suddenly my music is alive again.

 

[K Shep]

On your purchase. Ayre notes in their manual a 100-500 break-in. Please pay attention to how the unit sounds early on (out of the box) and how it blooms as you play music through it. I am very interested in break-in or burn-in or conditioning, what ever one calls that process. My QB-9 sounded muffled out of the box. It is really begining to open up now (approx 150 hours) or are my ears and my brain becoming conditioned to the new sound in my listening room?

 

[dheardzimin]

Yes - I read the same in the manual. I didnt find the sound muffled, just a little harsh - but I can already hear that the warmth is building up.

 

Do you know if its possible to have the QB-9 Pass thru DTS Audio? At the moment I have to switch Audio Outputs when I play DTS Music - is there any way to avoid this?

 

[Skyblue]

Set the other soundcard as default and the ayre as nondefault/exclusive as per ayre's setup instructions.

Then the other soundcard is dts, windows sounds whatever. Once setup, no switching is required. That is what I do.