Looking for USB DAC/external sound card for my krk rp5

Oct 30, 2014 at 9:47 AM Thread Starter Post #1 of 10

Trunksleo

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Hi, i need a usb DAC/external sound card for my krk rp5. My budget is 200u$s tops. I want it just for listening all kind of music (not for record or instruments).
 
 
Thanks.
 
Oct 30, 2014 at 10:38 PM Post #2 of 10
  Hi, i need a USB DAC/external sound card for my krk rp5. My budget is 200u$s tops. I want it just for listening all kind of music (not for record or instruments).
 

 
Schiit Modi (USB or optical) DAC, $99.
 
Nov 2, 2014 at 7:34 PM Post #4 of 10
In my friends set-up, he has KRK Rokit 5's and uses the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 as a DAC, Preamp and headphone AMP.

It is also great because you can run 1/4" TRS or XLR inputs into it as well.
 
Nov 2, 2014 at 8:25 PM Post #6 of 10
You can consider the Teac HA-P50 as a dac/amp with a wide staging and is versatile. You can also consider the Meridian Explorer Dac which has a smaller staging than the teac and a darker sound.
 
Nov 3, 2014 at 11:09 AM Post #10 of 10
If you has to choose one of this wich you keep?

audioengine d1, schiit modi, creative onmi, asus u7 and focusrite solo.

 
From what I can gather from the specs, the Focusrite Scarlett Solo (there's another Solo but the specs are different) is the only one with a preamp output. This is very important - you'd want to be able to use the volume knob within easy reach. If the DAC has a preamp then you don't need to run to the back and turn the gain knobs on both speaker boxes.
 
The Xonar U7 might have it too but all it says is "unbalanced;" it's already RCA so it's not a "balanced" connection, but stating that it is "unbalanced" could mean that the volume control works on this output as well. best to double check with the manufacturers, but based on this requirement I would take the Schiit off that list (I would only really recommend that one for consumer-grade active speakers, ie the ones with Master-Slave amp set-ups, since they have one volume control).
 

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