Sound card in Mac Pro?

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TechStuey05

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Hi, I plan on purchasing new speakers when I receive my Mac Pro.I'm a big music listener, I listen to music throughout most of the day. I'm a bit confused as to my options.

Is the sound card that the Mac Pro comes with any good?

Is it recommended to upgrade it?

could I upgrade it or can I only hook up an external sound card to it?

Which would be the best sound cards that I could use in Mac OS X Leopard? or will it only work through boot camp in Windows Vista?

What is a Dac? If I purchase a Dac then do I still need a sound card?

Do the speakers hook up directly to the Dac?

any info is greatly appreciated
 
DAC = Digital to Analog Converter

It's a little chip (and associated circuitry) which takes a bunch of 1s and 0s and turns them back into analog voltages so it can make your speakers do anything. The quality at which it does this influences the quality of the sound output.
 
M-Audio 2496. Great sound quality for a great price, and works great with OS X.

If you are looking for an external DAC (soundcard...) to connect via S/PDIF then let us know.

And yes, an external DAC or music oriented soundcard will give you stereo RCA jacks to hook up you're speakers.
 
Thanks for the comments. I'll be getting the Audioengine A5 speakers. I'm a bit unsure about what I would need to hook it up to. If I get the sound card then do I still need a Dac? If it's possible I'd prefer an external sound card. Is the built in sound card in the Mac Pro good enough or is it recommended to upgrade it? Thanks
 
Sound cards incorporate a DAC circuit. If you want something external...E-MU USB?
 
I thought the mac pros had an optical out?. with that in mind I would bypass a soundcard and get a receiver with optical in.
 
If he's using the A5 speakers, a receiver would be a bit large and inappropriate.
 
Why would he need a receiver with powered monitors?

Anyway, you can either get an external standalone DAC or an internal soundcard that for all intents and purposes IS a DAC. It comes down to what specific product you want. I know alot of you're previous threads you where looking for us to make the decision for you, so I say either an E-MU USB for an external or the M-Audio 2496 for internal. Either will sound leaps and bounds better then using the analog out on the Mac Pro.
 
wow cool thanks. I wasn't aware they were powered monitors. I just thought they were bookshelfs. calm down a bit may be yeah?
 
I appreciated your comments :). And you're correct I trust your decisions more than mine lol, You're the experts, I'm a newbie ;).

Is it easy to install a sound card in a Mac Pro? any online guides that can help me?

I assume that I don't have to install any drivers for the sound card on OS X Leopard? only for Windows Vista through boot camp correct?

Does the M-Audio 2496 work for the 64 bit version of Windows Vista Ultimate through boot camp?
 
TechStuey05 said:
Is it easy to install a sound card in a Mac Pro? any online guides that can help me?
Click to expand...
Open side of case, insert card in free PCI slot, close side of case. :) MacPro's/G5's are the easiest computers to work on.. in some aspects. Adding PCI cards is one of them.

I assume that I don't have to install any drivers for the sound card on OS X Leopard? only for Windows Vista through boot camp correct?
Click to expand...
Don't assume, that can get you in trouble! :D Drivers for Leopard and Vista 64 can both be found on M-Audio's site. HERE
 
Ok I've decided on getting an external audio device instead of internal. Is it better to go with one that has usb or firewire?

So far I've got:

1.Lexicon U22
2.Audiofire4
3.E-MU USB

Any others that you guys would recommend?

Thanks
 
USB is more universal.

If budget allows, the E-MU 0404 USB also takes coax & optical S/PDIF.
 
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