[Head_case]

Numpty of the year award must come here!

Well I got a cheap Musical Fidelity X-DAC thinking that this is what I need.

I'm planning to transcribe my vinyl LP music to either mini-disc or computer, and somehow I thought I needed this.

When I got it, I can only see two digital inputs, and two analogue outputs. Hmmm. So it's not going to convert analogue vinyl to digital

Then I looked up some specs, and I see, that if you plug a mini-disc in via the Toslink, it won't work????

Will a DAC only work for CD players, and not other digital sources then?

I guess I'll have a separate question of what hardware I need to convert vinyl LP ---> digital later.

 

[krmathis]

DAC is short for Digital to Analog Converter. That alone should tell you what it is used for...
Meaning it is used to convert a digital audio signal (from CD, DVD, computer, DAP, ...) into an analog signal you feed into an amplifier. Vinyl is already analog, so no need to convert.

What you are looking for is an ADC - Analog to Digital Converter.

 

[MomijiTMO]

Good luck with your ADC hunting.

 

[Head_case]

I found one already!

Now all I need to do is afford one....


Thanks guys. I guess you're telling me my DAC is useless for my purposes?

Is there anything I can use this DAC for then? I have a Musical Fidelity X-Ray CD player (so it prob. won't benefit from the X-DAC converter).

Is the computer/laptop output ---> amp the only use for it?

 

[UncleFestive]

You might want to take a look at something like this Ion USB Turntable. I believe it comes with everything you need to convert vinyl to mp3. Sell the DAC on Head-FI if you don't have a use for it.

 

[Head_case]

Thanks for the suggestion Uncle.

I know the Ion USB quite well - it's really no good for audiophile conversion, being a budget thing with cheap electronics inside. They are very popular though.

Here's the best USB/Vinyl convertor I could find:

Price - $499 (or around £350). It also plays vinyl.

It seems extravagant to buy a ADC converter costing nearly the same, although it claims to do a better job. Guess no one will ever have reviewed either here.

So there's no other use for a DAC then?

 

[joelpearce]

There are uses for a DAC, but I'm not sure whether you will have a use for one.

Any time you listen to a digital source (file on computer, CD audio, DVD audio, etc.) the signal must be converted from digital to analog (since we can't hear in digital).

Most devices have some form of DAC in them (CD players, PC sound cards), but a lot of them are pretty lousy. As long as this device also has a way of passing that digital signal (through COAX digital, optical, or USB), you can connect your own DAC to the device and get significantly better quality sound.

With low quality headphones or speakers, though, you might be hard pressed to tell the difference.

 

[lozanoa11]

Or you could just get a decent soundcard and record that way.

 

[krmathis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Head_case /img/forum/go_quote.gif So there's no other use for a DAC then?

No, not for this specific task.
You can always use it to hook the computer up to your headphone or speaker system though.

 

[unl3a5h3d]

You could sell the DAC to me...?

PM me if you're interested.

 

[Head_case]

Thanks unl3a5h2d - and what a name to type out!

FWIW - I've found out all about this particular Musical Fidelity X-DAC. It's reviewed here: this article gives the ins and outs for what it's used for.

Basically it describes low-budget CD players as the main stable for DACs. I have a 24 bit Burr CD player which won't really benefit. I guess the computer could. Now to find out if Mini-Disc players can too....

Article | Musical Fidelity X-DAC | Page*149 - May*1997 - Gramophone Archive

 

[ROBSCIX]

If you want to copy your vinyl to digital, all you need is a good turn table, RIAA preamp and a quality recording card.
You will also need software and the time it will take to digitize them and add any effects you think they will need such as amplification, noise removal, compression and or limiting.
Hope this helps.

 

[unlimited]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Head_case /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks for the suggestion Uncle. I know the Ion USB quite well - it's really no good for audiophile conversion, being a budget thing with cheap electronics inside. They are very popular though. Here's the best USB/Vinyl convertor I could find: Price - $499 (or around £350). It also plays vinyl. It seems extravagant to buy a ADC converter costing nearly the same, although it claims to do a better job. Guess no one will ever have reviewed either here. So there's no other use for a DAC then?

Dang this looks good !!

 

[Punnisher]

Use a turntable, receiver (for its phono preamp) and a soundcard for your ADC. Shouldn't cost more than $100 total.

And that's assuming you don't have any of the above items, which you probably do. A soundcard with analog input is all you need.

 

[hjf]

Quote:

Originally Posted by joelpearce /img/forum/go_quote.gif There are uses for a DAC, but I'm not sure whether you will have a use for one. Any time you listen to a digital source (file on computer, CD audio, DVD audio, etc.) the signal must be converted from digital to analog (since we can't hear in digital). Most devices have some form of DAC in them (CD players, PC sound cards), but a lot of them are pretty lousy. As long as this device also has a way of passing that digital signal (through COAX digital, optical, or USB), you can connect your own DAC to the device and get significantly better quality sound. With low quality headphones or speakers, though, you might be hard pressed to tell the difference.

I'm currently using my laptop and the headphone out to my amp and headphones. If I use a DAC to hopefully improve the sound, is this like a line out from the laptop or is its volume control still operative?