Do I still need a DAC??

[s1rrah]

Pardon my illiteracy ... but just getting into the sound thing.

To feed a desktop tube amp like a Darkvoice 336i, using my computer as the source, will I need anything other than the X-fi Elite Pro that I'm currently using (has desktop breakout box)?

I've been reading a lot about DACs to send signals to amps and what not but I'm wondering if such a source is not already included with the X-fi or it's breakout box.

???

I mean ... would it be redundant/pointless to pick up something like an EMU-0202 just to feed the tube amp? Don't want to spend the hundred bucks if I don't have to...

THankS

 

[d-cee]

strictly speaking you already have a DAC, it's in your X-Fi. is it high quality? well... I don't know

whether or not the quality increase of a dedicated external DAC is worth it is up to you

you don't have to, but saving up for a good source will bring you great musical pleasure

 

[krmathis]

Your X-fi Elite Pro have a built in DAC, so you already have one...
That said, when people on the forum talk about DAC's they usually mean external dedicated ones. Which in most cases improve the sound quality noticeable over the source' built in one.

Wether such an investment is worth it for you, only you can tell.

 

[Seaside]

If you have a soundcard, or even an onboard sound, you have DAC.

DAC is Digital Analog Converter. What it is doing is converting computer signal (digital) to the sound human can hear (analog).

To clarify.... think about the situation like... when you're listening to MP3. MP3 file is a digital data of actual music that can be stored in computer system. Computer read that file with the help of the program like winamp, then send the data to the sound device like soundcard. Then soundcard receive the data, and convert it to the actual sound so that we can hear. That's where DAC is playing.

So, technically speaking, all soundcard, even onboard, has a DAC built in. It is X-Fi, in your case. Just connect an output of X-fi to the input of your amp.

When people here said DAC, that usually means external DAC dedicated to play digital music from the computer. Other usual functions of soundcards, like Mic input, line-in, midi-in, recording etc is not included with the DAC. It usually is strictly music playing purpose only. DACs are usually better than soundcard in terms of music playing, since it is dedicated device developed for that purpose only.

 

[s1rrah]

@Seaside:

Thanks so much for the clear comments.

Helps.

The reason I'm asking questions is I want the best possible music through my Shure e4c's I can possibly get. I'm pretty sure the headphone out on the X-fi's breakout box is fairly poor (compared to a dedicated DAC out) and so I'm most likely going to invest in something external.

Thanks again for the assist ...

 

[Seaside]

It depends on how much you're willing to spend on it. External DAC will cost you from few tens of dollors to few thousands of dollars, or even more.

Something like a Alien DAC would be my first recommendation... if (1) you willing to try make one by yourself (2) you don't want to spend more than $100 (3) and still want descent sound.

Its spec is kinda not very impressive. Its sound is certainly not the best, but quite good I'd say, especially for the price.
And that's what I use with my headphone amp. Check Alien DAC in DIY forum at this site, if interested.