Use DAC with active speakers?

[Astrothunderkat]

Just picked up some superlux 668B's and a pair of Cali headphone co phones off new egg for $15. Also currently using a set of klipsch pro media 2.1 active speakers. 

Is it possible to use a DAC with active speakers? Looking to improve sound quality over my on-board sound (Realtek ALC892) -Thanks!

 

[PurpleAngel]

  Just picked up some superlux 668B's and a pair of Cali headphone co phones off new egg for $15. Also currently using a set of klipsch pro media 2.1 active speakers. 

Is it possible to use a DAC with active speakers? Looking to improve sound quality over my on-board sound (Realtek ALC892) -Thanks!

 
FiiO E10K or a Creative Sound Blaster Z sound card.

 

[billybob_jcv]

My advice is to look for different speakers, not a DAC if you really want to improve your sound.

 

[cel4145]

My advice is to look for different speakers, not a DAC if you really want to improve your sound.

+1

The Promedia are very good desktop multimedia speakers for $150, but a DAC isn't going to help them a ton.

 

[Astrothunderkat]

My advice is to look for different speakers, not a DAC if you really want to improve your sound.

 
 

+1

The Promedia are very good desktop multimedia speakers for $150, but a DAC isn't going to help them a ton.

Can active speakers even use a dac? Also, can these klipsch power something like a pair of DT 990s?

I've been using my headphone jack on the pro media's for when I want to plug headphones in. -Thanks!

 

[cel4145]

Can active speakers even use a dac? Also, can these klipsch power something like a pair of DT 990s?

I've been using my headphone jack on the pro media's for when I want to plug headphones in. -Thanks!

Doubtful. But since you already have them, you could try and see.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

 
Can active speakers even use a dac? 

 
I don't see why not - they have an input from a line level signal source.
 
Laptop > Ibasso D-Zero > Swans D180 MkII 08

 
 
 
 

I've been using my headphone jack on the pro media's for when I want to plug headphones in. -Thanks!

 

If your DAC has a headphone amp in it then just use that one to drive the headphones. Most of them have a circuit that mutes the preamp output in the rear when headphones are detected, but get something like the AudioGD NFB-15. In the set-up above the ergonomics of using both speakers and headphones on the D-Zero will be a PITA since it's a portable DAC-HPamp with both line out and headphone out on the same side. The likes of the NFB-15 have a preamp or lineout (or both) in the rear (use the preamp if it has one, so you can use the volume control on the DAC) and the headphone output in front.

 

[Astrothunderkat]

 
 

If your DAC has a headphone amp in it then just use that one to drive the headphones.

Yeah, don't have a DAC. I'm using my onboard realtek ALC 892, klipsch pro media's and soon to be pair of 668b's.

Since the 668b's are only 50hms, I should be alright plunging them into my klipsch's headphone jack right?

 

[PurpleAngel]

  Yeah, don't have a DAC. I'm using my on-board Realtek ALC 892, Klipsch pro media's and soon to be pair of 668b's.
Since the 668B's are only 50hms, I should be alright plunging them into my Klipsch's headphone jack right?

 
Should not be a problem plugging the HD668B straight into the Pro Media's headphone jack.
The Pro-media (should) uses the same amplifier to drive the headphones as it does the speakers.
So i would "guess" 250-Ohm DT990s could be driven off the Pro Media' headphone jack.
 
A Creative Labs Sound Blaster Z sound card ($60-$80) comes with a CS4398 DAC chip, which should be a fair bit better then whatever DAC feature is built into the Realtek ALC892.
The SB-Z comes with a line-output for speakers an a dedicated amplified headphone jack, I would assume the SB-Z is a little better at driving headphones, then the Pro-Media.
 
Used SB-Z, $53
http://www.ebay.com/itm/351240540260?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

[Astrothunderkat]

   
Should not be a problem plugging the HD668B straight into the Pro Media's headphone jack.
The Pro-media (should) uses the same amplifier to drive the headphones as it does the speakers.
So i would "guess" 250-Ohm DT990s could be driven off the Pro Media' headphone jack.
 
A Creative Labs Sound Blaster Z sound card ($60-$80) comes with a CS4398 DAC chip, which should be a fair bit better then whatever DAC feature is built into the Realtek ALC892.
The SB-Z comes with a line-output for speakers an a dedicated amplified headphone jack, I would assume the SB-Z is a little better at driving headphones, then the Pro-Media.
 
Used SB-Z, $53
http://www.ebay.com/itm/351240540260?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Yeah, theres a refurbed one with a 90 day warranty for 68 I might pick up, includes the mic too. Saves me from having to get a mic now! (currently using a labtek boom mic from 1999 I got for $1)

 

[kapanak]

The answer is a yes. All DACs can be used with active speakers, as long as the DAC output (RCA or XLR) matches the active speakers input (again, RCA or XLR, and some with built-in DACs which you ignore )

 

[ProtegeManiac]

 
Yeah, don't have a DAC. I'm using my onboard realtek ALC 892, klipsch pro media's and soon to be pair of 668b's.

Since the 668b's are only 50hms, I should be alright plunging them into my klipsch's headphone jack right?

 
Well you don't have much of a choice at this point. Still, what motherboard are you using? If that's a red motherboard I'd rather plug the headphones into the audio jacks on the case. The only thing that multimedia speaker headphone outputs have going for them is the easily accessible volume knob.

 

[Astrothunderkat]

  The answer is a yes. All DACs can be used with active speakers, as long as the DAC output (RCA or XLR) matches the active speakers input (again, RCA or XLR, and some with built-in DACs which you ignore )

AWESOME!
 

   
Well you don't have much of a choice at this point. Still, what motherboard are you using? If that's a red motherboard I'd rather plug the headphones into the audio jacks on the case. The only thing that multimedia speaker headphone outputs have going for them is the easily accessible volume knob.

Asus P8Z68 v pro gen3

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Asus P8Z68 v pro gen3

 
Not an ROG but I'd still try it in case the speakers' headphone output can't get the headphone loud enough.