Ok maybe a DAC, but.......

[admin_exported]

Hello All

I am thinking about getting a lend of an external DAC from my audio shop just to try and see what all the fuss is about.

However I just have one question for now - would it just be a case of connecting the DAC to my laptop via USB and then connecting the cable to my amp, opening i-tunes and pressing play.

Will the music automatically play through the DAC or would I have to change some settings? and if so can you explain what settings?

I could look through the tons of posts on DAC's and probably find the answer to this - but i think this way maybe slightly quicker.

Thank you, and sorry for another DAC post.

 

[John Duncan]

It could depend on the computer and the DAC, but generally yes.

 

[John Duncan]

Provided it's a USB-equipped DAC, of course....

 

[mikeinbrum]

Your Leema kit is pretty fancy.... I suspect for a DAC to impress you you'll be looking at sending lossless files into DAC offerings from Bryston, Bel Canto, or Chord.... none of which are cheap, but all of which will pleasantly surprise you.

 

[VoodooDoctor]

I use a Benchmark DAC-1 USB with the Leema Tucana with excellent results.

 

[chebby]

stm_70:... would it just be a case of connecting the DAC to my laptop via USB and then connecting the cable to my amp, opening i-tunes and pressing play.

Will the music automatically play through the DAC or would I have to change some settings? and if so can you explain what settings?

Yes just plug in the USB DAC and it will default to that instead of the computer's soundcard.

Settings (these are all for iTunes/Quicktime on windows)...

iTunes. 'Edit', 'Preferences', 'general', 'import settings', set to Apple Lossless and tick the 'correction' box.

Now 'preferences' then click the 'playback' tab and untick both 'sound enhancer' and 'soundcheck' boxes.

Now 'OK' that lot and come out of preferences and (still in iTunes) click on 'view' then 'show equaliser' and un-tick the 'on' box. Close equaliser.

Shut down iTunes and bring up Quicktime Player.

In apple Quicktime click 'edit' then 'preferences' and select 'Quicktime preferences' from the drop-down.

Click 'Audio' tab and look at the 'Sound out' panel. Set size to the maximum 24 bits (even if your USB DAC's word length is only 16 bit) and set the 'Rate' to 44.1khz (assuming you intend to playback lossless files from CDs and AAC downloads and internet radio via iTunes etc.)

(If your USB DAC is going to have a 24bit/96khz capability and you intend to download/rip 24bit/96khz material from SACD (or sites like Linn Records that do 'Studio Master' 24/96 downloads) then you need to play those files back from something other than iTunes.)

Always keep the PC/laptop's system master volume to max (unity gain is the posh term) and control volume from your amplifier.

Also when playing music from the computer go to 'sounds and audio devices' and the 'sounds' tab and turn sounds off. (No sounds). This stops all the usual laptop bleeps and dings from going throught the DAC.

I keep this on a desktop icon to speed things up a bit.

Still in 'sounds & audio devices', go to 'audio' and 'advanced' and make sure 'sample rate conversion quality' is set to 'best' and then click on 'effects' tab and ensure this is set to 'none'.

That lot should all stay set and don't have to be repeated.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks all for your help, special thanks to Chebby for that mega detailed reply.