Do I need a DAC for my speaker setup?

[Zunger]

So, being quite new at this I decided to go with a much promoted combo of Denon PMA520 and Q Acoustics 2020i. Life in Vietnam being what it is, I had to buy Boston Acoustics A26 instead. While the sound was lovely, I felt thoroughly ripped off. Those hiked up prices can really do a number on your bank account.

Anyways, I am currently waiting for my vinyl collection to come back from UK. Either way, I wanted to use these speakers with my laptop/PC as well. Do I need a DAC? Quite a lot of websites recommend ODAC/EHP-O2, but it is labeled as a headphone amp as well as a DAC. Will it improve the sound from my laptop in any noticeable way if I use it? If I am correct, I will have to connect it to my laptop and then the amp. Once again, I am completely clueless about this, so would just like some advice. My first post here too.

 

[Overdose]

Whilst you don't need a DAC to listen to your music from your Pc, it may help.
You could simply use the headphone or stereo outputs from the soundcard and go straight into your amp.
The DAC you mentioned is highly regarded and compares favourably to the Benchmark DAC 1.

 

[Zunger]

That's good to know. However, will that DAC (the one I mentioned) work with an amp and speakers setup? Since I only have a laptop right now, I am not sure whether the DAC inside is any good. Thanks for your advice

 

[Overdose]

There are two products that you mentioned, the ODAC and the Epiphany headphone amp with DAC incorporated.

The DAC (£99) can be used as a standalone device for your amp, the headphone amp/DAC (£187) could probably be used also, but it is designed to drive headhphones and I don't know what it would be like as a source for your amp.

I believe that the latest version of the ODAC has twin RCA connectors rather than one 3.5mm socket, but it shouldn't make any difference to sound quality.

 

[Zunger]

Just to clarify, this unit (http://epiphany-acoustics.co.uk/products-page/dacs/e-dac-24bit-miniature-usb-dac/) is solely a DAC, correct? If so, should it be safe to connect it to my amp (after connecting it to the source of course)?

 

[pauln]

Just to clarify, this unit (http://epiphany-acoustics.co.uk/products-page/dacs/e-dac-24bit-miniature-usb-dac/) is solely a DAC, correct? If so, should it be safe to connect it to my amp (after connecting it to the source of course)?

Yes.