Mac mini to Majestic via USB
Printed From: Graham Slee Hifi System Components
Category: Digital Audio
Forum Name: Computer Audio
Forum Description: Is computer audio here to stay or is it just another flavour of the month?
URL: https://www.hifisystemcomponents.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5787
Printed Date: 26 Mar 2026 at 10:54pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Mac mini to Majestic via USB
Posted By: morris_minor
Subject: Mac mini to Majestic via USB
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2025 at 2:40pm
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I was wondering if anyone here connects their computer to a Majestic via USB? I have a 2014 Mac Mini and decided to update the OS (from Catalina to Monterey). However it wouldn't take the update, reporting an unfixable error on the system drive and saying replace it asap. The thought of taking the Mini apart - seeing a step by step tutorial - fills me with dread  , and as it's over 10 years old, a new Mini beckons!However, the 2024 Mini doesn't have an optical digital out - which is how I connect my 2014 Mini to the Majestic. So - as the Majestic has a USB input, would simply replacing the optical cable with a USB C to B cable do the job? Or is there something I'm missing? Would the Mini just recognise the Majestic as an audio device? Any thoughts or help much appreciated! ------------- Bob Majestic DAC/pre-amp Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V Solo ULDE, Novo, Lautus USB and digital, Libran balanced, CuSat50 2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links |
Replies:
Posted By: BackinBlack
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2025 at 4:31pm
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Not missing anything Bob, it is that simple. I've been using a Windows laptop with USB to my Majestic for many years. The Majestic USB input is isolated which prevents potential earth loops. Sound is indistinguishable from the optical inputs (to me!). Ian ------------- Just listen, if it sounds good to you, enjoy it. |
Posted By: Chris Firth
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2025 at 5:30pm
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The Majestic will handle sample rates up to 48kHz through the USB input - it says so in the description. |
Posted By: BAK
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2025 at 5:52pm
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I use the USB from my Mac Mini and it does recognize the Majestic as "USB audio CODEC". It sounds marvelous! ------------- Bruce AT-14SA, Pickering XV-15, Hana EL, Technics SL-1600MK2, Lautus, Majestic DAC, Technics SH-8055 spectrum analyzer, Eminence Beta8A custom cabs; Proprius & Reflex M or C, Enjoy Life your way! |
Posted By: Fatmangolf
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2025 at 6:27pm
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I connect my Roon Nucleus to my Proprius with a USB cable from HFC. It shows as USB audio codec same as above. 48k. It sounds great to me. ------------- Jon Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC. |
Posted By: Chris Firth
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2025 at 7:09pm
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I don't dispute that it does sound great, but it does mean that some form of transcoding takes place in the computer in order to do play files if the file is native 24/96 or 24/192. Avoiding the use of DSP is always preferable, and transcoding is DSP. |
Posted By: BackinBlack
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2025 at 7:16pm
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I Know the spec says 48kHz, but something in the back of my mind said otherwise. I just checked and the USB input accepts 96kHz (24 bit). Whether there is some down conversion within the Majestic I cannot remember, I could plough all the way through the Majestic thread, but for now I'm just happy that it accepts the higher rate and sounds lovely.
------------- Just listen, if it sounds good to you, enjoy it. |
Posted By: Chris Firth
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2025 at 7:38pm
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Graham designed it to not require special drivers for Windows PCs, which means that it's 48 kHz by default. Windows running computers can only transmit high bitrates natively by installing specialised drivers to bypass the Windows mixer. If Windows doesn't recognise the receiving chipset as high bitrate capable it will always default to the base behaviour.
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Posted By: Chris Firth
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2025 at 7:46pm
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The last time I heard a Majestic was around at Graham's a good few years ago, as I'd taken a pair of speakers around. I had my Squeezebox Touch playing files off an SD card, some of which were CD rips, and some were 24/96 and 24/192 files, and things sounded excellent being transferred at native bitrates over coax S/PDIF.
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Posted By: morris_minor
Date Posted: 22 Feb 2025 at 9:34am
Many thanks to all for the replies! It was as I hoped - a USB C to B cable will do the trick  ------------- Bob Majestic DAC/pre-amp Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V Solo ULDE, Novo, Lautus USB and digital, Libran balanced, CuSat50 2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links |
Posted By: morris_minor
Date Posted: 22 Feb 2025 at 9:43am
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Chris mentioned a Squeezebox Touch . . . I've just replaced one of mine with a WiiM Ultra acting as a Roon endpoint. What a fantastic piece of kit that is - especially for the money. ------------- Bob Majestic DAC/pre-amp Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V Solo ULDE, Novo, Lautus USB and digital, Libran balanced, CuSat50 2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links |
Posted By: Ash
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2025 at 5:01pm
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I have also been tempted to try a base spec M4 Mac Mini and connect one of the USB-C/Thunderbolt ports to the Majestic USB via a Lautus USB cable, where I would use a small USB-C to USB-A adapter plug to plug the cable into the Mac Mini. I have been too preoccupied with my Ryzen x86-64 mini-PCs lately though. ------------- We do not see things as they are. We see things as we are. |
Posted By: Fatmangolf
Date Posted: 30 Aug 2025 at 5:45pm
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Ah, the shared joy of tech! I still have a GSP cable between my Nucleus Plus and Majestic. ------------- Jon Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC. |