Dac,soundcard as a monitor controller,volume knob

[gasolin]

I am looking for some upgrade for my soundsystem current speaker krk rokit powered 5 g3, got my clearer mains today, i think they made a difference. Havn't desided what to get Audiolab M-PWR,Nad D3020, boston A26,Q Acoustics 2010I/2020I

I have this volume knob from t c electronic (Level Pilot) that are noisy when i turn the volume up and down also have stereo image problems at low levels, would also like to get rid of the cable from the leve pilot as the weakest link.

Suddenly out of nowhere i got this idea why not by a soundcard or dac i can us as a preamp,monitor controller, volume knob?

Then i only would have a soundcard or dac and then my active speakers hopefully with no noise when i turn up/down the volume

I would prefer a dac or soundcard with usb input and xlr output and no bigger the i can have it on my desktop

Is it possible to use a dac,soundcard as a preamp monitor controller, volume knob?

If so what are a good dac,soundcard with usb input,xlr output and costs no more then 300€,about 250£

 

[pauln]

From what I've been told by others, it's not good to have two volume controls in series and I believe your speakers already have volume controls. I take it the speakers aren't on your desk, like a traditional digital audio workstation set up. What you're looking for in that price range is, as far as I know, more likely to be found in a headphone amp/DAC combo that includes a variable line out than a "hi fi" product. I use a similar set up however the DAC's line out can be switched to fixed gain so I only use the volume control on the speakers which is actually on the sub so I do have to get off my arse.

If you take a look here - http://noblehifi.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/a-list-of-usb-dac-headphone-amplifiers.html - you'll see that there are very few with xlr output at your price point and then there is the TEAC at £300. Probably there would be more options from a pro audio shop and you could ask on a studio orientated forum if you haven't already. Have you Googled to see what's available?

 

[gasolin]

I have googled i would like the Goldpoint SAX1, beacuse it's from usa and has to be shipped to europe the totyal pris is instead of 537$ it's about 800$and thats to much

Okay 537$ might be alot, just not easy to find something like that in europe all to big, cheap and not good enought or to big expensive and with to many extras i don't need

Havn't looked at dac's,soundcards and if theres one i could use instaed of my tc level pilot

 

[gasolin]

These 2 is suporse to have xlr output but dosn't, how come they don't have xlr output?

http://images.morele.net/full/466666_0_f.jpg (219£)

http://www.esi-audiotechnik.com/pictures/drdacprime_sub2_large.jpg (285£) http://www.esi-audio.com/products/drdacprime/

http://noblehifi.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/a-list-of-usb-dac-headphone-amplifiers.html

 

[pauln]

http://www.whathifi.com/review/matrix-mini-i xlr output

He must have made a mistake on the Dr Dac, unless there's another version with xlr outs.

Or there's this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cambridge-Audio-DacMagic-Plus-Digital-to-Analogue-Converter-/191135360916?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Other&hash=item2c808e2794#ht_338wt_1259

 

[gasolin]

http://www.whathifi.com/review/matrix-mini-i xlr output

He must have made a mistake on the Dr Dac, unless there's another version with xlr outs.

Or there's this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cambridge-Audio-DacMagic-Plus-Digital-to-Analogue-Converter-/191135360916?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Other&hash=item2c808e2794#ht_338wt_1259

That's more what i look for, cambridge DacMagic Plus

 

[lilneige]

As a NAD M51 owner and use the DAC as preamp, I would recommend NAD D1050. Their digital volume control is very decent.

Edited..my bad the volume control on d1050 can only used with headphone. So it may not be able to act as a preamp.

 

[gasolin]

As a NAD M51 owner and use the DAC as preamp, I would recommend NAD D1050. Their digital volume control is very decent.

Edited..my bad the volume control on d1050 can only used with headphone. So it may not be able to act as a preamp.

Have thought about the nad dac (is with discount atm),but the price difference is not big to the nad D3020, but as you mentioned the volume *** is only for headphones

 

[pauln]

http://www.whathifi.com/review/matrix-mini-i xlr output

He must have made a mistake on the Dr Dac, unless there's another version with xlr outs.

Or there's this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cambridge-Audio-DacMagic-Plus-Digital-to-Analogue-Converter-/191135360916?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Other&hash=item2c808e2794#ht_338wt_1259

That's more what i look for, cambridge DacMagic Plus

If it were me, I'd buy the Teac UD-H01 in the sale at Audio Affair, reduced from £299 to £249.

On second thoughts, if it were me, I'd get up and use the volume control on the speakers.

 

[gasolin]

http://www.whathifi.com/review/matrix-mini-i xlr output

He must have made a mistake on the Dr Dac, unless there's another version with xlr outs.

Or there's this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cambridge-Audio-DacMagic-Plus-Digital-to-Analogue-Converter-/191135360916?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Other&hash=item2c808e2794#ht_338wt_1259

That's more what i look for, cambridge DacMagic Plus

If it were me, I'd buy the Teac UD-H01 in the sale at Audio Affair, reduced from £299 to £249.

On second thoughts, if it were me, I'd get up and use the volume control on the speakers.

Seems okay this dac from teac, i live in denmark so it might be a bit expensive to buy from uk (don't know what it costs in denmark).

Can i put the dac under my 29" Asus PB298Q?

Not possible to use my volume knob on my speakers, i use a pair of krk rokit 5's

 

[pauln]

You change your signature recently? Thought you had Adam somethings.

Asus monitor sitting on Teac DAC? Not a clue, sorry.

 

[gasolin]

You change your signature recently? Thought you had Adam somethings.

Asus monitor sitting on Teac DAC? Not a clue, sorry.

Yes

I though i had to when people talk about something i don't have

 

[gasolin]

This one used for about 130€ http://www.whathifi.com/review/caiman

It may not have xlr output, but with an adapter i can use my xlr cable, but the size is very good not to deep and the width is okay.

Can it be used only with usb cable for power?

 

[pauln]

Doesn't your Presonus already have a volume control - it's an external usb sound card as far as I can see? And what's so special about your xlr cable that you 'must' use it? I don't see any balanced output from the Sonus?

I feel that you don't really have a clue and I'm wasting my time. Sorry.

 

[gasolin]

There is balanced output http://www.musicalstore.net/images/B_PRESONUS_audiobox22vsl.jpg trs and xlr are balanced, got a good xlr cable for about half the price

 

[pauln]

There is balanced output http://www.musicalstore.net/images/B_PRESONUS_audiobox22vsl.jpg trs and xlr are balanced, got a good xlr cable for about half the price

You're right, balanced trs outs on the back. The xlr is input only surely? http://www.presonus.com/products/AudioBox-22VSL/techspecs

So, why can't you just connect the Presonus to your KRK's with a couple of 1/4" trs jack to jack cables, sell your xlr cables and use the volume control on the Presonus and have done with it? I may be missing something but it seems to me that you've already got exactly what you were asking for in your first post?

 

[gasolin]

There is balanced output http://www.musicalstore.net/images/B_PRESONUS_audiobox22vsl.jpg trs and xlr are balanced, got a good xlr cable for about half the price

You're right, balanced trs outs on the back. The xlr is input only surely? http://www.presonus.com/products/AudioBox-22VSL/techspecs

So, why can't you just connect the Presonus to your KRK's with a couple of 1/4" trs jack to jack cables, sell your xlr cables and use the volume control on the Presonus and have done with it? I may be missing something but it seems to me that you've already got exactly what you were asking for in your first post?

I use the tc electronic into my soundcard and into a a dti box and then the good and expensive xlr cable into my speakers. The cable from my volume knob is just to short to go from my soundcard to my speakers so i have to get som cables even if i didn't used the dti humm,ground loop filter.

Don't know if i can use the volume knob on my soundcard and if it will have an negative influence on the sound quality, but the knop is a bit small and hard to reach