How To How do I get my sound working through my DAC? Need some advice!

[Yoran]

Hello everyone,

I'd recently decided I wanted some better audio gear, moving a step up from my Beyerdynamic DT 770's and my Schiit Magni Heresy. I decided on some Hifiman Arya Stealths, with the Topping A70 & D70 Pro's. I got the amp in the mail first, connected it with a mini rca cable directly to my desktop and experienced no problems.

Then the dac came in the mail. Unplugged the mini rca, connected the amp & dac with the topping tcx1 xlr cables and a usb a/c directly into my motherboard. Updated both the amp and dac to the latest versions, got the right driver for the dac, swapped to the right output in the windows playback device section... no sound. Both the amp and dac turn on, screens work, windows recognizes the correct dac and even recognizes there's sound being played through the right playback device. Dac has been set to the right input aswell. I feel like I've tried most things, but I am very new to this.

I must be missing something. Everything else seems to work, everything is recognized, but I'm not hearing anything. Where do I start troubleshooting this issue?

 

[Factualist]

I had a similar issue, not with the same gear. Turned out switching the amp on first, then source then DAC resolved the issue.

 

[Friesiansam]

What software are you using to play music?

 

[Yoran]

What software are you using to play music?

I'm unsure of what you mean; would I need specific software to be able to hear sounds, and then troubleshoot from there? Youtube, Spotify and other software I've tried haven't been able to produce sound so far. Or are you referring to specific drivers software?

 

[Jasonovich]

Have you done the basics in Windows setup? In the sound output option have you selected the Topping DACs?
Sorry if this sounds obvious. I assume you downloaded the Topping USB (ASIO) drivers.

 

[Yoran]

Have you done the basics in Windows setup? In the sound output option have you selected the Topping DACs?
Sorry if this sounds obvious. I assume you downloaded the Topping USB (ASIO) drivers.

View attachment 8293

Haha, no worries at all. I've downloaded the Topping drivers, updated both the amp and dac to their latest firmware and have selected my output device to be 'Topping USB DAC' (this was 'Topping D70 Pro Sabre' before the driver install). Windows recognizes the DAC, there is volume being displayed on the screen of the DAC, I've selected USB on the DAC but the only thing that is missing is sound. I'll try reinstalling the drivers tonight to see if that makes any difference, but I just don't know how to troubleshoot this issue effectively.

If the DAC isn't on, so just the AMP, audio plays fine through Realtek.

 

[Friesiansam]

If you are using the Realtek sound device in your pc, whilst using your external DAC, you are sending the DAC an analogue signal, therefore it cannot do it’s job.

You need to use WASAPI or ASIO drivers to feed the DAC a digital signal via USB.

I use Foobar2000 and the ASIO drivers supplied by Pathos, to send to my headphone amp’s DAC via USB.

 

[Yoran]

If you are using the Realtek sound device in your pc, whilst using your external DAC, you are sending the DAC an analogue signal, therefore it cannot do it’s job.

You need to use WASAPI or ASIO drivers to feed the DAC a digital signal via USB.

I use Foobar2000 and the ASIO drivers supplied by Pathos, to send to my headphone amp’s DAC via USB.

Thank you, I'll give this a shot tonight!

 

[Jasonovich]

Haha, no worries at all. I've downloaded the Topping drivers, updated both the amp and dac to their latest firmware and have selected my output device to be 'Topping USB DAC' (this was 'Topping D70 Pro Sabre' before the driver install). Windows recognizes the DAC, there is volume being displayed on the screen of the DAC, I've selected USB on the DAC but the only thing that is missing is sound. I'll try reinstalling the drivers tonight to see if that makes any difference, but I just don't know how to troubleshoot this issue effectively.

If the DAC isn't on, so just the AMP, audio plays fine through Realtek.

Okey Dokey.

DAG? It's a DOG of an instruction
Sorry another obvious question.

Do have the D70 Pro set DAC or Preamp Mode? If you have it set to the latter, check the volume dial. I know obvious

As commented above, if you're using Foobar 2000 you need to download the plug-ins. It's a bit of a dogs dinner, when I was using Foobar 2000, I didn't follow the instructions correctly and I wasn't getting the sound.

I like Foobar it's free but I prefer J River (small costs), everything just works particularly DSD and high res formats. - see link below, you can use it free for thirty days then you have to cough cough.....cough up

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=67ab945267781390632064bfc7a15ed610667f2a0fa624b623eff3f259fa37c7JmltdHM9MTczODE5NTIwMA&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=4&fclid=37f1f00e-6c14-6254-2838-e5616d2563af&psq=j+river+media+player&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuanJpdmVyLmNvbS8&ntb=1

 

[Vincent Kars]

have selected my output device to be 'Topping USB DAC' (this was 'Topping D70 Pro Sabre' before the driver install). Windows recognizes the DAC, there is volume being displayed on the screen of the DAC, I've selected USB on the DAC

Looks like the computer part is correct.
Any setting on the DAC or amp to use the XLR connection?
Does the RCA out of the DAC works?

 

[Yoran]

No progress yet, unfortunately. Made sure I had the right Topping driver:



And also downloaded Foobar2000 with the installation wizard, but still no sound.

I'm sure it's a settings/drivers thing, but I can't figure it out for the life of me. Any chance screenshot below has anything to do with it, as it shows ASIO not active?



RCA from the DAC works the same as USB (so unfortunately, no sound, but noise is being displayed on the screen and in windows) and the setting on the DAC/AMP being 'BAL' doesn't change anything either.

If anyone's willing to troubleshoot this with me on a call, I'd be ever so grateful 😂

 

[Jasonovich]

No progress yet, unfortunately. Made sure I had the right Topping driver:

View attachment 8297

And also downloaded Foobar2000 with the installation wizard, but still no sound.

I'm sure it's a settings/drivers thing, but I can't figure it out for the life of me. Any chance screenshot below has anything to do with it, as it shows ASIO not active?

View attachment 8298

RCA from the DAC works the same as USB (so unfortunately, no sound, but noise is being displayed on the screen and in windows) and the setting on the DAC/AMP being 'BAL' doesn't change anything either.

If anyone's willing to troubleshoot this with me on a call, I'd be ever so grateful 😂

Foobar2000 is a dog but you only need to install it correctly once and it will work seamlessly.
Open the preferences in the Foobar2000 menu and check if Topping plug-in has been installed.

Configure Audio Output:

Open Preferences: Within Foobar2000, go to "File" > "Preferences".

Select Audio Device: Navigate to the "Playback" tab and choose your Topping DAC as the output device from the drop-down menu.

Install Necessary Components:

Access Components: In the Preferences window, go to the "Components" tab.

Find ASIO Driver: Search for and install the ASIO driver specifically designed for your Topping DAC model.
Install Other Plugins (optional): Depending on your needs, you might install additional plugins like a DSD decoder if you plan to play high-resolution audio formats.

 

[Yoran]

Foobar2000 is a dog but you only need to install it correctly once and it will work seamlessly.
Open the preferences in the Foobar2000 menu and check if Topping plug-in has been installed.

Configure Audio Output:

Open Preferences: Within Foobar2000, go to "File" > "Preferences".

Select Audio Device: Navigate to the "Playback" tab and choose your Topping DAC as the output device from the drop-down menu.

Install Necessary Components:

Access Components: In the Preferences window, go to the "Components" tab.

Find ASIO Driver: Search for and install the ASIO driver specifically designed for your Topping DAC model.
Install Other Plugins (optional): Depending on your needs, you might install additional plugins like a DSD decoder if you plan to play high-resolution audio formats.

I followed the installation guide initially, and have all the components installed for it to be able to work. I've gone through all the steps you listed several times, but no good unfortunately.

Although a small step, I've been able to produce sound for the first time through the DAC. Using a youtube video as a test, the video was very slowed down, compressed and bad quality, but I heard sound. Then it stopped working.

Have I selected the wrong things, or is it possible I've installed too many different drivers for the DAC to be able to produce sound?

Edit: I somehow managed to get some sound out of my DAC, playing a Youtube video, for a very short time after restarting my pc. Then it cut off clean and I'm not hearing anymore sound. Surely it has something to do with my settings, sample rate or something of the sort. I've selected the following:






Any ideas?

 

[DougK1]

Your Foobar Output/Devices tab looks very different to mine:
Under the Device drop-down menu you should be able to select which output device you require. But then the difference in appearance might be you just have a newer version than me.

 

[Friesiansam]

One thing comes to mind, you may need to make sure ASIO+DSD is only selected when you are actually playing DSD files. Don't know if that is actually the case but, may be worth trying the setting further up the list in devices "ASIO: Topping USB Audio Device" (no DSD).

 

[Yoran]

Your Foobar Output/Devices tab looks very different to mine:
Under the Device drop-down menu you should be able to select which output device you require. But then the difference in appearance might be you just have a newer version than me.
View attachment 8317

Should be the same now:

With everything selected correctly (I think), and the right drivers installed, still no sound. Would the 'ASIO not active' have anything to do with it?

@Friesiansam, I've tried all the options with the Topping DAC in the list and none of them produce any sound, unfortunately.

 

[DougK1]

Sam and Jason are on the right track, I'm sure it will be something really simple in the end. I've got a Korg DAC/head amp and Foobar only picks it up when it's powered up and connected, the only thing I have to do is select it in the Output menu. I'm using WASAPI but should be identical for ASIO.
Just seen your reply, I'll boot up my PC and get back to you.

 

[Jasonovich]

I followed the installation guide initially, and have all the components installed for it to be able to work. I've gone through all the steps you listed several times, but no good unfortunately.

Although a small step, I've been able to produce sound for the first time through the DAC. Using a youtube video as a test, the video was very slowed down, compressed and bad quality, but I heard sound. Then it stopped working.

Have I selected the wrong things, or is it possible I've installed too many different drivers for the DAC to be able to produce sound?

Edit: I somehow managed to get some sound out of my DAC, playing a Youtube video, for a very short time after restarting my pc. Then it cut off clean and I'm not hearing anymore sound. Surely it has something to do with my settings, sample rate or something of the sort. I've selected the following:

View attachment 8310
View attachment 8311
View attachment 8312
View attachment 8313
View attachment 8314
Any ideas?

The settings look Ok to me

How many audio devices are active on Windows? Are you able to provide a screenshot of your Window's default sound settings.

 

[Vincent Kars]

I'm afraid using Foobar with drivers allowing exclusive access to the DAC only complicates matters.
Normally if you plugin a USB DAC this will trigger the device enumeration. Because of this, Windows knows the properties of the DAC.
All you have to do is setting the DAC to be the default audio device and it will play.
You might check all the settings in the sound panel (volume at 100?) but if you see all this stuff in the sound panel using different drivers won't help you.

The Well-Tempered Computer

 

[Yoran]

Interesting. Downloaded ASIO4ALL to see if I'd get any sound. Having all the ASIO options selected:

I'm getting sound, but only playing an .mp3 I downloaded to test within foobar2000. Through ASIO4ALL v2:

\

Opening the interface gets me the following:



The follow-up question now is, since I'm getting sound through the DAC within Foobar2000, is how to get sound outside of just Foobar2000.

@Jasonovich, of course!



So, although I'm getting sound now in Foobar2000, the DAC being the output device, I'm not getting readings within Windows10 Sound. Last step is getting sound outside of Foobar2000, I suppose?

 

[Jasonovich]

I followed the installation guide initially, and have all the components installed for it to be able to work. I've gone through all the steps you listed several times, but no good unfortunately.

Although a small step, I've been able to produce sound for the first time through the DAC. Using a youtube video as a test, the video was very slowed down, compressed and bad quality, but I heard sound. Then it stopped working.

Have I selected the wrong things, or is it possible I've installed too many different drivers for the DAC to be able to produce sound?

Edit: I somehow managed to get some sound out of my DAC, playing a Youtube video, for a very short time after restarting my pc. Then it cut off clean and I'm not hearing anymore sound. Surely it has something to do with my settings, sample rate or something of the sort. I've selected the following:

View attachment 8310
View attachment 8311
View attachment 8312
View attachment 8313
View attachment 8314
Any ideas?

Ah I see it now!



Uncheck ASIO: Topping USB Audio Device and select ASIO: foo_dsd_asio


I remember when I was using Foobar2000 I was using ASIO: foo_dsd_asio as default. I have a feeling it might be that

 

[Yoran]

Ah I see it now!

View attachment 8326

Uncheck ASIO: Topping USB Audio Device and select ASIO: foo_dsd_asio


I remember when I was using Foobar2000 I was using ASIO: foo_dsd_asio as default. I have a feeling it might be that

It's interesting; deselecting the ASIO: Topping USB audio device and selecting the ASIO foo_dsd_asio made sound work in Foobar, but as soon as I selected it in the output screen, it started playing sound. Out of this list, only the ASIO : ASIO4ALL v2 ones play sound in Foobar2000 for me. No sound in any other applications, from Chrome, Edge or downloaded .mp3 files.

Still not getting any sound outside Foobar2000 with very specific ASIO4ALL outputs, unfortunately.

 

[DougK1]

So this is what mine looks like: Is this of any use?

 

[DougK1]

I can easily toggle between the Korg DAC and PC DAC using the select playback device (speaker icon) on the desktop toolbar. Foobar does not need to be open to change the playback device. I'm running a W10 PC, set the volume to max on the PC and control volume output with the Topping.