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Is this setup going to work?

post #1 of 6
1/3/12 at 2:39pm
Thread Starter 

I see that most DACs have limited outputs (some with 1xRCA some with 1xRCA + 1xXLR, etc), but I want to connect a pair of active monitors (XLR) and possibly a headphone amp (RCA) to one DAC with volume control, so I would need two outputs. The music source will be a MacBook Pro straight to the DAC most likely via USB. I don't have the DAC or the headphone amp yet.

 

So does anyone have a setup like this? MacBook > DAC > active montors + headphone amp?

 

For instance, could I do this with the Benchmark DAC1 USB for example? I'm concerned that volume control may be an issue since the headphone amps typically have volume control whereas I would need the DAC to control the volume of the active monitors.

 

Please advise. Thanks.

 

 

 

 

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post #2 of 6
1/3/12 at 7:55pm

Doesn't the Benchmark already have XLR outputs and a built-in headphone amp? Why not just feed the speakers through XLR and use the Benchmark as a headphone amp?

I thought the functionality was one of the main selling points for that piece.

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post #3 of 6
1/3/12 at 9:07pm
Thread Starter 

Good point. I'm just thinking if 1) I wasn't happy with the Benchmark headphone amp or 2) I end up going with a different DAC that has a substandard headphone amp. Just want to make sure I can effectively add in a seperate amp if I need to.

 

So in other words, if I connect a dedicated headphone amp to a DAC (which outputs are variable) then what would one set the volume control to on the DAC since both the volume control on the DAC and the volume control on the headphone amp would be active?

 

Thanks.

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post #4 of 6
1/4/12 at 2:49am

A DAC technically doesn't have volume control. The Benchmark USB, for instance, is called a DAC, but it really is more like a 3-in-1 unit. You can actually break up the components of your system however you want. For instance, use a DAC just for conversion, then a head amp as a pre into your speakers.Your answer here is kinda system-dependent. A DAC/pre combo can just be used as a straight up DAC. If you're worried about volume, that can always be turned down. But do you actually want a combo unit as opposed to separate pieces? That's maybe a more relevant question.


Edited by atothex - 1/4/12 at 2:51am
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post #5 of 6
1/5/12 at 7:34am

The benchmark can be configured to not use the volume control on the front panel.  From the manual:

 

VARIABLE GAIN CONTROL:
The front-panel gain control always controls the output level of the headphone jacks. It can also be used to control
the output levels of the balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA analog outputs.  A rear-panel switch selects Variable
or Calibrated output levels.  In Variable mode the analog output levels are controlled from the front-panel control.  
In Calibrated mode the analog output levels are controlled from a pair of 10-turn trimmers (located on the rear
panel).

 

 

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post #6 of 6
1/5/12 at 2:14pm
Thread Starter 

Can the RCA output be adjusted to Calibrated at the same time the XLR output is adjusted to Variable? Or do both outputs have to be the same? 

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