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Help needed from audiophiles - connecting digital to analogue converter to PC

 
Urban Mythbuster
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06/25/2020 05:15 PM
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Help needed from audiophiles - connecting digital to analogue converter to PC
Can somebody give me a few pointers here please?

I just got 2 DACs because the sound from my computer is not loud enough/clear enough for my liking. I intend to output the sound to headphones.

With both of these DACs, I got a USB cable - but nothing else.

My question is - is the USB cable meant to supply BOTH the power AND the audio (from my computer), to the DAC? - or will I need to plug in another type of cable as well, such as optical/coaxial/RCA or the like, to transfer the audio from the PC to the DAC?

Any help would be muchly appreciated 5a
The chariots of God are tens of thousands, and thousands of thousands.
MountainTux NLI

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06/25/2020 05:17 PM

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Re: Help needed from audiophiles - connecting digital to analogue converter to PC
That would depend on the model, but typically a straight-up basic DAC will be powered via the USB port, so you don't need any other cables - USB provides a power pinout as well as data transfer.

penguin
ad ignorantiam - The assumption of a conclusion or fact based primarily on lack of evidence to the contrary. Usually best described by, “absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.”
Urban Mythbuster  (OP)

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06/25/2020 05:23 PM
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Re: Help needed from audiophiles - connecting digital to analogue converter to PC
That would depend on the model, but typically a straight-up basic DAC will be powered via the USB port, so you don't need any other cables - USB provides a power pinout as well as data transfer.

penguin
 Quoting: MountainTux NLI


Thanks. That's what I thought

But when I go to the sound/device settings in control panel, it recognises the DAC, and says it is working correctly - even gives the 'test beep' when prompted. But when I try to listen to any sound source such as youtube or the mp3 files on my computer - nothing!

rant

Any idea what more I need to do?

Thanks 5a
The chariots of God are tens of thousands, and thousands of thousands.
Tyrone Slothrop

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06/25/2020 05:23 PM
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Re: Help needed from audiophiles - connecting digital to analogue converter to PC
I think you mean analog to digital converter. Oh, you're going out not in.

Last Edited by Shithead Tyrone Slothrop on 06/25/2020 05:24 PM
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MountainTux NLI

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06/25/2020 05:24 PM

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Re: Help needed from audiophiles - connecting digital to analogue converter to PC
I think you mean analog to digital converter.
 Quoting: Tyrone Slothrop


No, he means DAC - Digital to Analog Converter... exactly what he said.

:|

penguin
ad ignorantiam - The assumption of a conclusion or fact based primarily on lack of evidence to the contrary. Usually best described by, “absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.”
Anonymous Coward
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06/25/2020 05:25 PM
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Re: Help needed from audiophiles - connecting digital to analogue converter to PC
Update your BIOS/firmware
MountainTux NLI

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06/25/2020 05:25 PM

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Re: Help needed from audiophiles - connecting digital to analogue converter to PC
That would depend on the model, but typically a straight-up basic DAC will be powered via the USB port, so you don't need any other cables - USB provides a power pinout as well as data transfer.

penguin
 Quoting: MountainTux NLI


Thanks. That's what I thought

But when I go to the sound/device settings in control panel, it recognises the DAC, and says it is working correctly - even gives the 'test beep' when prompted. But when I try to listen to any sound source such as youtube or the mp3 files on my computer - nothing!

rant

Any idea what more I need to do?

Thanks 5a
 Quoting: Urban Mythbuster


Are you selecting your output source - your "speaker" as it were- and choosing the DAC?

Click on speaker in the toolbar, and see what output sources it provides.

penguin
ad ignorantiam - The assumption of a conclusion or fact based primarily on lack of evidence to the contrary. Usually best described by, “absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.”
Anonymous Coward
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06/25/2020 05:27 PM
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Re: Help needed from audiophiles - connecting digital to analogue converter to PC
That would depend on the model, but typically a straight-up basic DAC will be powered via the USB port, so you don't need any other cables - USB provides a power pinout as well as data transfer.

penguin
 Quoting: MountainTux NLI


Thanks. That's what I thought

But when I go to the sound/device settings in control panel, it recognises the DAC, and says it is working correctly - even gives the 'test beep' when prompted. But when I try to listen to any sound source such as youtube or the mp3 files on my computer - nothing!

rant

Any idea what more I need to do?

Thanks 5a
 Quoting: Urban Mythbuster

Give us the device brand and series number, let us look it up for you, i suspect you have to install a converter.
Anonymous Coward
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06/25/2020 05:27 PM
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Re: Help needed from audiophiles - connecting digital to analogue converter to PC
Your sound card doesn't have 8th inch analog audio out ports? Is your sound card extremely new or something?
Maguyver
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06/25/2020 05:27 PM

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Re: Help needed from audiophiles - connecting digital to analogue converter to PC
What are you using as a power source? Some DAC's have battery supply for and internal headphone amp. Others will need to output to an amplifier of some sort.

There are some really slick tube headphone amps out there.

cheers
Adversity is inevitable, misery is optional.

Do or do not. There is no try.

"The enemy will never attack where you are strongest...He will attack where you are weakest. If you do not know your weakest point, be certain, your enemy will." Sun Tzu
Maguyver
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06/25/2020 05:34 PM

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Re: Help needed from audiophiles - connecting digital to analogue converter to PC
Your sound card doesn't have 8th inch analog audio out ports? Is your sound card extremely new or something?
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 69227895


The DAC will usually bypass the internal sound card, just using the usb for the digital input alone, to convert to an analog output and amplify that signal.

It's a real clean way to listen to digital recordings.

cheers
Adversity is inevitable, misery is optional.

Do or do not. There is no try.

"The enemy will never attack where you are strongest...He will attack where you are weakest. If you do not know your weakest point, be certain, your enemy will." Sun Tzu
Urban Mythbuster  (OP)

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06/25/2020 05:41 PM
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Re: Help needed from audiophiles - connecting digital to analogue converter to PC
Got it! Thanks 5a5a5a
The chariots of God are tens of thousands, and thousands of thousands.
MountainTux NLI

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06/25/2020 05:50 PM

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Re: Help needed from audiophiles - connecting digital to analogue converter to PC
Got it! Thanks 5a5a5a
 Quoting: Urban Mythbuster


What was the issue, OP? Curious :)

cheers

penguin
ad ignorantiam - The assumption of a conclusion or fact based primarily on lack of evidence to the contrary. Usually best described by, “absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.”
Anonymous Coward
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06/25/2020 05:51 PM
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Re: Help needed from audiophiles - connecting digital to analogue converter to PC
Your sound card doesn't have 8th inch analog audio out ports? Is your sound card extremely new or something?
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 69227895


The DAC will usually bypass the internal sound card, just using the usb for the digital input alone, to convert to an analog output and amplify that signal.

It's a real clean way to listen to digital recordings.

cheers
 Quoting: Maguyver


I suppose 24 bit flacs require something like this? I don't purchase those hi-rez albums because I don't have anything that will play it at 24bit :P Is there anything else someone needs to play at 24bit?

I suspepct that USB can introduce interference on some boards, maybe a pcie sound card would work better?
Anonymous Coward
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06/25/2020 05:53 PM
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Re: Help needed from audiophiles - connecting digital to analogue converter to PC
That would depend on the model, but typically a straight-up basic DAC will be powered via the USB port, so you don't need any other cables - USB provides a power pinout as well as data transfer.

penguin
 Quoting: MountainTux NLI


Thanks. That's what I thought

But when I go to the sound/device settings in control panel, it recognises the DAC, and says it is working correctly - even gives the 'test beep' when prompted. But when I try to listen to any sound source such as youtube or the mp3 files on my computer - nothing!

rant

Any idea what more I need to do?

Thanks 5a
 Quoting: Urban Mythbuster


Are you selecting your output source - your "speaker" as it were- and choosing the DAC?

Click on speaker in the toolbar, and see what output sources it provides.

penguin
 Quoting: MountainTux NLI


Dis ^^
Urban Mythbuster  (OP)

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06/25/2020 08:47 PM
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Re: Help needed from audiophiles - connecting digital to analogue converter to PC
Got it! Thanks 5a5a5a
 Quoting: Urban Mythbuster


What was the issue, OP? Curious :)

cheers

penguin
 Quoting: MountainTux NLI


I hadn't made the correct output device the default lol
The chariots of God are tens of thousands, and thousands of thousands.
Urban Mythbuster  (OP)

User ID: 45171975
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06/25/2020 08:48 PM
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Re: Help needed from audiophiles - connecting digital to analogue converter to PC
Your sound card doesn't have 8th inch analog audio out ports? Is your sound card extremely new or something?
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 69227895


The DAC will usually bypass the internal sound card, just using the usb for the digital input alone, to convert to an analog output and amplify that signal.

It's a real clean way to listen to digital recordings.

cheers
 Quoting: Maguyver


Definitely a major improvement....depending on what res it was originally recorded in, of course
The chariots of God are tens of thousands, and thousands of thousands.
Maguyver
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User ID: 69719679
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06/26/2020 10:29 AM

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Re: Help needed from audiophiles - connecting digital to analogue converter to PC
Your sound card doesn't have 8th inch analog audio out ports? Is your sound card extremely new or something?
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 69227895


The DAC will usually bypass the internal sound card, just using the usb for the digital input alone, to convert to an analog output and amplify that signal.

It's a real clean way to listen to digital recordings.

cheers
 Quoting: Maguyver


Definitely a major improvement....depending on what res it was originally recorded in, of course
 Quoting: Urban Mythbuster


That's the achilles heel of great sound reproduction. One can really tell the difference in engineering quality.

cheers
Adversity is inevitable, misery is optional.

Do or do not. There is no try.

"The enemy will never attack where you are strongest...He will attack where you are weakest. If you do not know your weakest point, be certain, your enemy will." Sun Tzu





GLP