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Looking for a 2.1 DAC

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crashtech said:
I don't understand it, and don't know how much time I'm willing to invest. You've been helpful, but your answers are rather terse, so I don't think I can rely on you to hold my hand through what looks to be quite the learning curve. I do appreciate the info, though.
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lulz I do appologise if I seem terse. I am dealing with my 18 month old twins so my answers tend to be short.

I do agree this may not be within your reach. In essence youneed the minidsp and the minidigi to provide you with digital input and integrate your speakers with the sub. Think of them as glorified lego.
 
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Whats your budget?

It sounds like a 2.1 channel preamp would be better for you, since you already have the amp for the speakers and sub. Just doing a very quick search I found this Parasound P5. It's audiophile grade and will cost you about $1000. Has everything you want, and a lot more.
 
JeffMD said:
And you would be wrong.
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OK, you say sound cards can be good, and I can't disagree because I haven't bought one in a long time. Regardless, I don't want a sound card. I want to move signal processing and amplification away from my motherboard. I hope you will be respectful of my wishes.
 
sdifox said:
so usb soundcard is not good enough?
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crashtech said:
It might be, I don't know.
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crashtech said:
OK, you say sound cards can be good, and I can't disagree because I haven't bought one in a long time. Regardless, I don't want a sound card. I want to move signal processing and amplification away from my motherboard. I hope you will be respectful of my wishes.
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Uh an external soundcard has a DAC and is external to your computer case. What is the difference of a DAC that hookups up over optical vs a sound card that hooks up over USB? Its doing the same thing in the end.

The sound card will also have multiple line level outs and will solve your issue with needing 2.1 line level output. Personally, I think a PCIE soundcard would be fine, recording professionals use them, its a huge improvement over onboard sound, the noise is not an issue. But if you want it to be external of the PC case, then just get a high quality USB Soundcard, usually they will list the specific DAC chips they are using if that matters to you.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102035&ignorebbr=1

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132073&ignorebbr=1

These two would do what you want and have high reviews and can playback 24bit 96hz. I would go with the asus since Ive had issues with my creative (internal card) drivers.
 
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crashtech said:
OK, you say sound cards can be good, and I can't disagree because I haven't bought one in a long time. Regardless, I don't want a sound card. I want to move signal processing and amplification away from my motherboard. I hope you will be respectful of my wishes.
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Did you even click on the link I provided? its a USB soundcard. The sound is as far as it is going to get from your mobo.

Edit: It ate my link! Need to feed the forum more frequently.

https://www.asus.com/us/Sound_Cards/Xonar_U5/
 
aj654987 said:
Uh an external soundcard has a DAC and is external to your computer case. What is the difference of a DAC that hookups up over optical vs a sound card that hooks up over USB? Its doing the same thing in the end.

The sound card will also have multiple line level outs and will solve your issue with needing 2.1 line level output. Personally, I think a PCIE soundcard would be fine, recording professionals use them, its a huge improvement over onboard sound, the noise is not an issue. But if you want it to be external of the PC case, then just get a high quality USB Soundcard, usually they will list the specific DAC chips they are using if that matters to you.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102035&ignorebbr=1

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132073&ignorebbr=1

These two would do what you want and have high reviews and can playback 24bit 96hz. I would go with the asus since Ive had issues with my creative (internal card) drivers.
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The kinds of USB devices you link might work, thanks for taking the time to show them to me.
 
RIFLEMAN007 said:
avsforum or audioholics
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Yeah, maybe so. I might go DIY on this thing because paradoxically it seems that simplicity comes at a price! I don't ask for much functionality from this thing, a DAC, 2.1, which is a 2-way xover with summed lows, a pot for gain and some adjustment of xover frequency. That's all. I'll be damned if I'm gonna spend $1000 for that.
 
aj654987 said:
These two would do what you want and have high reviews and can playback 24bit 96hz. I would go with the asus since Ive had issues with my creative (internal card) drivers.
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+1

I still use an internal one, but it is an older Azentech 7.1 using a X-Fi chip, they had the license to do that then.

I always hated Creative sound cards personally over time.

IMHO.
 
Wouldn't it be easier, cheeper, and sound better if you split an analogue signal instead of digital? All you need is a DAC and another amp.
 
Billb2 said:
Wouldn't it be easier, cheeper, and sound better if you split an analogue signal instead of digital? All you need is a DAC and another amp.
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Please elaborate. I know I need a DAC, but what relieves me of the need for some sort of crossover?
 
At this point, definitely just buy another A/V receiver. Nothing wrong with the DIY route. It's just the nature of DIY. It's a hobby which means it's not simple... well, the gurus make it simple. If you are beginning and learning, then you'll make mistakes that cost a lot of time and money... but you'll also learn ALOT.
 
Another A/V receiver brings me back to big and hot, which I would like to avoid. There are some pretty decent DACs out there for reasonable money, there has to be an active xover that will do what I want.
 
I won't deny they are big, but I never considered my Yamaha to run hot, but then I am only driving stereo speakers.
 
I don't know that I've really seen a DAC with a sub out...that's something for a pre-amp.

Do you have volume controls on your amps? Or does the DAC need to have the volume controls?
 
What I want is at minimum an integrated DAC/preamp. Many DACs on the market are actually this, even though they don't say so. The Teac I linked earlier is very close with its sub out, all it needs are pre outs in place of it's integrated amp.

I'd like to have a volume control. The amps have gain adjustments, but they are not convenient as they are tucked under my desk.

I'm not opposed to getting an active crossover separate from the DAC, which is probably how this is going to go. The MiniDSP sdifox linked earlier will do this, but it's a little more involved than I wanted and requires a room mic and programming to properly set up.
 
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