[kpeezy]

What connectivity options for a DAC am I limited to when using a PC? Am I limited to only USB

 

[NiceCans]

no, not at all . . . . you have possibilities of:
USB
SPDIF
Optical
depending upon soundcard or motherboard

 

[sejarzo]

You can run an internal sound card with a S/PDIF coax or optical TOSLINK output feeding virtually any DAC out there, but I think your question is really about an all-in-one solution. You can find a lot of answers if you look at the semi-pro/home studio recording side of the audio gear business, though.

There are many FireWire units out there in addition to USB units. In fact, when most home/semi-pro recordists started out in computer-based recording, they were on Macs, and FireWire was the preferred interface. That seems to be changing, but before running into some parts issues, Apogee seemed to be abandoning the USB version of the Mini-DAC in favor of a strictly FireWire interface. (In their case, the USB interface was limited to a maximum 48 kHz sample rate, and the FW version could go to 192 kHz.)

If you want an outboard DAC versus an internal soundcard, and a unit that is compatible with both notebooks and PC's, then you are pretty much stuck with USB or FireWire--it seems as if most manufacturers are abandoning the topology of a proprietary PCI-card interface coupled to an outboard unit with processing/DAC capabilities.

Other than USB or FW, what other ports do you have on your PC, anyway?

 

[slwiser]

You also can have XLR digital connection for AES/EBU which my Lavry reads as SPDIF.

 

[kpeezy]

Well, I have a bad integrated sound card and I was hoping to not upgrade it. So usb it is?

 

[slwiser]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kpeezy /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well, I have a bad integrated sound card and I was hoping to not upgrade it. So usb it is?

Check out the HagTech Hagusb device at www.hagtech.com .

 

[kpeezy]

I like the idea of that Hagerman product.. Sidesteps my integrated sound problem, but it's an additional $130

We'll see.

 

[TheShaman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kpeezy /img/forum/go_quote.gif I like the idea of that Hagerman product.. Sidesteps my integrated sound problem, but it's an additional $130 We'll see.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheShaman /img/forum/go_quote.gif Just bumped into this UD-10.1 alternative... The HagUSB now comes with an XLR output as well! Check it out here. Both use the Burr Brown PCM2704 for USB audio conversion but the Trends seems more flexible (more outputs) and also features the option to power it using an external PS which I assume would give better sound.

They both have the same price so, for me, the Trends wins hands down.

 

[kpeezy]

That basically converts USB to something else that I could plug into a DAC right? If I could get a nice DAC for low cost, then I would be fine with purchasing a product like this. Are there any other options for devices like this? $130 is quite a bit

Edit: I would like to keep the price on this device as low as possible. Also, I play flac files and it seems that matters with these devices from what I've seen

Another Edit: The M-Audio Audiophile looks nice and it's going for around $70 on ebay. Thoughts?

 

[sejarzo]

Simple.......buy the E-MU 0404 USB. If you don't like it as a DAC, you can use the digital outputs to drive a different DAC (as long as your player apps supports ASIO) or you can sell it here in a virtual instant at little loss in $$$.

 

[kpeezy]

Well.. a Zhaolu 2.5A went up for sale so I snagged it

I'm just going to get the M-Audio Audiophile USB. I think this will be better in the long run.. It will open up my options for DACs for less $$$ than the 0404. Maybe I'm wrong though. Either way, what's done is done

I really didn't even think about using the 0404 as a converter. I think I'll be happy anyways

 

[krmathis]

Besides USB there are:
* S/PDIF (coaxial or optical. using RCA, BNC, TOSLINK, miniplug, ...)
* AES/EBU (using XLR, RCA)
* FireWire

 

[kpeezy]

Well, I'll use the M-Audio Audiophile USB to convert my USB to s/pdif and then plug into my DAC. From there to my amp and then into my headphones. Without upgrading my internal sound card, this seems like the only option for me. Then again, I'm new and don't know a lot of this

 

[fwojciec]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kpeezy /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well, I'll use the M-Audio Audiophile USB to convert my USB to s/pdif and then plug into my DAC. From there to my amp and then into my headphones. Without upgrading my internal sound card, this seems like the only option for me. Then again, I'm new and don't know a lot of this

That sounds like a complicated solution (and potentially jitter increasing, if this is something that worries you), especially considering that AV710 card which is perfectly competent at sending spdif signal out costs something like $14 + shipping at newegg these days.

 

[kpeezy]

Well then, what are the pros and cons of the M-Audio Audiophile (which seems very well liked) and upgrading my internal soundcard? Output options seems like a big one difference.