Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Computer Audio › Onboard optical out vs. USB DAC
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Onboard optical out vs. USB DAC

post #1 of 4
1/14/11 at 6:40pm
Thread Starter 

I apologize if I'm just overlooking something in the archives, but I wonder - 

 

I have a decent stereo receiver that I notice can take an optical digital audio input. Would a USB DAC (such as the Fiio e7) provide much of an advantage over just using my onboard Realtek HD's optical output and plugging it into the receiver?

Reply
post #2 of 4
1/14/11 at 9:16pm

I doubt the E7 would much of an audible improvement in that case, if at all.

I would stick with the receiver.

 

An upgrade would be something like a NFB-3 DAC.

Reply
post #3 of 4
1/14/11 at 10:28pm

Agreed. A good USB interface such as the M2Tech Evo or Audiophilleo1/2 coupled to a good outboard DAC will be way, way better than almost any receiver. And the Bel Canto 1.5 USB DAC sounds very well to my ears. It's driving a set of powered studio monitors, and also has a headphone amp, which I haven't listened to yet.

Reply
post #4 of 4
1/15/11 at 12:57am

optical out to amp is fine.   prob better than USB.  if u wnat to improve the sound, then go optical out to a DAC, then Dac analog to Amp.  The quality of sound is dependent on how well your amp convert digital signal into analog music.  

 

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Computer Audio
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Computer Audio › Onboard optical out vs. USB DAC