Quote:
Originally Posted by
curtisinoc 
(I'm obviously very new to this "audio stuff" so please don't beat me up too bad . . .) 
Just ordered an external AMP/DAC (fiio e10) to use with my iMac (2011). When I receive it in a few days, I will connect it to my iMac (usb) and plug in my headphones to the fiio.
Questions:
- I'm assuming that all of my audio will now be controlled using the fiio e10 volume control knob?
- Will the computer volume control now be obsolete & disabled (keyboard volume controls)?
- If I occasionally want audio to come through the built in iMac speakers and not thru headphones connected to the amp/dac, is this possible?
- Should I set the computer volume at a certain level (100%?) prior to connecting my fiio e10?
Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I'll take a shot at it.
1) You can control the audio on both the amp/dac and the computer. Best to put computer at 75-100% and control through the amp though in case you accidentally turn up the computer volume from 20% to 100% while having the amp volume knob at 80% or something. It can blow something or the least, scare the crap out of you.
2) See above. I believe they will be still functional.
3) If you want the sound to come from the built-in iMac speakers, you would have to go to System Preferences and go to Sound and click the output that you want, which would be the onboard sound. However, it will not be going through the DAC so you'll just be running regular iMac soundcard sound.
4) See above.
I could be wrong but I'm pretty certain about these questions. Anyone else feel free to chime in if I missed anything.
