What advantage using DAC

[admin_exported]

What advantage is there in using a DAC converter rather than just having a lead from my laptop headphone socket to the 'audio in' socket on my amp?

 

[noogle]

1) Better sound quality. The DACs built into laptops aren't very good and can also pick up electrical noise from the other components in the laptop.

2) Support for hi-rez digital music download formats e.g. 96/24 or 192/24.

 

[chebby]

Because the standard built-in sound card, found inside the average computer, probably has about 20p worth of components dedicated to the quality of the analogue output which will - invariably - be designed to be used with a pair of sub £50, plastic desktop PC speakers.

A standalone DAC costing £200 will have about £20's worth of components and will make a much better job of it. (Probably as good as the DAC found inside a £500 CD player or a top end AV reciever.)

Basically it's going to sound better because the manufacturer can spend 100 times more money on much higher quality components and still make a nice profit.

 

[Anonymous]

What advantage is there in using a DAC converter rather than just having a lead from my laptop headphone socket to the 'audio in' socket on my amp?

Better sound.