Should I use a sound card if I use a DAC?

Does your pc have optic out, or only your sound card?

The second option is better. A pc sound card is in fact a DAC, but they are usually of mediocre quality and reside in the electrically noisy computer case. It's a waste to feed the output from your Parasound to your back to the sound card. The signal will just go through the output stage of the sound card and possibly be degraded in the process. Feeding your DAC from the optical out is the best you can do with your current equipment.

^ Ditto :P

Some might argue it doesn't matter which optic out you use, while others would say the opposite. If it makes extra burden on your computer to use the sound card when you don't have to.... you might be better off not using the sc. It depends on your preferences.

So your motherboard has coax and your sound card has optical? In that case, I suggest you just experiment with both and decide for yourself. I doubt either method will put extra strain on your computer.

If you want to keep the benefit of special sound effect (usually for games and movies) from your sound card, then use use the optical out on the card for sure. It will pass through all the extra. Of course since your Parasound is stereo only, You won't get surround sound out of it even though your sound card and pass through 5.1 or 7.1 signal.

As I said, experiment with all of them and see which one sounds better. Ultimately that's what matters. It's also possible that you won't hear any difference at all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhaedraCorruption 

I recently got a Parasound D/AC - 1000 and I'm scratching my head as to how to hook it up. Should I go from PC > Parasound DAC > Onix A-120MKII Amp or PC > Soundcard > Parasound DAC > Onix A-120MKII Amp?

I will be useing Optical hookup as my X-Fi Titanium does not give me coax

wouldnt you go x-fi (optical out)  > dac  > rca's to > amp  > headphones ....  ?

thats assuming the parasound has optical in.

You should try optical out of both motherboard and add-on card and see which one you like better. It is entirely possible for each to have very different sounds signitures. Maybe if you have a cd/dvd player laying around( I got one at the pawn shop for next to nothing/ Marantz DV6500 for $45 ) you could do some comparing to see where you're at wrt the computer. I have found that it takes a lot (for me and within my rig ) to equal even a cheap cd player by using a computer(not impossible and I don't mean to take away from your listening enjoyment.) Obviously by purchasing the Parasound you are looking to step up your listening experience. I have never heard the 1000, but have owned both 1600 and 2000 and they respond well to an async computer transport, and do quite nicely with a cd transport.

Have fun with it, and try different stuff out. If you have a digital coax try that also. You never know until you listen for yourself.