DAC or DAC/AMP for Audioengine A5+ ?

[maxguy]

Just got my A5+...now thinking to buy a DAC to replace my on-board sound card. As I read through the manual and it says do not connect the A5+ to an amp, so i was thinking my choice of DAC can't be those with amp function together? Eg. i can't use Fiio E10?
What is the recommended DAC for budget $100?

 

[HUM24H]

Hi,
 
You could spend an extra $69 for the AudioEngine D1 which is a USB DAC or you can get the Schiit Modi USB DAC for $99 
 
Schiit Modi:
http://www.amazon.com/Modi-USB-Digital-Analog-Convertor/dp/B00CICPN0K/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&qid=1388591274&sr=8-18&keywords=usb+dac

 

[PurpleAngel]

  Just got my A5+...now thinking to buy a DAC to replace my on-board sound card. As I read through the manual and it says do not connect the A5+ to an amp, so i was thinking my choice of DAC can't be those with amp function together? Eg. i can't use Fiio E10?
What is the recommended DAC for budget $100?

The FiiO E10 comes with both a 3.5mm headphone amplifier output and a 3.5mm line-output, which could be connected to the Audioengine A5+.
A 3.5mm male to 3.5mm male or 3.5mm male to RCA (red/white) cable could connect the E10 to the A5+.

 

[Shaffer]

FWIW, I use a Modi with my A5+.

 

[GaryWA]

Do you need a headphone amp as well or just a DAC? You can't go wrong with the Modi as a DAC, and you could definitely add in a Magni in the future if you want as well.

 

[maxguy]

So those E10 or the Magni are just headphone amp and not classified as a amp? This is because i am concern with this note from the manual :
 
As the Audioengine 5+ speaker system includes built-in power ampli-
ers, do not connect the speaker terminals to the speaker outputs of a
stereo receiver or amplifier
 
The last wording 'amplifier' is not referring to Magni in this case?

 

[Shaffer]

So those E10 or the Magni are just headphone amp and not classified as a amp? This is because i am concern with this note from the manual :

As the Audioengine 5+ speaker system includes built-in power ampli-

ers, do not connect the speaker terminals to the speaker outputs of a

stereo receiver or amplifier

The last wording 'amplifier' is not referring to Magni in this case?

You'd run a RCA Y-connector out of the DAC - one interconnect to the speakers and the other to the headphone amp like the Magni. If the amp has a line-out, that signal can go to the speakers instead of using a Y-connector, although you'll get slightly better sound with the Y, given the setup. Good luck.

 

[Architeuthis]

I've been using the AudioEngine 5 and 5+ with an ODAC for the last three or four years. Should I stick with the ODAC or try the Schiit Modi?

 

[ProtegeManiac]

  Just got my A5+...now thinking to buy a DAC to replace my on-board sound card. As I read through the manual and it says do not connect the A5+ to an amp, so i was thinking my choice of DAC can't be those with amp function together? Eg. i can't use Fiio E10?
What is the recommended DAC for budget $100?

 
The E10 has a headphone amplifier; manual is referring to speaker amplifiers, which the A5 already has built into the cabinet of one speaker.

 

[PurpleAngel]

  I've been using the AudioEngine 5 and 5+ with an ODAC for the last three or four years. Should I stick with the ODAC or try the Schiit Modi?

 
Should you replace your $150 DAC (ODAC) with a $100 DAC (Modi), guess I'll have to spend a lot of time thinking about the best answer for you.
Maybe replace the Audioengine with JBL LSR305 or Emotiva Airmotiv 5S studio monitors?