AMP+DAC, But laptop with no Optical out

[admin_exported]

Hello guys,

I have an amplifier with DAC and an Acer Aspire laptop with lossless files from CDs on a separate external HD. At the moment I am plugging the amp into the headphone socket on the laptop which is analogue, it sounds ok but I'm sure it could be improved if I could get optical out of the laptop directly into the DAC and Amp.

All I can think of is using something like a squeezebox, or a device thet can get a digital signal out of the laptop if such a thing exists, what would be the best option guys?

 

[John Duncan]

Firstly, check that you really don't have a digital out (headphone sockets often double up as these). If not, google "usb dac" - Here's one for starters, and here's a rather more expensive one............

 

[Anonymous]

im just waiting for a certain someone to suggest that you should have got an apple laptop ;-)

 

[John Duncan]

Even I could't bring myself to do that, not for 1500 quid. I got a Sony instead.........

 

[Anonymous]

hang on there john, you are telling me there are laptops that cost 1500 quid!?!?! for that kind of money id want it to do more with my lap than sit on it ;-)

 

[Anonymous]

to the OP, can you not get an external soundcard with an optical output on it? i know there are soundcards (both internal and external) available for pc that have optical outputs - im fairly sure you could use these for a laptop too...

 

[Anonymous]

A "USB Sound Box" from Maplin costs £15 and converts USB to optical. Or an Airport Express from Apple costs £65.

 

[Anonymous]

apple airport express? ok you have to use itunes, but i dont think thats really a hardshp. edit: you beat me to it. must have forgoten to refresh the page!

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="fast eddie"]apple airport express? ok you have to use itunes, but i dont think thats really a hardshp. edit: you beat me to it. must have forgoten to refresh the page![/quote]

If you buy a piece of software called Airfoil you can stream any music on the laptop to the Airport Express.
Here's a video about an Airport Express: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP2vsQqIG_k

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys, plenty of things for me to look into now...............

 

[John Duncan]

[quote user="darrenwm1"]A "USB Sound Box" from Maplin costs £15[/quote]

Job done..........

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="JohnDuncan"]Firstly, check that you really don't have a digital out (headphone sockets often double up as these)[/quote]

Exactly. The Aspire series comes with standard headphone/spdif socket. Get a 3.5mm to optical adapter-the funnel like thingy-and you are done!

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice chaps, got a 3.5 to 3.5 coax cable from laptop to 3.5 digital input on front of Supernait and it has done the trick...................

 

[John Duncan]

tada.......