McIntosh data ports
 

With no C53 on the horizon with me, Ive taken to fiddling about with my system. I updated the USB driver on the unit, no more dropouts on the Aurender. I decided to take a look at the triggers. I have the trigger one going to the source components and trigger two going to the MC452. It works but not to my liking. I pulled out the manual and it shows using the data ports with the power ports, what does this do ? Whats a data cable look like and what does it do ?

Data ports/cables are no different than power trigger cables. Data ports carry/transmit remote control signals from the pre-amp/processor to sources.

They are both 1/8” mono mini male to male cables.

Thanks Ivan

I’m using stereo mini rather than mono mini, both work. Just easier to find cool looking stereo mini if you’re into “pretty” cables.

These are handy when you have all of your components in a rack in another room than the one you listen in. One IR receiver in the listening area feeds the preamp and then the correct control signals are routed to the correct source units as necessary.

When the components are looking at you, there's no point in connecting them.

Can be a benefit. For instance, with c1100/d1100/mct500 combo, there is a special control cable from c1100 to D1100, but you use the standard cable(s) to connect the d1100 to the CT500 transport, one for control, one as a power trigger. Now, the c1100 remote will control the dac and the transport, as well as switching them off/on when it is powered off/on.

You're talking triggers. I'm talking data ports.

Triggers are absolutely useful in all installations.

Triggers for power, data ports for control. In my transport, I use both.