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I've got a few questions on DAC's..

post #1 of 7
11/7/10 at 9:26am
Thread Starter 

Hi there,

 

I've recently been having a few questions regarding DAC's and how they work when hooked up to other sources

 

Lets start with the computer as a source:

 

I just ordered the E-mu 0404 DAC. I intend go computer > 0404 DAC > Int. Amp > Speakers

A friend recently told me that having the external DAC won't do anything. He is saying that even if you have an external DAC, using a 3.5mm stereo jack from your computer will disregard your shiny brand new DAC and use the crappy one it already has.

 

This doesn't seem to make any sense at all. Why then do people buy an external DAC in the first place?

 

He is saying the same about using an iPod as a source. I plan to go iPod > line out dock > 0404 DAC > 0404 headphone amp > headphones. He says that no matter what, the iPod will still utilize its internal DAC.

 

Is this accurate? if so, then I ask again what the point is in buying an external DAC for your ipod or computer?

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post #2 of 7
11/7/10 at 9:37am

You will bypass using your computer's built in soundcard/dac by using the EMU; there's possibility of noise, cheap production, cheap parts, poor circuit design, sharing its power with computer components, etc.

 

iPod to LOD is subject to the DAC of the ipod due to its design, the line-out of the ipod is analog only.  I believe with the iPad you can get around this.  In other words ipod to dac doesn't really make a whole lot of sense, it won't work because your feeding the dac which uses a digital signal, the analog signal of the ipod LOD.


Edited by Mr.Sneis - 11/7/10 at 9:38am
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post #3 of 7
11/7/10 at 9:43am
Thread Starter 

 

Not 'bypassing' it per se. I'd just like to be able to plug the e-mu into the computer and use the e-mu's dac instead of my computer's onboard dac by choosing the e-mu as the output device.

 

And ok, thanks for the info on the ipod. I suppose then buying an external dac for my ipod is useless? 

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post #4 of 7
11/7/10 at 9:59am

Delete


Edited by labrat - 9/15/11 at 2:57pm
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post #5 of 7
11/7/10 at 10:04am
Thread Starter 

Ohh I see, thanks! So I can still plug my E-mu 0404 into my computer using USB/SPDIF, and it will use its own DAC (bypassing the onboard one from my computer)?

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post #6 of 7
11/7/10 at 10:12am

Delete


Edited by labrat - 9/15/11 at 2:54pm
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post #7 of 7
11/7/10 at 10:16am
Thread Starter 

Fantastic, thank you very much!

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