Hi guys, just joined this forum for some advice. I’ve just pulled the trigger on a Supernait 2, not received it yet. I have a CD player but primarily I play Apple Music through my iMac. I connect with a stereo lead to RCA’s, (don’t shoot me down) Would this work ok or should I get a DAC for between the 2? Excuse my ignorance, this is all new to me… 
It will work, but it’s far from ideal. All it will do really is expose the weakness of the source. Better would be direct a slice of the budget to a DAC that will try to make best of the output from the iMac. Does your CD player allow a digital or USB input at all?
There are great prices on used NDX2 network streamers. I have one with my SN2. It makes for a great combination.
Hi Richard, thanks for your reply. I’m not sure if the CD player does have a digital or USB input. I can check. I’ll probably upgrade the CD player to a Naim in time.
I’ve just seen a NAIM ND5 XS network music player/streamer/DAC on ebay which doesn’t seem too expensive. So that would do the job?
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The ND5XS uses very old tech, and has no support for Apple Music, so the streaming section of the device would be of limited use to you.
You would be able to use it as a DAC by connecting your Mac, but only if the Mac has a suitable SPDIF output which many of them don’t.
A separate DAC without the streamer would be all you need if you want to use your Mac to play Apple Music. The only suitable Naim option would be the (discontinued) V1, which was designed specifically for this purpose and could use a USB connection. There are lots of non-Naim options too, of course.
Mac into a Topping E30 Dac via USB then RCA into your SN3.
Job done, £100 ish.
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I run an old Surface Pro 4 through an ifi Zen dac into my Supernait 2. The ifi is about £100 and gives good enough results.
Usb to zen and phono to Din to SN2.
Some Macs also do optical out via the 3.5 mm port, my 2013 Mac Pro does.
Have a look at the specs on the apple web site.
Also an Eve Play might be of some use.