I've been looking for a audiophile DAC, specifically was researching the Mojo2 when I came across a video talking about the mac dongle being better than it, total prick of a review and in the comments too.
But that got me thinking and so I plugged in my HD800 into the headphone out, apple music lossless stock. Soundstage and timbre is much better, the hardness has gone away, much more musical, I've been switching back and forth on the same passages over and over again, this is nuts.
I have a Lehmann BCL that I run with the RME, it can't compete with the power of the BCL but that's to be seen tomorrow when I find my leads to hook it up the MBP. I auditioned it via the BLC and the RME directly, going round robin.
The MBP sounds best. I need the RME for recording duties etc but I'm rather surprised, in a good way, I've had the mac for a year, a free upgrade!
Wow, I thing that's not been my personal life experience, though I have met tone deaf people.