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Newbie audiophile setup for small spaces #

Hardware

• MacBook Pro 13-inch, Late 2011 or Mid 2012 ¹
• Sennheiser HD 650 Headphones
• Schiit Vali Subminiature Hybrid Headphone Amp ²
• Schiit Modi USB Digital/Analog Convertor ³
• Schiit PYST 1m USB A/B cable & 6' RCA cables

The whole thing (well, everything but the laptop) fits perfectly in the Sennheiser box with the foam removed.

Software

• Mac OS X 10.6 or 10.9 ⁴
• Decibel and/or Audirvana Plus ⁵
• Tag

Notes

1. The last Mac laptop or desktop to include a built-in optical drive. Also the last Mac to be readily accessible and serviceable. The late 2011 model can run Mac OS X 10.6 - 10.9. Includes an Ethernet port.
2. Review of the Schiit Audio Vali/Modi Stack
3. Despite claims to the contrary, the Modi (along with all Schiit DACs) does support integer mode according to Nick at Schiit Audio.
4. Mac OS X 10.6 and 10.9 support integer mode (which takes hog mode/exclusive access a step further by sending audio in the DAC's native format) while OS X 10.7 and 10.8 do not. See Integer Mode Is Back!! and Beyond bit-perfect: The importance of the Player Software And MAC OS X Playback Integer Mode for more information.
5. Reviews at Headfonia and 6moons.

2020 Update

• Vali 2 - Does not suffer from the high-pitch ringing of the original. Review.
  • Electro-Harmonix 6CG7 - Tube rolling!
• Modi 3 - Capable of 24/192 via USB, coax, and optical (the original maxed out at 24/96 over USB). Review.
• Audirvana 3.5

/mac | Jun 17, 2014

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