[eccdbb]

Is the Creative Soundblaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 SB1090 a good DAC for connecting my laptop to a headphone amp such as the Little Dot MK I+ or MK III? Is the TOSLINK output good for connecting to receivers/headphone amps, etc in terms of SQ?

 

[john5220]

yeah it is.

 

[FallenAngel]

Is it a good DAC : I wouldn't know, but wouldn't count on it at that price.

Is optical S/PDIF a good connection : coax is better.

You also asked about connecting optical toslink to a headphone amp, it's a digital protocol, headphone amps are analog so that wouldn't work. The only way to use toslink is if you're connecting to a DAC (Digital to Analog Converter), in which case, the DAC is performing 80% of the duties (20% still counts on quality of transport).

 

[eccdbb]

O right, I knew that. To be more specific then, is it a good DAC?

 

[FallenAngel]

Don't you also have a Zero DAC? That would be better.