Need help about dac and amp, im confused... too much confused!

[AM93]

Hello everyone, this is my first thread in this community. First of all im sorry if my english isn't good enough but i never studied it, so, hope you can understand me anyway.

Want to start saying some things:

I have an internal soundcard in my pc (Sound Blaster Z) which has an headphones amp that works with headphones till 600Ω (at least according to what specs of the soundcard says).
Also have a 2.1 speaker set (Edifier S530D) which is amplified (by the subwoofer i guess).
 
I just ordered a new headphone (Beyerdynamic DT990 250Ω), now my questions are:

1) Does my soundcard has enough power to amp that headphone without buying any amp?
 
2) I searched alot on the web and i didn't find any answers to my doubts. I wanted to buy the Beyerdynamic A20 amp for the headphone, and the Cambridge DacMagic 100 as dac to connect the amp to it and then the dac to the pc via USB. Now the doubt is: Can i connect that amp to that dac via RCA cables? If yes, can i connect my amplified speaker set to the COAX/TOSLINK output on the dac? I would like to stop using completely the soundcard, thats why im asking that.
 
Hopefully in ur answers i give you my best regards, and thank you in advance.

Alessandro.

 

[DrSheep]

#1 is subjective, but I do think you have enough power if you are not too picky.  For #2 yes you can connect your DacMagic to the A20 via RCA, and yes you "could" connect your powered speakers to the DacMagic via TOSLINK.  However, if you do that you will bypass the A20 because you are connecting your DAC directly to the speakers.

 

[AM93]

Thank you for the answer. I dont understand what you mean with 'bypassing the A20', if i connect my powered speakers to the DAC why it bypass the headphone amp? The speakers goes to the sub, and from the sub i connect with the toslink or coax to the dac, where is the bypassing? I want to use the headphone amp just for the headphone, and the dac to connect my speakers (which are connected to the sub).

 

[DrSheep]

Oh I see, than you not have any issue.

 

[AM93]

Thanks again man, you just solved this big doubt. 

 

 

[DrSheep]

Sorry I was mistaken.  I looked into the DacMagic 100 more, and the TOSLINK is an input, meaning it can't output anything to your powered speakers.

 

[AM93]

Well, if i buy this DacMagic 100 + Beyerdynamic A20 i can only connect the amp to dac and then dac to pc, but i cant connect the powered speakers to dac... Then what should i buy to connect my powered speakers to, for stop using the soundcard completely? 

 

 

[DrSheep]

You can skip the TOSLINK and connect your speakers to the RCA out from the back of the A20.  I.e., PC/MAC -> USB -> DacMagic 100 -> RCA -> Beyerdynamic A20 -> RCA -> Edifier S530D, then use the 3.5mm TRS in the front for your headphones.

 

[AM93]

Well, tell me if im right because im going crazy atm...

DacMagic 100 USB -> PC.
DacMagic 100 RCA OUT -> Beyerdynamic A20 RCA IN.
Beyerdynamic A20 RCA OUT -> Edifier S530D RCA IN.
 
But now the problem is: The speakers got their own wired controller (always connected to the subwoofer) where i can equalize treble/bass/balance, and got on it the volume knob... Connecting the sub to the A20 via RCA i should then use the headphone amp knob volume to control the speakers? Or i can still use the wired controller?

 

[DrSheep]

  Well, tell me if im right because im going crazy atm...

DacMagic 100 USB -> PC.
DacMagic 100 RCA OUT -> Beyerdynamic A20 RCA IN.
Beyerdynamic A20 RCA OUT -> Edifier S530D RCA IN.
 
But now the problem is: The speakers got their own wired controller (always connected to the subwoofer) where i can equalize treble/bass/balance, and got on it the volume knob... Connecting the sub to the A20 via RCA i should then use the headphone amp knob volume to control the speakers? Or i can still use the wired controller?

Your connection chain is correct, and your wire control from the speakers will be fine.

 

[AM93]

Sorry if im disturbing, want to ask last thing because im still unsure. Assuming that the 2 speakers are connected to the sub which is amplified already, if i connect the sub via RCA to the headphone amp, i do not risk to burn everything?

 

[DrSheep]

  Sorry if im disturbing, want to ask last thing because im still unsure. Assuming that the 2 speakers are connected to the sub which is amplified already, if i connect the sub via RCA to the headphone amp, im not risk to burn everything?

I don't think so.  I checked the spec on the A20 and its RCA line out isn't that powerful.  It is a headphone amp after all.  Just make sure to turn down the volume before you turn the amp on.

 

[AM93]

Perfect, and what about the sound quality? I mean, now i have the speakers connected to the soundcard (from the Sound Blaster Z TOSLINK OUT to -> Sub TOSLINK IN), if i connect the sub via RCA to the headphone amp the sound quality it will be better? Same? Or even worse?

 

[DrSheep]

It will change for sure, because you have been using the speaker's internal DAC instead of your sound card.  However, this is moot as you will be getting the DacMagic 100 anyway, and I am pretty sure it has a better DAC than your speakers.  Of course you can just use analog from your SBZ to the speakers and try to listen for the difference.

 

[AM93]

Perfect man i got it, i will buy everything and i'll let you know how it sounds and how everything works. Thanks for all the fast answers u gave me.