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DAC/AMP for AudioEngine A5

post #1 of 30
6/23/11 at 3:37pm
Thread Starter 

I'm going to get the AudioEngine A5 Speakers. Now I'm looking for a decent DAC to accompany them as I have a dell laptop with a crappy sound card.

 

I'm planning on buying some decent headphones in the near future so it would be nice to have some kind of portable DAC/amp solution so I can kill two birds with one stone.

 

I've seen both the NuForce Icon mobile and FiiO E7 + E9 combo suggested.

 

Wouldn't this mean I'll be bi-amping my speakers, is this a bad idea?

 

What are your recommendations?

 

Also I'd be open to going with a non-mobile solution at around the same price range if the sound quality produced was really leagues ahead of a mobile DAC/amp.

 

Thanks.

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post #2 of 30
6/23/11 at 8:35pm

I've been using Nuforce HDP (DAC / AMP) with my A5 and it works as a pre-amp and it's not a bad idea.

 

Just got the new DACPort LX (DAC only, in the same price range as the HDP) today and after some brief A/B'ing I have only noticed very minor changes like better treble extension with the DACPort, so I suspect different DACs aren't going to radically change the sound of the A5 and you may try out a more affordable option first. (e.g. just getting the E7 without E9)

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post #3 of 30
6/23/11 at 11:41pm

You cannot bi-amp the AudioEngine 5 speakers, as they are powered. 

The A5's are not built in the way of bi-amplification.

 

You already have an amp and speakers. Which is pretty much the A5's themselves.

 

You will need a DAC if you want to go beyond onboard sound quality.

 

I'm using my A5's with a Maverick Audio D1. Sounds really good. 

This is my poor man's set up.

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post #4 of 30
6/23/11 at 11:52pm

Bi amp =/= double amplification

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post #5 of 30
6/24/11 at 12:02am
Thread Starter 

So if I use a DAC that is also an amp, will this be benefitial in anyway to the A5's.

 

I'm just trying to find a set up that makes the most of the A5's

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post #6 of 30
6/24/11 at 12:13am

Well, the DAC portion might be useful, since you describe your current sound card as "crappy".

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post #7 of 30
6/24/11 at 1:17am
Thread Starter 

Any solid recommendatons of anyone? And good reasoning why you beleive that is the best option?

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post #8 of 30
6/24/11 at 5:51am

what about StyleAudio Carat-RUBY2 and HRT streamer 2? anw use before?

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post #9 of 30
6/24/11 at 9:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ashlewis87 View Post

So if I use a DAC that is also an amp, will this be benefitial in anyway to the A5's.

 

I'm just trying to find a set up that makes the most of the A5's



For purposes of driving your A5's, you will want to use a DAC with a line out.  I'm not sure what you mean by this, but I assume that you mean that you would be using a DAC with an amp integrated, and that you'd be driving your A5's essentially with the headphone out.  This isn't the best way, but there are certainly products out there (e.g. CEntrance DACPort) which work pretty well IMHO in this application.

 

Generally speaking, however, you want a line-level signal (i.e. no amplified gain).  Your A5's are already amped, so introducing a second amplified signal is not only unnecessary but will generally speaking (but not always...see exception listed above) produce a degraded signal.

 

A setup that makes the most of the A5's will provide a good clean line-level signal.  The A5's will do the rest.

 

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post #10 of 30
6/24/11 at 3:47pm
Thread Starter 

This is exactly what I was getting at, thanks for clearing that up elrod-tom.

 

Has anyone come across a decent DAC that works well with the A5's, my budget is no more than $200, but would like to save where possible.
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by elrod-tom View Post





For purposes of driving your A5's, you will want to use a DAC with a line out.  I'm not sure what you mean by this, but I assume that you mean that you would be using a DAC with an amp integrated, and that you'd be driving your A5's essentially with the headphone out.  This isn't the best way, but there are certainly products out there (e.g. CEntrance DACPort) which work pretty well IMHO in this application.

 

Generally speaking, however, you want a line-level signal (i.e. no amplified gain).  Your A5's are already amped, so introducing a second amplified signal is not only unnecessary but will generally speaking (but not always...see exception listed above) produce a degraded signal.

 

A setup that makes the most of the A5's will provide a good clean line-level signal.  The A5's will do the rest.

 



 

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post #11 of 30
6/24/11 at 5:09pm

The fiio E7 & E9, I use it with my speaker set-up it works well and outputs the standard 2vrms from the rca lineout, the 3.5mm is controlable with the volume pot 0-2vrms., it will also power any headphones you buy in the future.


Edited by JRG1990 - 6/24/11 at 5:10pm
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post #12 of 30
6/24/11 at 5:50pm

might I suggest that you run them out of the laptop? I have an old  MacBook Pro and I am constantly surprised by the level of sound these speakers put out. If not I heard the Pro-ject usb box and found it pretty sweet

 

http://www.sumikoaudio.net/project/products/project_design_boxes.htm

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post #13 of 30
6/24/11 at 7:32pm

The tube pre-outs on the Maverick D1 are pretty good. I use it with my A2's

 

The headphone amp on it is somewhat noisy though

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post #14 of 30
6/26/11 at 8:04am

HRT Streamer is a very good bet.

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post #15 of 30
6/26/11 at 1:00pm
Thread Starter 

Ok so I've bought my A5s and put them on some stands, they look nice :D and sound good, stlll tinkering with positioning, plus I'm buying a few big items of furniture, couch, rug etc, the room is a little echoey right now, especially since it's wooden floors, so will find optimal positioning once Ive got those.

 

I went to a music store and spoke to a guy there about which DAC to get. He wouldnt stop going on about the Apogee One and how he thinks all other options sub 200dollars just wont compete with this usb interface. Seeing as i wont be recording anything do you agree with him?

 

 

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