iMac & Sonos as multi input

[admin_exported]

I have an intel based iMac and a Sonos (ZP90) in the study and I like to listen to the Sonos while I work. But some of the time I want a high quality output from the iMac (Garage Band & Premiere Pro) so I have been looking at ways of getting better sound.

The most logical way would be the optical mini-jack output to the Arcam rDAC and then into an amp (I have a Naim 32.5 and NAP160 doing nothing at the moment) I would then do the same with the Sonos. All sounds good so far, except that when I'm listening to the Sonos (80% of the time) the iMac will be silent and I use the various audio cues (email, Skype etc) to work.

What I don't want to be doing is unplugging the mini-jack and plugging it back in whenever I want good iMac sound.

So, in an ideal world, there would be a way of blending the iMac & Sonos inputs to, or in, an amp so they are both active. I would just silence the Sonos when I wanted Garage Band or Premiere Pro from the Mac and then when listening to the Sonos, all the chirps and bells from the iMac would also be heard.

I have thought about a Maplin style mixer, but this makes a mockery of using such nice pieces of kit as the Arcam rDAC and the 32.5/NAP160.

I can't see a way around this and my fallback position is the rDAC/Naim combo and just switch between the two and accept that I can't hear the iMac when working, but I don't want to do this - an alternative would be for the Mac to direct the system noises to the computer internal speakers and others to the optical output, but I can't find any settings to allow me to do this.

Any thoughts?

FG

 

[The_Lhc]

Does the iMac have USB so you can use the input on the rDAC?

 

[Anonymous]

How about using the iMac itself as a mixer: it does have an Optical input if I remember correctly

 

[Anonymous]

tomvdp:How about using the iMac itself as a mixer: it does have an Optical input if I remember correctly

D'Oh - now why didn't I think of that one?

I'll see if I can explore that one today.

Thx

FG

 

[Anonymous]

You might end up needing a app like "LineIn" : http://www.rogueamoeba.com/freebies/

Actually I'd connect both the Optical and Coaxial from the Sonos: the Optical to the iMac so you can mix in the bells... the coaxial straight to the Arcam rDAC so you can still play music if your mac is off... (you'll just have to select a different input)

T

 

[Anonymous]

Problem solved - many thanks T

Line In works well for passing the Sonos TOSLink straight through and mixing it.

Just the rDAC now (and need to think about what speakers will work best in the space available and a NAP160)

Cheers

FG

 

[Anonymous]

rDAC and Lektor 1 speakers bought. I bought the Lektor 1s because of their reported 'friendliness' in tight spaces. The wall they need to go against is a party wall with the neighbours, so their lower bass profile was also attractive.

FG