which usb port should i use on mac mini

[synapse]

i have the latest mac mini and am going to take usb out to dac through hiface........now which of the 5 ports should i use? are they all the same? i feel sure i've read somewhere on this forum that they aren't but cannot find the thread

 

[wgscott]

I would be shocked if they weren't all identical.

 

The one I use is the miniToslkink optical out.

 

[les.ismoore]

Here's a thread that might be helpful:

 

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/USB-Port-Not-USB-Port

 

[Audio_ELF]

I'm not sure if each USB connection on the back of the Mac Mini is a separate "port" or if any are shared, but here is how to check.

 

Under the Apple menu, choose About this Mac then More info....

 

In the USB section, ensure that your USB Audio DAC (maybe listed differently for your own DAC) is on a separate port not shared with anything else. I've attached a screen shot hopefully showing how it appears (correctly) on my Mac OS X system.

 

Eloise

 

PS. I think the issue that has been discussed before was related to MacBook (Pro?) rather than the MacMini. Not sure there's ever been an issue with the MacMini that I recall.

 

[timztunz]

People more knowledgeable about this sort of thing than I am have suggested that the USB port to the outside offers the better SQ. I can't honestly say that I could tell a difference. But I do use the outside port just for the sake of it's the greatest distance from anything else back there.

 

[synapse]

many thanks all......i feel my question has been answered......but now, do i go for a HiFace or should i wait for the evo version?

 

[Purite Audio]

Evo

 

[synapse]

damn you.......but how much and how long must i wait?

 

:@)

 

[Purite Audio]

You could just wait for their new dac instead, it will be v good.

Keith.

 

[Audio_ELF]

What's Evo?? Sounds like a Mitsubishi car!!

 

[Purite Audio]

Marco is a real live wire, like a jack in the box, extremely innovative.

Keith.

 

[synapse]

is the new dac to include elements of the hiface evo?

..........and, how much do you expect the new hiface to come in at?

 

[Purite Audio]

The new dac will use Async USB as per the hiface nd 'Evo' I don't have a price for the new interface yet, it will be reasonable though.

Keith.

 

[4est]

When is it scheduled to come out?

 

[wgscott]

I've just done some experiments on my new mini at work. My conclusions:

 

1. The USB ports are NOT identical.

 

2. They change dynamically.

 

Here is the experiment: I have 5 USB devices, including

 

i. Keyboard

ii. Wired mouse

iii. Belkin USB hub

iv. Powermate dial 1

v. Powermate dial 2

 

When I do this, the keyboard and the Belkin hub get assigned to "high-speed USB" ports. The others do not.

 

Now here comes the weird part: If I switch, for example, the keyboard and the mouse, the keyboard is still assigned a "high-speed" USB port, and the mouse still is not. In other words, these aren't hard-wired, but rather the OS allocates the resources as it sees fit.

 

I am using the output from the

 

system_profiler

 

command, by the way.

 

I'm at work and don't have a DAC I can plug into, but it would be interesting to see whether OS X allocates the high-speed bus to the USB connection automatically. I assume it will, but it would be worth checking, using the above command.

 

 

 

[Part-Time Audiophile]

n/t

 

[Purite Audio]

You have ( or had at least ) it's little brother.

Keith.

 

[Part-Time Audiophile]

Is there a write up about what it is and what makes it different?