How to connect Mac M1 Mini iTunes OUT to an AV receiver?

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Level 2

191 points

How to connect Mac M1 Mini iTunes OUT to an AV receiver?

I would like to be able to listen to my iTunes collection, acquired over many years, on my nearby audio receiver. I can't at the moment because the receiver came out before Airplay, and it doesn't do WiFi, and it doesn't have any inputs besides: Dual RCA jacks, Optical input, and S-video jacks. Period. No USB inputs, no Ethernet inputs. Meanwhile, most of the USB sound cards I find seem to be intended for the opposite purpose-routing audio INTO the computer rather than out. Can anyone help?

Mac mini, macOS 15.0

Posted on Nov 6, 2024 2:43 PM

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Answer 1

OldGoat67

Level 3

572 points

Nov 6, 2024 2:58 PM in response to Birck Cox

This is a very low-tech solution, but it looks like you have 2 choices on your M1 Mac Mini… headphone jack( so 3.5 mm stereo plug to dual RCA jacks ( looong cable) or USB Audio Output… USB-A 3.1 to Dual RCA plugs… max length seems to be 10 feet… on your M1 Mac Mini if you went that way, you’d have to make USB Audio your default Audio under “Audio Midi Setup” , that , plus the USB cable… make the connection between your M1Mac Mini amd your receiver when both are turned off/shut down… it could be extended with a dual RCA coupler plus a longer dual rca plug to plug cable

John B

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Answer 2

Birck Cox Author

Level 2

191 points

Nov 7, 2024 4:41 AM in response to OldGoat67

I agree. That's what I'm doing. Long USB cable to some kind of USB-to-audio-out device, aka a "USB external sound card" with a 3.5mm jack-to-dual RCA inputs on the receiver. Or I may need to use, as indicated below, a USB DAC. It baffles me that Apple concentrates its instructions on getting audio into the computer for storage as iTunes files, but offers very limited help for actually listening to those same iTunes files. Listen to them on the computer? The tinny little speakers on my Mac mini are about as effective as a tin-can telephone. It would have been helpful to know in advance what would be required to get a signal out to an actual AV receiver.

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Answer 3

varjak paw

Level 10

178,102 points

Nov 6, 2024 2:47 PM in response to Birck Cox

A stereo 3.5 mm to dual RCA cable connected from the headphone jack should work. Or if you want a higher-quality output, search the web for "USB DAC" and you'll find a number of options.

Regards.

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Answer 4

Birck Cox Author

Level 2

191 points

Nov 7, 2024 4:43 AM in response to varjak paw

Thanks. I think you are correct. I'm looking into getting a USB DAC.

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