USB DAC? I want one! But is it worth it?

[admin_exported]

I have my Pioneer LX01 speakers connected to my custom PC via an optical audio cable. I also use my Sennheiser ie8's and Beats by Dr. Dre headphones with my PC. I am using the inbuilt audio on the motherboard.

Now first of all, what is an external USB DAC? I undertsand the basics of them (kind of), but are they worth it?

Now here is the fun part, which one should I get? I have up to £200 to spend. It needs to have an optical audio link and a 3.5mm headphone jack!

Thanks

 

[True Blue]

Beresford Caiman http://www.homehifi.co.uk/products/Caiman.html

Cannot reccomend this highly enough

Best £200 I ever spent

 

[Anonymous]

Looks fantastic! Does it take the RAW audio data from my PC, and then converts all the audio itself?

 

[True Blue]

Yep, bypasses the internal soundcard. Outputs from your PC via optical or USB (I use USB), and coonetcs straight to your stereo via rca leads. Alternatively you can just plug in headphones. As I have previously stated this DAC gives sub £1000 CDP's a good run for their money

also see my thread http://community.whathifi.com/forums/t/357452.aspx

http://community.whathifi.com/forums/t/357452.aspx

 

[Anonymous]

If I plug my speakers into it via optical, will it give dolby digital?

 

[Anonymous]

The Beresford is great but I'd be wary if you're using it through your LX01. It's a great piece of kit however, which will serve you well into the future should you choose to upgrade your system. To add, the headphone out isn't up to standard. Still.

 

[True Blue]

No, you output your music from your Pc via optical or USB. Then let the Digital to Analogue Converter (DAC) decode thissignal and either:-

A: Send the analogue signal to your headphones

or

B: Send the analogue signal to an external amplifier via rca connections

Speakers have to be connected to an amplifier

 

[Anonymous]

What do you mean exactly?

 

[True Blue]

Connect your PC to the Caiman

then either

a: Plug headphones into the Caiman and listen

or

b: connect the Caiman to your reciever via RCA interconnects as you would a CDP and listen through your speakers

 

[Anonymous]

The LX01 is an integrated surround system?

 

[True Blue]

Or connect any optical input XBOX / PS3/ Sky / Virgin to the optical in and output to your reciever via phono leads

 

[Anonymous]

Yes. Very true! If I plug it in to the DAC, will I get dolby digital? True HD? etc... I also want to use the DAC for headphone and earphone use.

 

[Anonymous]

This DAC will be wasted on your LX01 speakers. Your B&Ws are a different matter altogether. If you're after a good headphone amp the Beresford doesn't come close in this price range.

 

[Anonymous]

Here is my ideal (I am sorry I am such a 'noob' at this), I want an external USB DAC that will improve the audio quality of my LX01's via optical. I want the DAC to be plugged in via USB. I want it to sound great with my Sennheiser ie8's, Beats by Dr. Dre, etc... I am NOT using this with my home cinema system, just my PC. Also, if I could use my SE USB2200a mic with it via analogue XLR, that would be great as well

 

[Anonymous]

You won't get a DAC that outputs a digital signal. That's the point...

 

[Anonymous]

My God I am stupid. I am sorry for wasting your time.

 

[Anonymous]

No worries, no need to bring your God into it. Cheers.

 

[Anonymous]

I am an atheist, don't worry

 

[John Duncan]

Hang on. Slightly confused reading through this - tell me what it is you want to do - plug your PC into your receiver *and* use it as a headphone amp?

 

[PJPro]

Yeah, I got lost towards the end there...

Why would you want a DAC to output digital? If you did, you'd want a ADC.

 

[the record spot]

Check out the rather decent M-Audio Transit. Approx £60. It'll do AD and DA conversion, fits in your shirt pocket and seems like a good option.

 

[Messiah]

Sorry to go off topic guys but AJ, how do you rate the Beats?? I am really interested in these as I love Rap/Hip Hop so some headphones designed by Dr Dre should suit the genre perfectly.........

 

[Anonymous]

Messiah,I can give you my opinion of the Beats which is that they are a fantastic set of earphones and would definately suit your style of music, they exhibit terrific bass reproduction.

I did a back to back comparisson with Bose QC3's (I think that was the model) and the only thing the Bose were better at to my ears was noise cancellation. The Beats are OK, but for example on a plane you can still hear a little engine drone, well at least until to turn the volume up!

 

[jcoops16]

I think you might be interested in the nuforce icon udac. Its a usb powered dac with 3.5mm headphone output along with rca out and it has digital out also, though this is coaxial not optical. all for $99. I dont know of any shops selling it at the moment though as it is fairly new.

 

[Messiah]

sillyoldman:
Messiah,I can give you my opinion of the Beats which is that they are a fantastic set of earphones and would definately suit your style of music, they exhibit terrific bass reproduction.

I did a back to back comparisson with Bose QC3's (I think that was the model) and the only thing the Bose were better at to my ears was noise cancellation. The Beats are OK, but for example on a plane you can still hear a little engine drone, well at least until to turn the volume up!

Thanks for the feedback

Gonna have to get saving.....