• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Considering a uDAC for gaming. Which?

BTRY B 529th FA BN

BTRY B 529th FA BN

Lifer
Yesterday, mfenn, got me hip to uDAC devices, through another person's post. I've only done a little research: Wiki on ASIO. I'm interested in trying it out on my gaming rig. I'm interested in the dropped latency benefits and sound quality. I have a 5.1 creative speaker setup. I would consider a set of headphones if it didn't add too much cost to the adventure. What uDAC can you recommend me for my queries?
 
UDAC = USB DAC?

If so I use the hrt music streamer ii+ with a fiio e9 to power akg q701's. Best gaming setup I have never heard.
 
Why USB DAC?

Why not get a quality Sound Card with built in amp for headphones and pair it with a decent headphones for about $200?

The sound card has many features for gaming while still giving you "decent" sound for a solid headphones.
 
What interests me is the use of ASIO with the uDAC. This was my question from this thread. The suggestion was brought up at post #17, if you want to see a little more about the discussion.

I currently have an Xonar DGX with the Uni drivers installed. I'm guessing while the Uni drivers have ASIO installed with them, there still is the dependency of the Xonar drivers? Am I wrong? If anyone could elaborate a little more on how this works, that would be cool. Thanks. I guess this should of been my first question.

Anyways, my user scenario is I use a 5.1 Creative surround speaker system. If I were to go ahead with a uDAC like the uDAC-2 and I needed an Amp I have an ancient 3250B Marantz Pre Amb, and a Model 300 DC Amp - lol, that would be ridiculous.. but anyways it would server a purpose until i could get something of a smaller foot-print 😉
 
BTRY B 529th FA BN said:
What interests me is the use of ASIO with the uDAC. This was my question from this thread. The suggestion was brought up at post #17, if you want to see a little more about the discussion.

I currently have an Xonar DGX with the Uni drivers installed. I'm guessing while the Uni drivers have ASIO installed with them, there still is the dependency of the Xonar drivers? Am I wrong? If anyone could elaborate a little more on how this works, that would be cool. Thanks. I guess this should of been my first question.

Anyways, my user scenario is I use a 5.1 Creative surround speaker system. If I were to go ahead with a uDAC like the uDAC-2 and I needed an Amp I have an ancient 3250B Marantz Pre Amb, and a Model 300 DC Amp - lol, that would be ridiculous.. but anyways it would server a purpose until i could get something of a smaller foot-print 😉
Click to expand...

The uDAC-2 has a built-in headphone amp.

How do your 5.1 speakers connect to your computer? The uDAC only has stereo and coax digital out.
 
TheStu said:
The uDAC-2 has a built-in headphone amp.

How do your 5.1 speakers connect to your computer? The uDAC only has stereo and coax digital out.
Click to expand...

Through the tiny jacks on the back of the sound card. There is an Orange, Green, and Black wire that comes from the sub-woofer to the PC
 
BTRY B 529th FA BN said:
Through the tiny jacks on the back of the sound card. There is an Orange, Green, and Black wire that comes from the sub-woofer to the PC
Click to expand...

In that case, I'm not so sure that this would work for you directly. You might be better off just sticking with your existing setup if it isn't causing you any problems.
 
TheStu said:
In that case, I'm not so sure that this would work for you directly. You might be better off just sticking with your existing setup if it isn't causing you any problems.
Click to expand...

I was sorta suspecting this kind of answer due to the headphone jack and only 2 output jacks. Is there any other uDAC device that would work?

EDIT: I was considering a headphone setup..
 
well Its kinda hard to answer with the 5.1 creative speaker setup since your setup uses 3.5mm jacks and are the speakers powered? Your best bet would probably be http://us.store.creative.com/Creative-Sound-Blaster-XFi-Surround-5.1/M/B0044DEDCA.htm

If your speakers were 2 wires (didnt have the 3.5mm jacks) and not powered Id just run the optical out to a receiver and have your speakers hooked up to it. Use the receivers dac and amp.
Or buy a Dac and hook that into the receiver/amp but that just seems like a money dump when you could just invest in a marantz or denon AVR.

If you just want a cheap headphone setup to get into it Id recommend the Schiit Modi & Magni combo.

Id recommened Head-fi.org If you want to read/learn more about headphone dacs, but your gonna need a amp also. "Sorry about your wallet!"
 
Last edited:
The 5.1 speakers are powered by a wall plug. The 5 speakers hook up to it via 2 pair of RCA (red and white) plugs, then the 'Center' speaker just has a single RCA. Then from the Sub-woofer leaves a cord that has the Green, Orange, n Black colored 3.5mm jack that goes into the Xonar DGX
 
Last edited:
BTRY B 529th FA BN said:
The 5.1 speakers are powered by a wall plug. The 5 speakers hook up to it via 2 pair of RCA (red and white) plugs, then the 'Center' speaker just has a single RCA. Then from the Sub-woofer leaves a cord that has the Green, Orange, n Black colored 3.5mm jack that goes into the Xonar DGX
Click to expand...

Right, so the sub is acting as the 'receiver/splitter' in this scenario, and you could get an after market one to replace it and then hook everything up from there (PC->Receiver, RCA male-3.5 female->sub, and then the remaining speakers you connect directly to the receiver.)

But this is really no different from your existing setup, just with maybe higher quality. At that point you would be mostly limited by the quality of the speakers anyway.

Now headphones, that's a horse of a different color. The Schiit Modi & Magni that Tattare recommended isn't a bad place to start, and neither would be the setup that VulgarDisplay mentioned.
 
Ok. I didn't think it'd be this much involved just to try out a uDAC-2. I was just thinking I needed to choose one, pull out my Xonar. and then just run the 2 RCA out's form the uDAC-2 to the Creative speaker system. Understanding that it would only be stereo, 2 channel
 
BTRY B 529th FA BN said:
Ok. I didn't think it'd be this much involved just to try out a uDAC-2. I was just thinking I needed to choose one, pull out my Xonar. and then just run the 2 RCA out's form the uDAC-2 to the Creative speaker system. Understanding that it would only be stereo, 2 channel
Click to expand...

You could do that, all you need is a RCA to 3.5mm adapter (and maybe a female-female 3.5mm coupler).

That being said, there's no point in getting a fancy outboard DAC to use with computer speakers. You need to get a set of real bookshelf speakers and an amp first.
 
mfenn said:
You could do that, all you need is a RCA to 3.5mm adapter (and maybe a female-female 3.5mm coupler).

That being said, there's no point in getting a fancy outboard DAC to use with computer speakers. You need to get a set of real bookshelf speakers and an amp first.
Click to expand...

What uDAC do you recommend? And should I go for a pair of headphones? just for gaming..

EDIT: I'm interested in trying out ASIO with this device. I've installed it with my sound card but I can't tell if the drivers for the Xonar are still being depended on.
 
Last edited:
BTRY B 529th FA BN said:
What uDAC do you recommend? And should I go for a pair of headphones? just for gaming..

EDIT: I'm interested in trying out ASIO with this device. I've installed it with my sound card but I can't tell if the drivers for the Xonar are still being depended on.
Click to expand...

Just as an FYI, uDAC is a NuForce trade name. The more generic term would be USB DAC. If you want to go with a NuForce (they're pretty good), then the uDAC-2SE is what you want to look at.

I would recommend headphones if you want to get the most bang for your buck. A good rule of thumb is that you should spend roughly twice as much on headphones as the DAC, so if you don't already have $400-$500 set, I would recommend the Sennheiser HD600's.
 
mfenn said:
Just as an FYI, uDAC is a NuForce trade name. The more generic term would be USB DAC. If you want to go with a NuForce (they're pretty good), then the uDAC-2SE is what you want to look at.

I would recommend headphones if you want to get the most bang for your buck. A good rule of thumb is that you should spend roughly twice as much on headphones as the DAC, so if you don't already have $400-$500 set, I would recommend the Sennheiser HD600's.
Click to expand...


So something like this will work for gaming? I don't think Unreal Tournament can use ASIO :hmm:
 
BTRY B 529th FA BN said:
Is there software drivers to make it work or is it a standalone that can be used with ASIO? just want to be sure before i spend that kind of money
Click to expand...

No worries, I understand completely. Its drivers will cause it to show up as separate devices one for the S/PDIF passthrough (you won't need this), one for the normal USB audio, and another for ASIO.

Side note, with the ASIO4ALL driver, you should be able to send an ASIO signal from any Windows app.
 
mfenn said:
No worries, I understand completely. Its drivers will cause it to show up as separate devices one for the S/PDIF passthrough (you won't need this), one for the normal USB audio, and another for ASIO.

Side note, with the ASIO4ALL driver, you should be able to send an ASIO signal from any Windows app.
Click to expand...


Thanks a bunch! I really appreciate your help 🙂

:beer:
 
VulgarDisplay said:
UDAC = USB DAC?

If so I use the hrt music streamer ii+ with a fiio e9 to power akg q701's. Best gaming setup I have never heard.
Click to expand...

Your amp is woefully underpowered for those headphones. AKG cans are notoriously difficult to drive well, and a weak FiiO isn't gonna do it. If you want to hear what your headphones are actually supposed to sound like, get yourself a respectable amplifier.
 
Sheninat0r said:
Your amp is woefully underpowered for those headphones. AKG cans are notoriously difficult to drive well, and a weak FiiO isn't gonna do it. If you want to hear what your headphones are actually supposed to sound like, get yourself a respectable amplifier.
Click to expand...

And what would you recommend?

I'd actually love to hear how gaming would sound on the (my) Marantz 3250 Pre-amp, and DC 300 Amp!
 
Sorry to revive this thread. I was watching a Nuforce uDAC 2 SE on eBay. It ended and was re-listed. I've looked into the item a little more. I've searched around trying to find differences between a Special Edition VS an non Special Edition and I've come up with nothing which brings up concern if I were to go ahead and buy one. I'm basically looking for Asynchronous USB Audio in combination with ASIO for gaming. Are the Special Editions housed with the 'Gold' screws? That's the only thing I could find between them.. maybe the silver or stainless steel face and back-plate but ... :hmm:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top