[thinkpol]

How do I bypass the internal amplification to allow the Darkvoice amp to do its job entirely?
 
Xonar Essence ST -> Darkvoice 3322 -> HD650
I want to use the internal DAC on the Essence ST but not the amp (dont want it to muddy the signal).

 

[zenpunk]

And what about....(drum roll).........using the line out!

 

[thinkpol]

the digital line out?
is there a way to disable the amplification in the Xonar software? or to manually do it on the card itself?

 

[jenneth]

Using ST's line out will bypass its internal HP amp.
 
Quote:

the digital line out?

 
That would work too, that is, assuming you have an external DAC...

 

[thinkpol]

I see, so there are 2 analog line outs.. one of them is amplified and one is not?

 

[dex85]

pretty much, analog line-out bypass the internal HP amp as was said. the buffer op-amp is used instead. there is a relay in the circuit that allows to do this, it's the clicking sound you hear when you swith between 'Analog Out' options.

 

[KaraSinek]

what opamp's do you use?

 

[Reputator]

 
That's what you use.

 

[KaraSinek]

i mean op-amp

 

[thinkpol]

Quote:

i mean op-amp

Stock, I guess. Don't even know what they are or if I should upgrade mine (wouldn't know how)! Enlighten me =)
 

 

[thinkpol]

Quote:

 
That's what you use.

I thought only the two black ones were DAC'd.
 

 

[OneSec]

I know this is somewhat outdated, just posting if someone is curious (I actually stared very hard on my card to find out what those 5 ports do - I only use the headphone jack lol)
 
So this is from top to bottom:
Red - Analog Output Front Right - RCA  - To AMP / Speaker.
White - Analog Output Front Left - RCA  - To AMP / Speaker.
Black 1 - Analog Output 6.30mm jack *1 To Headphone
Black 2 - Analog Input line in 6.30mm jack *1 To Other source
Gray - Digital S/PDIF Output to DAC
 
Or check the manual
 
Also there is a new driver 7.12.8.1794 available, in case you are interested.
 
Manual and drivers can be obtained from the following link.
http://www.asus.com/Multimedia/Audio_Cards/Xonar_Essence_ST/#dwnload
 
*I have removed the wrong information about TCA jack being amplified*
 

 

[Nerolucido]

By the way the analog output has amplification. So you might want to check with Asus how to turn of the amplification - probably dummy op-amp or something. So if you want to skip amplification for sure is to use the digital out - but you will be missing a very nice DAC function that comes with Xonar - your choice.
 

Are you sure about that? Isn't the HP out the only one that is amplified? I thought the RCA out was merely a line-out. I'm currently using the analog output to feed a Little Dot MKIII. Does this mean that I'm driving my HPs with double amplification? :eek:
Does double amping jeopardize SQ?

 

[OneSec]

Long story short:- You are right. There is no amplification. I apologize for the wrong information, and sorry if I have raised unnecessary panic to you I was curious as well so I log a case with Asus. Here's the reply:
 
"The RCA outputs are line-level outputs, i.e., they are not amplified and you cannot connect speakers without built-in amplifier directly to them. (Only the headphone output has an amplifier.)

To get surround sound out of the ST, you need to use either a digital output (optical or coaxial) or the H6 daughterboard."
 

 

[Nerolucido]

Phew! I was already looking for a dummy opamp