Please recommend USB DAC w/Microphone input

[Submarinesailor]

I've got the Logitech Z-5500 speakers and the headphone output is horrible. I'm looking to plug in a USB DAC when I shift to headphone mode but... I can't find a decent one that has a microphone input. Help!
Thanks!

 

[Hybrys]

Quote:

I've got the Logitech Z-5500 speakers and the headphone output is horrible. I'm looking to plug in a USB DAC when I shift to headphone mode but... I can't find a decent one that has a microphone input. Help!
Thanks!

That's because you have to kinda shift your searching from DAC.  Two units that might pique your interest.
 
EMU 0404 USB
M-Audio Fast Track / Fast Track Pro

 

[RonaldDumsfeld]

If you are looking to input an electret microphone, such as comes with a typical headset or mobile phone, you will need some way of supplying 5V power.
 
The options given above will accept standard studio dynamic or regular condenser microphones (48V) but will NOT work with an electret microphone.
 
If you are in this situation then you are in luck. The E-MU 0202 will supply 5V via a stereo 1/8 minijack and it's cheaper.
 
Strange this issue doesn't come up more often. I have never seen a product offered for sale (I've seen plans for build your own) that will power an electret microphone independently. Has anyone ever seen such a device?

 

[Hybrys]

Quote:

If you are looking to input an electret microphone, such as comes with a typical headset or mobile phone, you will need some way of supplying 5V power.
 
The options given above will accept standard studio dynamic or regular condenser microphones (48V) but will NOT work with an electret microphone.
 
If you are in this situation then you are in luck. The E-MU 0202 will supply 5V via a stereo 1/8 minijack and it's cheaper.
 
Strange this issue doesn't come up more often. I have never seen a product offered for sale (I've seen plans for build your own) that will power an electret microphone independently. Has anyone ever seen such a device?

Odd, I thought turning off Phantom Power would still run a 5V to the input.
 
Another option is an internal sound card.  Or just an extension cord to hook your microphone up to your onboard sound, and use an external DAC for the phones only.  Should work fine together.

 

[RonaldDumsfeld]

 
Quote:

Odd, I thought turning off Phantom Power would still run a 5V to the input.

 
It didn't on my old Fast Track Pro. Nor my current MOTU Ultralite. Have not tried it with a 0404 but note that the publicity blurb for the 0202 specifically mentions 5V power on the 1/8 jack but not on the 0404.
 
That's using the mic on a SteelSound 5H V2. It's a hassle to do as well because you would need a 1/8 stereo minijack > XLR or TRS connecter.
 
The solution in post 4 will work and also most plug in USB connecters supply 5V for electret mics. 

 

[Hybrys]

Seems like you're right.  The other two EMU devices that do NOT offer 48V Phantom do offer 5V lines instead, which would be applicable for a headset microphone.  (IE: PC151's mic)
 
The 0202 USB and Tracker Pre both offer than functionality.  Those would be a couple devices to look into.

 

[thuantran]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0000ATCOR/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&seller= I'm buying this for my voice chat actually.

 

[Submarinesailor]

Thanks for the replies!
I decided to go for an internal sound card solution. Picked up an Auzentech X-Fi Forte with the X-Fi IO drive. Totally eliminated the external speakers when I shift to the headphones. The card also has a microphone pre-amp so I should be good to go.