[x X x]

Hello. Have a question about connecting various devices to the Dac / Can combo, especially external stereo speakers (non-balanced).

So the Can does not have a dedicated stereo output for speakers - just rear balanced output for balanced, active speakers. I know that there is front single ended output (also with balanced one) but these I want to use only for headphones.

What about Dac? It have balanced and analogue (RCA) output. Let's assume that dac is connected with Can via balanced cable. Can the RCA output of DAC be used to power external speakers in this case? There is no output selector on DAC - can these outputs work simultaneously?

My current setup is:
- my speakers are connected to the PC monitor which transfers audio data from my computer and my console - PC via mDP, Xbox via HDMI; speakers are connected with 3,5 mm stereo cable,
- sometimes I am listening the music from my computer using speakers,
- when I want to listen the music from my computer with headphones I am connecting my Lotoo Paw S1 directly to computer and headphones to Lotoo,
- speakers are Creative T20 II with aux input and headphones output.

I want to have all these connections throught the iFi's. Is it possible with Zen Can and/or Zen Dac?

 

[iFi audio]

Hello. Have a question about connecting various devices to the Dac / Can combo, especially external stereo speakers (non-balanced).

So the Can does not have a dedicated stereo output for speakers - just rear balanced output for balanced, active speakers. I know that there is front single ended output (also with balanced one) but these I want to use only for headphones.

What about Dac? It have balanced and analogue (RCA) output. Let's assume that dac is connected with Can via balanced cable. Can the RCA output of DAC be used to power external speakers in this case? There is no output selector on DAC - can these outputs work simultaneously?

My current setup is:
- my speakers are connected to the PC monitor which transfers audio data from my computer and my console - PC via mDP, Xbox via HDMI; speakers are connected with 3,5 mm stereo cable,
- sometimes I am listening the music from my computer using speakers,
- when I want to listen the music from my computer with headphones I am connecting my Lotoo Paw S1 directly to computer and headphones to Lotoo,
- speakers are Creative T20 II with aux input and headphones output.

I want to have all these connections throught the iFi's. Is it possible with Zen Can and/or Zen Dac?

Your speakers have their own analog input and volume control, so the best way would be to set ZEN DAC's RCA outputs as fixed (to bypass its volume control) and connect it to your speakers' AUX input via a RCA-3.5mm cable.

 

[x X x]

Your speakers have their own analog input and volume control, so the best way would be to set ZEN DAC's RCA outputs as fixed (to bypass its volume control) and connect it to your speakers' AUX input via a RCA-3.5mm cable.

@iFi audio thank you for the response. Is it true than Zen Dac plays audio from all it's outputs simultaneously? As there is no output selector.

In case of situation described by you would audio be played to the speakers when coming from Zen Can's analog input, or would it be used for digital signal coming directly from PC to Zen Dac only?

 

[iFi audio]

In case of situation described by you would audio be played to the speakers when coming from Zen Can's analog input, or would it be used for digital signal coming directly from PC to Zen Dac only?

I'm not sure what you mean, but the scenario as I've described it in my previous post has ZEN DAC operational as a digital-to-analog converter. This means that it takes digital data from your PC, converts it to analog signal then sent out to a device connected to its outputs, here this would be your speaker set.

 

[Giangi]

Ifi zen dac V2 in ASIO mode isn't a mqa full decoder. Only wasapi?

 

[x X x]

I'm not sure what you mean, but the scenario as I've described it in my previous post has ZEN DAC operational as a digital-to-analog converter. This means that it takes digital data from your PC, converts it to analog signal then sent out to a device connected to its outputs, here this would be your speaker set.

When DAC is connected with ZEN using e.g. balanced cable, speakers are plugged in to the DAC by RCA cable and audio source is connected to the CAN using single ended cable to rear input of CAN - may audio can be played this way:

audio source → 3,5 mm stereo cable → CAN rear input → CAN rear output (balanced) → DAC rear input (balanced) → DAC RCA output → speakers

Or DAC can only play audio only from digital source (throught it's USB input)?

 

[x X x]

@iFi audio please response

 

[iFi audio]

Or DAC can only play audio only from digital source (throught it's USB input)?

ZEN DAC is a digital-to-analog converter so it can only accept digital signal that it converts to analog and sends out either via its headphone out or line outputs on its rear. Also, ZEN DAC's rear 4.4mm port is its output, not input. Thanks!

 

[GlenAppleton]

ZEN CAN is a digital-to-analog converter

I think you meant to either day the CAN isn't a digital-to-analog converter, or the DAC is a digital-to-analog converter. This statement could be confusing to those who aren't yet familiar with the different products.

 

[iFi audio]

I think you meant to either day the CAN isn't a digital-to-analog converter, or the DAC is a digital-to-analog converter. This statement could be confusing to those who aren't yet familiar with the different products.

Yup, fixed now and thanks for pointing it out!

 

[x X x]

ZEN DAC is a digital-to-analog converter so it can only accept digital signal that it converts to analog and sends out either via its headphone out or line outputs on its rear. Also, ZEN DAC's rear 4.4mm port is its output, not input. Thanks!

Thank you for clarification. I was silly to thought that CAN's balanced input could work also as output to the DAC.

So the proper way to play music from analog source to my unbalanced, active speakers is to posses another device with ability to convert balanced signal to analog (device connected to the ZEN rear balanced output), then plug speakers to this device, right?

What do you think about connecting these speakers to the front single output? Would it be safe for both - ZEN and speakers?

 

[iFi audio]

Thank you for clarification. I was silly to thought that CAN's balanced input could work also as output to the DAC.

It's all good. ZEN CAN's balanced output would work for a different balanced analog product. For example, you could use ZEN CAN as a preamplifier for a stereo power amp, that would work.

What do you think about connecting these speakers to the front single output? Would it be safe for both - ZEN and speakers?

Do you mean ZEN CAN's headphone output located on its front?

So the proper way to play music from analog source to my unbalanced, active speakers is to posses another device with ability to convert balanced signal to analog (device connected to the ZEN rear balanced output), then plug speakers to this device, right?

In the audio nomenclature an analog source is i.e. a turntable. Is this what you originally had in mind? If not, what is your source that you want to connect to your speakers?

 

[x X x]

Do you mean ZEN CAN's headphone output located on its front?

Yes.

In the audio nomenclature an analog source is i.e. a turntable. Is this what you originally had in mind? If not, what is your source that you want to connect to your speakers?

By "analog source" I meant source plugged to rear 3,5 mm (or RCA) input of ZEN CAN. Sorry, didn't know about this (I am not fully familiar with English audio nomenclature).

 

[iFi audio]

Yes.

It would work, but then you'd have two volume controls active (ZEN CAN's own and the one iun-built in active your speakers) and that's one too many.

By "analog source" I meant source plugged to rear 3,5 mm (or RCA) input of ZEN CAN. Sorry, didn't know about this (I am not fully familiar with English audio nomenclature).

To simplify, you could i.e. use our ZEN DAC that has a headphone out and also line out that would connect to your sepakers. That's the simplest most elegant solution to use both your speakers and headphones without swapping any cables. To make it even simpler, you don't need ZEN CAN to connect ZEN DAC to your speakers. Thanks!

 

[x X x]

To simplify, you could i.e. use our ZEN DAC that has a headphone out and also line out that would connect to your sepakers. That's the simplest most elegant solution to use both your speakers and headphones without swapping any cables. To make it even simpler, you don't need ZEN CAN to connect ZEN DAC to your speakers. Thanks!

The problem is that I have one "analog source" - my monitor with 3,5 mm single output. Two devices are connected to monitor: console (xbox) and pc. I am able to play music from my PC using digital output (via Lotoo Paw S1 connected directly to PC) or built in 3,5 mm single ended output (from monitor), but for xbox only 3,5 mm single output would work (no digital output from monitor). I believe that I cannot plug in Lotoo Paw S1 to the monitor and use it as audio output for all available signal sources (display port, mini display port, hdmi) - it won't work this way.

That is why I am asking about connecting CAN and DAC and play audio in this way: monitor > CAN rear 3,5 input > DAC rear RCA output > speakers.