Hello! 

I'm about to buy myself JBL lsr 305 studio monitors for music listening only! i dont mix or anything I just want to hear my music nice and clear. My question is, do i need an audio interface or a DAC for JUST music listening from my laptop. Will i be able to hear the difference in music quality if i just connect the monitors to a volume "knob" and straight to the pc rather than through the Audio inteerface/DAC.

Sorry havent talk or write in english for quite a while so sorry for any mistakes TY!

kkkzzzrrr said:

  Hello! 

I'm about to buy myself JBL lsr 305 studio monitors for music listening only! i dont mix or anything I just want to hear my music nice and clear. My question is, do i need an audio interface or a DAC for JUST music listening from my laptop. Will i be able to hear the difference in music quality if i just connect the monitors to a volume "knob" and straight to the pc rather than through the Audio inteerface/DAC.

Sorry havent talk or write in english for quite a while so sorry for any mistakes TY!

Click to expand...

 
Chances are the audio quality would improve if you connected a DAC between the laptop and the JBL LSR305 studio monitors.
There is the Hifiman Sabre U2 USB DAC (3.5mm jack), around $57 + shipping.
Schiit Modi (USB or optical) DAC, $99 + tax/shipping.
You would want to use mono 1/4" plugs for connecting to the 1/4" input on the LSR305.
And the DAC's output would use a 3.5mm stereo or RCA connection, depending what DAC you buy.
This would be an unbalanced connection (I doubt you would need to spend the extra for a DAC with a balanced connection)

So a DAC would be more appropriate than lets say a Focusrite scarlett solo audio interface? I've read somewhere that people use Focusrite audio interfaces also just for music listening because of the volume control and "better quallity sound"...

kkkzzzrrr said:

  So a DAC would be more appropriate than lets say a Focusrite Scarlett solo audio interface? I've read somewhere that people use Focusrite audio interfaces also just for music listening because of the volume control and "better quallity sound"...

Click to expand...

 
The Focusrite Scarlett Solo Audio Interface is a little more then just a "plain DAC", so part of the price of the Solo includes features you may not need.
I really doubt it offers better audio quality, over a simple DAC of the same price.