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CD-R and Audio Hardware => Audio Hardware => Topic started by: francesco on 2017-10-11 09:19:34

Title: need a dac for my laptop and imac around 100€
Post by: francesco on 2017-10-11 09:19:34
hi
i'm looking for a dac usb , with line out to connect to my amply and a headphone jack

i will use with my laptop windows 10 , and Imac

i would like to spend 100€ , what can i get for 100€ ?
i mean the best for this price

thanks
Title: Re: need a dac for my laptop and imac around 100€
Post by: kode54 on 2017-10-11 09:27:24
What about the FiiO E10K? Or maybe an E7 if you can find them for less than the current 3-4x price hike they're going for used.
Title: Re: need a dac for my laptop and imac around 100€
Post by: Arnold B. Krueger on 2017-10-11 09:38:20
hi
i'm looking for a dac usb , with line out to connect to my amply and a headphone jack

i will use with my laptop windows 10 , and Imac

i would like to spend 100€ , what can i get for 100€ ?
i mean the best for this price

I had no idea the DACs in the iMac were that bad. If the only problem is impedance or level, you can fix that with a Topping NX1S for far less. You can convert it to power line power with a stand alone USB power supply to avoid noise from ground loops. http://www.tpdz.net/en/products/nx1s/index.htm

https://www.gearbest.com/headphone-accessories/pp_748136.html?currency=USD&vip=760163
Title: Re: need a dac for my laptop and imac around 100€
Post by: francesco on 2017-10-11 10:20:17
hi
i'm looking for a dac usb , with line out to connect to my amply and a headphone jack

i will use with my laptop windows 10 , and Imac

i would like to spend 100€ , what can i get for 100€ ?
i mean the best for this price

I had no idea the DACs in the iMac were that bad. If the only problem is impedance or level, you can fix that with a Topping NX1S for far less. You can convert it to power line power with a stand alone USB power supply to avoid noise from ground loops. http://www.tpdz.net/en/products/nx1s/index.htm

https://www.gearbest.com/headphone-accessories/pp_748136.html?currency=USD&vip=760163
hi

but there is no line out for my amply ,isn't it ?
seems more for headphone and there is a battery
can't see in the picture
i want to use with my laptop , desktop and imac (it generate some noise ->connected to the amply)

thanks
Title: Re: need a dac for my laptop and imac around 100€
Post by: Arnold B. Krueger on 2017-10-11 11:15:26
hi
i'm looking for a dac usb , with line out to connect to my amply and a headphone jack

i will use with my laptop windows 10 , and Imac

i would like to spend 100€ , what can i get for 100€ ?
i mean the best for this price

I had no idea the DACs in the iMac were that bad. If the only problem is impedance or level, you can fix that with a Topping NX1S for far less. You can convert it to power line power with a stand alone USB power supply to avoid noise from ground loops. http://www.tpdz.net/en/products/nx1s/index.htm

https://www.gearbest.com/headphone-accessories/pp_748136.html?currency=USD&vip=760163
hi

but there is no line out for my amply ,isn't it ?

Headphone jacks are generally just fine as line output jacks. The voltage is about right.

Quote
seems more for headphone and there is a battery
can't see in the picture

The NX1 has a USB port for charging and power. Like I said, you can power it from a low cost USB power supply like I do.

Quote
i want to use with my laptop , desktop and imac (it generate some noise ->connected to the amply)

That is how I use my NX1.

Title: Re: need a dac for my laptop and imac around 100€
Post by: bennetng on 2017-10-11 11:40:57
Unless you want to use headphone and line out simultaneously, there is no need to have both jacks at the same time.

Line out jacks are not always suitable for driving headphones, but headphone jacks can usually be used as line out jack without any problems. If the headphone jack is too powerful and causing distortion, turn down the volume of the headphone amp. If the the headphone jack is too weak (highly unlikely for a rather expensive 100€ device), turn up the amplifier's volume.

For example, take a look at this SMSL USB headphone amp:
http://archimago.blogspot.hk/2017/05/measurements-smsl-idea-usb-dac.html

The excellent RMAA result is a good indication that the headphone jack can be used as line out without any problem.
Title: Re: need a dac for my laptop and imac around 100€
Post by: francesco on 2017-10-11 13:58:03
Headphone jacks are generally just fine as line output jacks. The voltage is about right.
hi
may i ask you how you how can i switch line out and headphone in the device?
i mean for headphone i need that pre-amp the output
but to have a line out without pre-amp the signal what do you do? I mean which switch do you use in the NX1 ?
to have a line out do you need to use the knob or the gain switch
thanks Arnold  ,appreciate it
sorry for my poor english

Unless you want to use headphone and line out simultaneously, there is no need to have both jacks at the same time.
For example, take a look at this SMSL USB headphone amp:
http://archimago.blogspot.hk/2017/05/measurements-smsl-idea-usb-dac.html
The excellent RMAA result is a good indication that the headphone jack can be used as line out without any problem.
Hi bennetng
do you use Topping NX1S or TSMSL USB ?
I got it , just don't know how can i switch the device to use with my amply or my headphones
i don't see any switch
thanks
sorry for my poor english


ps
really sorry for #7 and sadly i can't delete it
Title: Re: need a dac for my laptop and imac around 100€
Post by: francesco on 2017-10-11 15:22:15
What about the FiiO E10K? Or maybe an E7 if you can find them for less than the current 3-4x price hike they're going for used.
hi
thanks about FiiO E10K , does it need drivers for windows or mac?

@arnold
does Topping NX1S  need drivers too?

thanks both of you
Title: Re: need a dac for my laptop and imac around 100€
Post by: bennetng on 2017-10-11 16:11:30
i don't see any switch
You don't need a switch, just use the volume control on the USB headphone amp to adjust the desired output gain to your speaker amp, then use the volume control on your speaker amp to make additional adjustment.

I suggest you do an experiment: connect the headphone out of a smartphone with your speaker amp, and set your smartphone's output volume to max. Can you hear sound from your speaker amp? If yes, then there will be no problem to connect the USB headphone amp to your speaker amp. Smartphones usually output at somewhere around 0.2 - 1Vrms while a dedicated USB headphone amp, like the SMSL one in Archimago's blog is 2Vrms as he mentioned, perfectly fine for line out. Typical output voltage of the Realtek device on a PC mainboard is around 1.2Vrms.

Use the USB headphone amp's volume control, it is just a switch in continuous form!
Title: Re: need a dac for my laptop and imac around 100€
Post by: ErnestS on 2017-10-11 18:28:38
thanks about FiiO E10K , does it need drivers for windows or mac?
It uses the UAC drivers provided by the operating systems.

....does Topping NX1S  need drivers too?
Thats just an amplifier, the USB is only used for charging.
Title: Re: need a dac for my laptop and imac around 100€
Post by: francesco on 2017-10-11 18:47:53
....does Topping NX1S  need drivers too?
Thats just an amplifier, the USB is only used for charging.
Hi  ErnestS ,but can i connect the Topping NX1S to my desktop  via usb -> amply  and listen music?
thanks ErnestS
Title: Re: need a dac for my laptop and imac around 100€
Post by: ErnestS on 2017-10-12 10:08:23
No.
Title: Re: need a dac for my laptop and imac around 100€
Post by: .halverhahn on 2017-10-12 11:01:36
Maybe one of the Behringer fits you:  U-Phoria UMC204HD (http://www.music-group.com/Categories/Behringer/Computer-Audio/Audio-Interfaces/UMC204HD/p/P0BK0) or U-Phoria UMC202HD (http://www.music-group.com/Categories/Behringer/Computer-Audio/Audio-Interfaces/UMC202HD/p/P0BJZ)

Review of the UMC204HD: https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/budget-dac-review-behringer-umc204hd.1658/ (https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/budget-dac-review-behringer-umc204hd.1658/)
Title: Re: need a dac for my laptop and imac around 100€
Post by: Arnold B. Krueger on 2017-10-12 14:44:02
Maybe one of the Behringer fits you:  U-Phoria UMC204HD (http://www.music-group.com/Categories/Behringer/Computer-Audio/Audio-Interfaces/UMC204HD/p/P0BK0) or U-Phoria UMC202HD (http://www.music-group.com/Categories/Behringer/Computer-Audio/Audio-Interfaces/UMC202HD/p/P0BJZ)

Review of the UMC204HD: https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/budget-dac-review-behringer-umc204hd.1658/ (https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/budget-dac-review-behringer-umc204hd.1658/)

I have a UMC 202HD which is the slightly simpler version. I've only tested it looped, so I guess I don't know what just the playback side is like.

I find the -100 dB performance to be not all that exceptional. For example some of the now NOS eMu's could blow it into the next country (given that it is only about 5 miles away... $#@ their Rogers Cell towers) 

I still think in  that in the Berhinger part of the store the UMC202 is the one to get in the Behringer part of the store for a ton less cash than not all that much.  

http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/02/behringer-uca202-review.html
Title: Re: need a dac for my laptop and imac around 100€
Post by: Arnold B. Krueger on 2017-10-12 14:52:57
No.

To expand slightly, the USB port is only for charging and power. It is an amplifier, not a DAC.

I still seem to be missing whats wrong with the DAC in the host PC besides bragging rights.

To use a headphone amp, you plug a 3.5 mm male-male headphone cable into the host computer's headphone or line output jack and plug the other end into the input jack on the headphone amp. 

The battery power is only a problem until you find that any old USB power supply will keep it happy forever as long as it is plugged into a live outlet. There is a potential ground loop if you try to power the headphone amp with a USB jack on the PC.

So to review, you need the headphone amp which often comes with the  male-male 3.5 mm jumper cable packed in the box, and a USB power supply that may have the right mini-USB cable right on it.  You plug the 3.5 mm jumper into the line or headphone output of the host computer.  You plug the other end of the 3.5 mm cable into the input of the headphone amp.  You plug the power supply into a convenient outlet and plug it into the headphone amp. However, for testing purposes you can temporarily run the amp with its internal battery is it is charged up.

I'm running out of spoons to feed people with, so ta-ta-for-now.
Title: Re: need a dac for my laptop and imac around 100€
Post by: RonaldDumsfeld on 2017-10-12 17:28:12
I have had one of these for several years now and it's never been any bother.

NI Traktor Audio 2 (https://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/traktor/dj-audio-interfaces/traktor-audio-2/)

Don't be put off by the 'DJ' emphasis in the blurb. It works really well for your application. It is effectively two DACs for the price of one. So you can use one channel pair for your speakers and another for headphones. Each with it's own handy hardware volume control. Not only that you can listen to different programs on each pair simultaneously.

It's about the size and weight of a cigarette packet (remember them?). Thommann list it today at 90E.

Title: Re: need a dac for my laptop and imac around 100€
Post by: jaybeee on 2017-10-13 14:52:16
I've been looking at the IQaudIO (http://iqaudio.co.uk/) Pi-AMP+ (http://iqaudio.co.uk/audio/25-pi-amp-0712411999698.html) plus Pi-DAC+ (http://iqaudio.co.uk/audio/8-pi-dac-0712411999643.html) sitting on top of a Raspberry Pi (they do a Pi-DAC Pro (http://iqaudio.co.uk/audio/47-pi-dac-pro.html) version to).

HiFiBerry (https://www.hifiberry.com/) also do similar setups.

Might be worth a look. I don't own one and have never heard nor used one, but am seriously looking at them as an option. Would be interested to hear from people that use these to see what they think. The reviews are positive and you seem to get a lot for your money.