I've been wondering for a while if one needs a balanced soundcard as well in a balanced rig. I'm currently using a Auzen Bravura 7.1 connected to my Yulong D100 balanced DAC via Toslink. Would there be any advantage by going for AES?
Balanced Digital Out needed for a balanced rig?
- Thread starter reiserFS
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Xan7hos
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Depends on how well the Yulong implements the Toslink and viceversa. Generally AES and SPDIF are considered better choices due to better control of jitter.
If you're looking for a completely balanced setup, then the digital signal does not need to be balanced, only during the D/A conversion the analog output needs to be balanced, so you would need either a soundcard with XLR balanced outputs, or a balanced DAC.
So it would either be Balanced SoundCard -> XLR Cable -> Balanced Amp -> Balanced headphone cable -> Headphone
or
USB/Digital Signal -> Balanced DAC -> XLR Cable -> Balanced Amp -> Balanced Headphone Cable -> headphone
Sometimes you can get away with having balanced drive (i.e. an amp that accepts RCA inputs but still outputs a balanced signal), but this wouldn't be considered true/completely balanced setup
If you're looking for a completely balanced setup, then the digital signal does not need to be balanced, only during the D/A conversion the analog output needs to be balanced, so you would need either a soundcard with XLR balanced outputs, or a balanced DAC.
So it would either be Balanced SoundCard -> XLR Cable -> Balanced Amp -> Balanced headphone cable -> Headphone
or
USB/Digital Signal -> Balanced DAC -> XLR Cable -> Balanced Amp -> Balanced Headphone Cable -> headphone
Sometimes you can get away with having balanced drive (i.e. an amp that accepts RCA inputs but still outputs a balanced signal), but this wouldn't be considered true/completely balanced setup
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