Do you need a DAC? (Audioengine D1 DAC Review)

[@Beef_Wagon]

Bigger doesn't mean smaller, that's for sure

[@turbotortiose]

+Melchi Zedeq >Mad Magazine avatar >Dick Jokes We've got another preteen on the loose!

[@turbotortiose]

uTukan Jealous because you cant meme? I'll have you know that my katana's are sharpened to the point where I can cut very cold old cheddar cheese.

[@melquizedec]

Milk Is Good your waifu is shit

[@turbotortiose]

Melchi Zedeq What waifu?

[@Soulggx]

+uTukan you are getting installed into a computer just to make memes?

[@Diamonddogusa]

I bought the audioengine A5+ with this DAC and can give a resounding recommendation for those products. Sound is so crisp, music just comes alive.

[@spitfire1x3]

"Bigger doesn't necessarily mean smaller"-ign.

[@DJ.1001]

I've used a creative x-fi hd usb dac/amp combo for the last year or so. It has been quite a good little unit and provides a substantial inprovement over integrated audio for its $89 price tag. It has rca input and output, optical in and out and also 1/4 in and out on the front. It also has very clean input preamps so it works well as a budget recording interface. I'd highly recommend it for someone looking to drive upper end headphone and an interface for speakers.

[@InfestedScapegoat]

2:33 Why do you have to bring the Jews into this?

[@FoodGurudevs]

he said Juice not Jews..!!

[@johnnytherobotontheledge]

!!!!!!!

[@Marr033]

google auto subtittles

[@TheSolistGamer]

InfestedScapegoat Mmh Jews DT 990 250Ohm "More JEWS left for impedance" Beyerdynamic is German so... Do you get the reference?

[@itzhakdavidi2775]

I'm a jew and find this offensive

[@AlexTechFix]

I'm pretty satisfied with my entry-level audiophile setup. I have a Creative Labs USB X-Fi HD DAC and an Audio-Technica ATH-M50 for headphones. The X-Fi HD DAC is perfect for my needs seeing as it has 1/4" headphone and mic ports while also having RCA line out and line in for a reasonable price of $90 on amazon as of this writing.

[@TechUploaded]

I have one of these hooked up to my A5+ speakers and it really did make a big difference vs my onboard audio on an ASUS Maximus VI Hero.

[@nroytv]

Wow! That was more specific to my needs than I could ever have expected. I got that MB and an Audio Technica M50. :)

[@randall96]

This is so wierd for me too. Exact MB and speakers lool

[@mariot.5178]

so a amp or dac has some bebefits for active spekers?

[@proxactual]

just a slight bit of extra info you skipped over: Connecting the D1 via USB will produce 24bit/96khz as you mentioned, however connecting the D1 via optical will produce 24bit/192khz. Buying your own optical cable (assuming you have a mobo which supports it) is the key to getting the most out of your investment, even with low impedance headphones. Also, from my personal experience, turning the knob on the D1 to its maximum will produce a bit of static hiss with some headphones, so make sure you keep the knob somewhere around the middle point and increase the sound in your music player / OS if needed instead :)

[@proxactual]

oh, I've owned a Audioengine D1 for a couple of years now, and it's paired with a pair of Audio Technica ATH-A700X's (closed-back version, for a tiny bit extra bass at the cost of some soundstage) Great review!

[@HardwareCanucks]

proxactual Thanks for pointing out the 192KHz when using optical! I dont think there's any real world advantage of using optical (192khz) over usb (96khz), at least I cant tell any difference in 1to1 listening tests. How about you?

[@Knightof1788]

USB 2 or USB 3 guys and is SPIDF or whatever it is optical out

[@siralot1045]

@Knight1788, you are saying that usb 2 and 3 have the same sound quality as an optical cord?

[@brucetuber626]

Plugged mine in yesterday routing the output to my amp/receiver. I probably won't use the headphone function much. I have quickly found that if you have good, non-coloring speakers, this provides more depth, clarity and overall presence. I did A/B comparisons to several CDs versus itunes files (all Apple Lossless or AIFF) and the D1 provides either parity to a CD or improved sound, depth and presence versus CDs. It dramatically "warms" the overall presentation versus the slight shrill delivery of the CD. Streaming with Spotify and Pandora are equally improved. It sounds great and is supposed to improve with time...40 to 50 hours. I'm already impressed and for me, worth every cent, particularly when the next major option from Cambridge Sound is $300.

[@JerryNeutron]

this looks like a super good option but I don't own any powered speakers so i'll probably go with the FiiO E10 when the time comes

[@etho86]

Production values for your vids are top notch! Bought a pair of the Beyerdynamic Custom One Pros based on your review. Thanks!

[@allenslansky]

Hardware, nice professionally done video. Lighting is good , audio is good, production value high. 90% of KZbin videos should be burned. Thanks for the good example.

[@HardwareCanucks]

allenslansky Thanks so much :D

[@inquisitorchristopher8527]

+HardwareCanucks ~~ Hey, I have some questions that I hoped you might have answers for. I have Sennheiser 280 HD Pro headphones, they're rated at 32 ohms. I've had these things since 2008 and I still love them. I was taking an Electronic Music class at community college and they had Behringer "Eurorack" MX 602A Mixers at each of the mixing stations. I was blown away from the first time I plugged my headphones into this thing because the bass had actual sound pressure. I could feel kicks. When I'd go back home after class and plug into my PC, it was weak and boring. Annnnyway, I read online that in order to drive my Sennies to their full potential, I need a DAC or an AMP. What's the cheapest one of these that I can get and still be able to get the sound I want out of my headphones? I don't want or need anything crazy with vaccume tubes, just a decent usb powered headphone amp or DAC that will power my headphones and also hopefully not have any interference noise. (One thing about the Euroracks at school that I didn't like, you could totally hear hiss coming through when you weren't playing anything). ALSO.... I recently replaced my old fraying pleather earcups with velvet / cloth ear pads. Got a set for a decent price off Ebay. Which do you think is better.... cloth cups, or the pleather cups? I notice that with the cloth cups, my ears don't get so... sweaty and I don't feel like the bones around my ears hurt after hours of wearing my Sennies (the old pads were also starting to go flat from age).

[@CanineArachnid]

+HardwareCanucks Excuse me Canucks, I have considered using a portable headphone amp, or DAC for using my Sennheiser HD 598's with my laptop. What would you recommend or what should I get? Betweens DACs and amps.

[@NathanMadison]

i have this dac connected to my xbobx one to power my Sennheiser HD 558 for gaming and surprisingly it even does a decent job at powering my Sennheiser HD 650. Thhis little unit woke up the details and the field of sound in game play making footsteps and directional cues easier to be heard. It has plenty of headroom to power the HD 558. the HD 650 on the other hand get pretty loud but its still comfortable at full power (yea yea i know this unit is not supposed to have enough power to push the hd650) but it does a good job unit my objective 2 arrives.. Its definitely a good starting point for those wondering what the big deal is about how dacs, amps affect sound quality..

[@gandraswow]

I got one of these in early Jan. and have been loving it. When i got it i switched between the port from my motherboard and then the d1 and the difference was night and day. For music you can hear a lot more of the background sound (some i didn't even know was there for some songs). I have them paired with ath m50 headphones and can hear very faint footsteps or enemy reload's in games now. At 170$ its not something i would recommend over other upgrades to your computer(if you game) but it will most likely be a better audio experience than what you are currently using. 10 out of 10 would recommend.

[@SuperStareGry]

Explananing audio quality is like explaining how magic works. Expect alot of nonsense. Also to point out audio equipment is often overpriced to make you think it sounds better. Common tactic i would say. And as with pc hardware you will never find best equipment.

[@mlhazan1]

you are absolutely right,All I knew is my mobo also convert digital to analog output for my speakers.The best option to get good sound quality is to buy receiver and good pairs of speakers with a subwoofer..this is a money making practice for big companies..

[@ArthaxtaDaVince777]

@@mlhazan1 What? This is total bullshit, a dedicated DAC is going to sound way better than your laptop or phone audio input. Why did you even bring up a AV receiver? That is for home theater, this is a little DAC meant for desktop/bookshelf speakers and and efficient headphones under 200 ohm. I suggest you to do some research before spouting nonsense in the future.

[@Matchyou2]

I recently bought a set of the new Audioengine 5+ to replace harman kardon Soundsticks II, which were great but had lost quality with long use. They sound great but i new nothing of the need for a DAC. I now understand their importance!

[@charlesota1385]

Got a D1 and totally pleased. Use mostly for streaming music through an Apple TV and it works wonders. Well worth the price.

[@joeypinili]

Fiio E17 Alpen is what i'm using now with L7 LOD. You couldn't ask for more. Amp/Dac plus built-in li-ion rechargeable batt. for portability and music on the go.

[@MrNice2028]

I think that you guys have the best tech reviews and filming on youtube...

[@tpcs2384]

This was probably the MOST interesting video from you since the 250d case overview/review

[@Spokki]

I recently upgraded my desktop audio, ended up with a dac/ amp combo (audio-gd 11.32) and a pair of beyerdynamics dt880 250 ohm. All I can say is that I wish I had done it earlier! The enjoyment of watching movies and listening to music or podcasts have been increased immensely. The downside is that I now can hear all the bad recordings, for instance on some youtube videos with low production value.

[@PhilippBoulanov]

Definitely looking into one. Sitting in my cart for a week; will give in my thoughts when I get it to supplement my A2's and HD558's

[@Hitenmusic]

hey ! m gona buy scarlett 2i2 ,, will it be comatible with my ath m20x ?????????????

[@guimazzoni]

You guys are good with the prices of stuff in America. A Fucking Sennheiser HD700 is arround R$4.699,00 here in Brazil, where the minimum salary is R$788,00. Everything is REALLY expensive here in Brazil. You guys from America-Europe are in heaven with those prices.

[@jamesallen5591]

I am running late 2012 iMac. I bought a pair of Sennheiser Hd D600s last month. I already had a headphone amp, so I bought a DAC to pair it with (why not?). After spending a couple of hours doing the A/B thing, the only difference I can hear between running the headphones directly from the headphone jack and running them from the DAC/Amp combo is that the USB output that connects the DAC to the computer is a little bit higher than the output from the headphone jack. That is it. That is all. I've had the amplifier too long to return it, so I can only return the DAC. But, hell, I don't think that is worth the hassle. I'll keep it for the increased output. If you have a decent computer and headphones that aren't insane when it comes to resistance you don't need and amp or an external DAC.

[@WaWa7848]

I definetely consider a DAC as I am an... audiophyle, listening to music through my Stereo system from my computer. In fact, it works reasonably well without a DAC, so I am looking forward to the same thing with a Dac in-between. I have a very good Vintage amplifier with dicrete transistor logic, a big transformer connected to two small Minimus 7 speakers via a passive B&O Cona Subwoofer. The Minimus perform as well as the Audioengine 2 speakers - to my opninion.

[@zoopyjoobles]

Walter Waes I have a luxman l410 integrated, and a Crown dc300 poweramp, Boston acoustics and PSB speakers, all vintage. I'm using a Behringer 202 as an interface for now. I listen to mostly classical, and it sounds good, but not as good as CD in. The Behringer is a very cheapo DAC but it's good to start with, I'm looking for an upgrade.

[@ForkMyDongle]

Best DAC review. Short and simple.

[@hayatecbt]

I run a Schiit Bifrost /w Uber Upgrade + Lyr setup with my HE-400/Q701 and its quite a good combination. With the bifrost and lyr as preout hooked to my Canton speakers though, is another story as it sounds rather amazing.

[@CobusGreyling]

Man, what a professional review. Subscribed!

[@HardwareCanucks]

Cobus Greyling Welcome :D make sure to check out the rest of our reviews!

[@CobusGreyling]

HardwareCanucks Thanks! I will do so undoubtedly, keep up the great content!

[@DmonYT]

Could you do a review of the Fiio E10 and contrast it to this?

[@PoliticalMastermind0]

No need. This is better. ;D

[@CockatooDude]

Nerdy Broski I don't know, the E10 gets pretty good reviews, and I really like mine.

[@andune]

I believe it boils down to the chipset, researching each model's chipset and what it is capable of, can really give you an idea of the type of quality you will be given. Everything else is just build quality, ergonomic controls, ease of use, features, appearance etc.

[@THESKATERDUDE117]

I have an audioengine D1 and an audio technica ATH M50.. The DAC makes these headphones sound amazing!

[@4dd0]

Thanks for another great review :-) I am in no way an audiophile. However, I do appreciate great sound. I have used the FiiO Olympus E10 with a pair of AKG K550 for a while now. The E10 is superior to the onboard sound (Asus Z87-Pro & Z87 Gryphon) in every way. Punchy bass, better mids and highs and clean vocals. Just love this thing! I think the E10 is a better first time choice. The price is about half of the Audioengine D1 and the sound quality of the FiiO is great, really great.

[@amanieux]

when you the e10 is superior in multiple way to the onboard sound, can you make the difference in a blind test, having a friend plugging/unplugging it without telling you which is which ? thanks

[@ruuia]

Good ass content even 3 years ago. 10/10.

[@pedrorodriguez418]

It's 6 years now...

[@CarloLeonKolega]

Dear Hardware, Can you connect a DAC to a Logitech 2.1 Z623 speakers? Thanks.

[@CarloLeonKolega]

Sherloid Bai tryed but nope

[@cbreezy6031]

How about edifier r1280db?

[@bearman6033]

I did & it sounded better than the onboard on my ASUS RVE10

[@giovani5586]

This was a great review. Could you ask Shiit for a Magni and a Modi, they together cost 200$, people say that this combo is amazing.

[@benl3208]

clear answer everyone like true sound of music needs a dedicated DAC and amplifier, if you don't need it that only means you already have a better DAC in your computer or hifi system. I assume the DAC in this video is headphone/pre amplifier DAC, it can't directly drive a passive speaker but a powered speaker.

[@rrrandommman]

Every audio card is in itself a DAC/Amp as I understand it, else there would be no analog sound output, so a high end sound card for a desktop could also be a solution, though for a laptop or in case your PC encounters interference then I can see the usefulness, not to mention larger external DAC/Amp combos have more space to work with for better quality.

[@grmancool]

No matter how good your sound card is there is always a better DAC/Amp alternative

[@EdgeOfDarkness86]

Grman Rodriguez A DAC/AMP combo is only better for music imo with high end headphones.

[@rsimmons37]

Very pleased with the D1!

[@maxdoy]

This is the video that I needed to see! Thank you very much.

[@ApexierGS]

Thx for reviewing the Audioengine but I am not going to invest in a dac ATM. I am content with the motherboard output, considering it is Asus ROG motherboard. I will be getting the Func HS260 that HardwareCanucks have reviewed as a start, and later-on upgrade to the ATH-M50X. And as always thank you for your Quality Reviews @ HardwareCanucks.

[@nightishardsoftwarereviews7410]

Have a Xonar Essence One with an HD700 from Sennheiser and the Sound of it is just awesome.

[@Saruman1000]

I just don't understand 1 thing and can somebody please answer this question. When you plug in your headphones directly into your laptop isn't the audio jack already analog? Thanks!

[@HardwareCanucks]

+Saruman1000 yes, when using 3.5mm jack the audio is analog but the point cessing on the laptop (DAC) may not be the cleanest. Thus why an external DAC solution is so attractive.

[@Saruman1000]

HardwareCanucks Thank you for taking the time to respond! Much appreciate it.

[@posted9907]

+HardwareCanucks wouldn't going back and forth from digital (PC) to analog (line out) to digital (DAC) to analog (headphones) cause quality loss?

[@Saruman1000]

***** these dacs are through USB so its directly bypassing your built in DAC

[@jelel9698]

So can I use the DAC to connect my surround system and then connect an HDMI cable to my HDMI out socket on my computer to watch the video out put on my HD-TV?

[@manz1397]

I have a Asus desktop and I get a static noise when I use the mouse or open a new page on the internet, but I only hear it when I have my ear buds plugged in and when I use my speakers or my turtle beach headset it don't hear any static. Would this be a good option to eliminate the static I hear, or should I look into a new sound card?

[@FEGTTTSDH]

that is a xonar card?

[@Fludded]

Its not clear that the audio is being fed by the USB (the video just says the DAC is powered by the usb) - so isnt there latency issues like those you would get with a USB mic?

[@mannequindisplay]

My Bedroom I have this DAC with the A5 Speakers and a 12in Sub using a Zantec Mini PC for online music ... WOW and using I may get another one for my PC which has the A2 Speakers and the Audioengine S8 Sub

[@BogdanSerban]

I got a DAC for 5 euros. Doesn't look that good, but it's basically PCM2704 on a small PCB. Sounds perfect. I'd really want to have a look inside to see what makes up the huge price difference.

[@monokendo]

+Bogdan Serban where?

[@BogdanSerban]

Aliexpress

[@monokendo]

lol 28$ for shipping :(

[@BogdanSerban]

+Mono Kendo mine had free shipping

[@jpmorales4970]

Hoping this question gets to you, as I haven't been able to find an answer anywhere else. I'm in the process of upgrading my setup to have an ultimate play/work station that include my Macbook Pro, Xbox One, and Desktop. My question is...What interface/tech could I use/purchase that would allow me to use all these devices with just one set of PC Speakers.?

[@amirprog]

Is there internal card for a windows computer? Wouldn't it be more convenient and not ?taking space from the table... 2.Are there dac with usb type c?

[@tmjcbs]

Besides the better quality there's another reason for an external DAC: all the things going on inside a pc can add some noise to the signal. If usb type c eventually replaces previous types, no doubt there will come DAC's with USB c. But there's no need for that: usb 2 can easily handle high-res audio.

[@criss4000]

I have a question for you guys: What are the pros and cons of an external (brand-made) amplifier versus a DAC? Which one is more suited for headphones usage?

[@HardwareCanucks]

criss4000 a DAC just cleans the signal, an AMP amplifies the signal to be driven through high OMHS headphones.

[@nowaccki]

People need to know that not all headphones take advantage of the DAC/amp. Some headphones (usually) with lower impedance won't notice a difference at all, like the ATH-M50 for example.

[@HardwareCanucks]

True! but a quality amp will generally produce tighter bass with lower impedance headphones.

[@George_K.]

DACs are great, you should make another another review

[@LEF1RST]

I never quite understood audio equipment. Say I want to have better sound quality in my TV area, will it make any difference to have a DAC when the audio source comes from a crappy numeric TV decoder? Is the audio only as good as your weakest link, and if not how can it be better? Apart from analog versus digital, what in terms of the signal makes a difference to sound quality?

[@midnightClub543]

First of all if the source of the sound is crap, a DAC will not help you. Cable TV set top boxes do have DACs but are usually crap, To get good quality you need a good source, CD's. uncompressed audio,FLAC. Listening to a FLAC on your pcs onboard DAC then using an external DAC is the only way you will notice a sound difference, given you have decent headphones/speakers/monitors.

[@Megamare1]

Awesome video and I enjoy AE's dac also, only I bought the (B1)Bluetooth vs. with the upscaler feature. Great sending audio from my phone to any powered speaker or any audio system with rca in's. Enjoy an thanks! 🙌🏽

[@Schmidteren]

Cables to my reciever + headset. Would I be able to switch back and fourth easy without having to remove cables?

[@exia989]

you guys should grab some better cables for use with that D1, especially if you are going to do more audio products in the future, a audio grade usb and rca cable might be a good addition

[@HardwareCanucks]

I think the supplied USB and RCA cables would be totally fine. IMO, difference in sound quality between these and specific audio cables would be unnoticeable.

[@tiocharly25]

Dimitri, could you do a review about the Audioengine S8 subwoofer?

[@crazyelf1]

Do you need a DAC? It really depends on the quality of your audio equipment and what you listen to. Generally speaking with loseless compression as the main type of music you listen to, and with higher end earphones, the more you can benefit from a DAC. Once you reach a certain price point, $400 USD/CAD plus, you can expect that your headphones will not work at full potential without a DAC.

[@darrylmorris5348]

I don't understand how the speakers are connected to the dac using rca connectors. Is there rca inputs on the speakers or can you get speaker cable with rca s on one end?

[@BoB-mb3fw]

You can use RCA to connect to the active(powered) speakers only as they got RCA input sockets or you can convert RCA connectors to speaker wire by yourself.

[@darrylmorris5348]

ok thanks

[@LeeTanczos]

erm. you cannot connect regular speakers to rca out. ONLY powered speakers or via an amp to regular speakers. did you cover how it sounds?

[@mrjakobt]

He said that in the video...

[@Epitopi]

Does the audio go through the optical port or USB? If it the latter, isn't the on-board DAC already processing the sound file before it reaches the D1, rendering D1's DAC function useless and simply making it a very expensive amplifier? Edit: Just wanted to add that I hope you continue to do more reviews of sub-$200 DAC/amp combos.

[@Epitopi]

Thanks for the clarification.

[@seamuswarren]

At the moment, I have three sources (HDTV, AppleTV and Bluray player) I want to hook up to an old Pioneer Amp. If the Bluray is connected to the TV via HDMI and passes through the TVs USB output (if my TV has a USB out) will the 5.1 channel signal be converted to 2.1?

[@sushh1]

I am quite interested in this, but having no experience and just recently learning about this, $169 is a huge price to drop on something I'm not familiar with yet. I'm currently working with the steelseries siberia v2 USB sound card, & thinking of picking up a cheap FiiO DAC on Amazon just to see how they compare. Maybe in the future, upgrade to this and the Audio-Technica ATH-M50 combo if the DAC truly makes a differences.

[@alexisthemexican]

I actually have the FiiO DAC from Amazon. Ive had it for many years. Reason i bought was because i wanted to hook up some computer speakers to my TV and it only had a digital audio out. So i bought that and hooked it up. It works great and it has never failed me. Just make sure the source is 2 channel and not 5.1 or some sort of surround sound because you will get horrible noise. But Ive yet to try out for music from a computer. Im curious now.

[@kimirPORTALS]

My laptop has a lot of noise that buzzes in the background. I have updated to the latest drivers for my Duo 13 (and I also tried uninstalling them) to no avail. What could I use to get rid of this issue?

[@Mista_G]

That's a hardware issue you're having. Somewhere in your laptop, the audio signal is mixed with other sources creating a buzz or hiss sound. An interface or DAC will solve that issue

[@michaelgonzalez6273]

Obox2550 yes, as far as I know this is common with laptops.

[@wesofx8148]

Probably interference. External DAC will fix that.

[@Mista_G]

Willy Goat Lol thanks for repeating what I said in dumber words

[@soundknight]

An external DAC is just an upgrade for a computer that will likely play MP3 and MP4? Does this reduced quality audio really need a DAC? if you were playing soundcloud or a CD it would be a different story I imagine? Will this DAC make my CD Player at home sound better (generic Sony DVD/CD HD recorder)? My player goes straight into the preamp of my tube stereo, will this improve my audio? Does a DAC basically do what the BBE sonic stomp does? Cheers, sorry for carpet bombing you with questions.

[@igitpu33i99]

Brian Cullen It depends on how loose the audio is. Audio compression can greatly reduce audio quality. So i recommend you buy a DAC with high quality looseless audio "Flac or Wav".

[@ramansandhu5934]

pum

[@soundknight]

Raman Sandhu What's pum?

[@andy16666]

Can you do a teardown and post a list of ICs in this? I'm curious which DAC IC it uses, what the specs on the IC are and what opamps and filtering/power supplies it's using. I notice lots of inductors on the board so I assume it's using significantly booted power rails to presumably a high end set of op amps. (5534's, or Burr Brown units probably). This would be very useful to me. Thanks.

[@andy16666]

Andrew Somerville If I'm right, the ICs on this alone total over $50, so that would easily justify a >> $100 pricepoint for the device.

[@psnKnowledge]

I do wish that plugging in the optical cable didn't have to stop the usb sound from working. If they can't work simultaneously then for pete sakes add an input switch knob/button. I do also wish there was a bass boost reduction feature to protect the ears of heavy users or add a little more bass, what many high end headphones, especially closed are missing (finding a good system eq on mac & windows is not the easiest thing). I've reviewed a good amount of headphone/speaker sound equipment by now and I can say that even if your dead set on having a DAC (like I am), buying this is still a very borderline decision. I can't believe how infrequently this device is on sale.

[@psnKnowledge]

+DJ Everest The fiio E17 is a way better buy for about $169. ...Just be sure you know where your local audio electronic/audiophile repair shops are because everyone has reported that something on it breaks down after 2-3 years; dang.

[@youwhatmadeidk]

Tone controls are bad for sound quality. Only the use of a digital equaliser (only reducing volume, not increasing) is a lossless process of adjusting frequency response.

[@vite11i]

Dimitri, I see the Audioengine speakers in the shot, you did give us a teaser vid for the review of these speakers but I havent seen it yet. Any plans for this vid?

[@FazliHalim]

help me guys ive been struggling on how to record my mic to my laptop. my mic use 6.3mm i think but its a big ass plug. what do i need to buy to record between mic and laptop? amp? dac? im confuse!

[@aw7245]

Need pictures

[@FazliHalim]

+Ahren W i have an imac and a mic. its a clip mic. how to use it man

[@aw7245]

Fazli Halim Ok first things "first amp? dac? " amp/dacs are for for output Computer--->Dac Not:Dac--->computer

[@aw7245]

is this what you mean by clip mic? www.amazon.com/Sony-ECMCS3-Omnidirectional-Stereo-Microphone/dp/B0058MJX4O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462093883&sr=8-1&keywords=lav+mic

[@FazliHalim]

+Ahren W yes and its not using 3.5mm jack. its bigger

[@H3kler]

This may be a dumb question, so forgive me. Does the volume knob only adjust the head phone amp on the D1 and not the signal you run to your Amp/Active speakers?

[@Slvrable]

Are there any DAC's that can utilise drive bays in a computer case? I usually only use my headphones and my desk is quite cluttered so an internal DAC (not a soundcard as I have no available slots for one) would be preferable.

[@moonchild-w1d]

which is better creative blaster or this ?

[@Keziapurrs]

I have my macbook pro 2014 connected to my Focusrite Scarlett Solo interface. From there the interface is connected to the aux connection on my stereo receiver. Would a DAC be beneficial to my set up? If so, would I place the DAC before or after my audio interface? I'm looking to achieve quality sound but am by no account a true audiophile. I'm new to the whole shebang. Thanks for your help.

[@MrWadeant]

Dmitry, would it be worth using this product on a desktop PC that does not have a dedicated sound card? Or would it be better to put that kind of money into a dedicated sound card instead of a DAC?

[@ChessBoxin]

So I was thinking of buying a pair of JBL LSR305 or Yamaha HS5 but was going to just use the audio coming from my onboard. I was then told it'll still sound good but not as good with a audio interface. Then I was ran into this DAC. What is the difference between a DAC and Audio interface? They both seem to be produce a better sound than onboard. Is one better for monitoring? is one more flat?

[@davidclarkenumber1]

I don't pretend to know a lot about audio although i do listen to a lot of music and enjoy better sound as much so that i purchased a high end sound card for my PC, my question is if i add a Dac to my set up will it improve the sound even more.

[@roseroserose588]

Your soundcard is a DAC, with an inbuilt amp. External DACs will tend to provide better quality due to the reduced interference, but to be honest you may not be able to tell the difference if you already own a good soundcard.

[@davidclarkenumber1]

cheers Pal.

[@LuisCastroem]

This reminds me that you haven't done a review of the Audioengine A5+, just a teaser :(

[@willpeters3833]

Which would you suggest: the Audioengine D1 or the Asus Xonar U7, ive seen you guys review both but never make a comparison in any way, help would be much appreciated

[@R4zAI3am]

hey, i want to buy the dt990, should i buy a DAC and plug this to my mobile or computer or should i buy an mp3-player for example the FiiO X1? or is there a better way to improve the quality? the solution does not have to be portable, since i want to use it at home.

[@guilhermemoraesdasilva7058]

get a micca origen or smsl sanskrit+sApVI :3

[@collapse7164]

Would my AKG 701s benefit of this? Thought about getting one of these or is there a better maybe cheaper option? Maybe with a direct quarter inch jack

[@backslashio]

Yes they would benefit, if you spend roughly the same or more than the cost of this DAC you'll notice a fair difference, especially if your current jack doesn't drive enough power

[@javitomixs2007]

i have a asus saberthoot z77 and a pair of sennheiser hd8 will i notice a big diference whit this dac?

[@RoyalTutorial]

yes is a converter take that in mind.

[@MrFailGuy93]

So, I'm considering buying the DT990 Pros (250 Ohm) and I'm wondering if I need to buy an amplifier or a DAC in order to power them properly. I don't have a sound card and i don't work with audio professionally; strictly gaming. Would it be worthwhile to pick up a DAC or amplifier?

[@andyb2341]

is it only possible to connect 2 speakers to this device? not a subwoofer? i currently have a logitech 2.1 system.

[@JpOcDenver]

The speakers sitting on his desk are $469. Unless you upgrade your speakers, you don't need this DAC. And when you do upgrade, either your speakers will have an output you can use for the sub, or the sub will have the outputs for the speakers. So, DAC->speakers->sub or sub->speakers.

[@andyb2341]

JpOcDenver thanks for the answer. i basically know shit about audio

[@JpOcDenver]

+Andy B no problem. The more you know... The more you'll spend lol. Be careful.

[@echtvergoldet]

Some people here should check out: Gaming Audio Myths: Avoid The BS & Save Your Audio Life

[@echtvergoldet]

***** even watched the video? Doesn't seem so.

[@EdgeOfDarkness86]

Echtvergoldet I must say that they don't know shit about what they are talking about..

[@echtvergoldet]

"they don't know shit", or "they don't shit"?

[@EdgeOfDarkness86]

Echtvergoldet

[@echtvergoldet]

***** ofc there are particular systems and situations in that a Soundcard does make sense. And ofc they are generalizing. Nevertheless, especially gaming headsets are overpriced POS no one needs. same goes for virtual 5.1 and whatsoever. Get a decent pair of headphones and a external DAC + a standalone mic. I'm glad you are confident with your system and soundcard, a lot of people are not, although buying expensive gamingheadsets and gaming soundcards.

[@dokanyon]

Hello mate. I just switched to the A5+ , coming from Edifiers Luna Eclipse. I was kinda disappointed because I didn't notice and difference in sound quality etc.. If I buy that thing you have there , the D1, you think I will notice any difference in sound quality?

[@kilianhiggins1271]

I've got a really bad sounding laptop, no matter what speakers or headphones you're using, there's a lack of bass (extremely noticeable) and in general, has a extremely horrible sound with flat highs and mids and no clarity what so ever, will a DAC help or what are my options? Thanks in advance

[@aw7245]

You can get a schiit(brand pronounced shit) "fulla" DAC for $80(15 day money back guarantee) it's a small rectangle that plugs in via USB then you have a normal 3.5 place to plug in headphone (or speakers)

[@JpOcDenver]

Yes a DAC will help as long as your speakers/headphones are high quality ($200 or more usually)

[@JpOcDenver]

Also your source material needs to be good quality.

[@marcelloo87]

I currently own a Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 USB soundcard to bypass my laptop's onboard audio solution. Would upgrading to the Audioengine D1 make much of a difference? Saving up to get the A5+ in the future!

[@triniwarrior16]

question: why are we converting digital to analog, shouldn't we be going digital to digital or what ever the future has instore?

[@sandroorlandoni2614]

Hi there, I need your advice. I'd like to improve my listening experience, but I have no experience in DAC and high quality headphones. I have a limited budget ($350) and I don't know if is better to: A) buy the best headphones I can (for example the Bowers & Wilkins P7); B) divide my budget between headphone and a dac. The use is principally PC but occasionally also smartphone and music player. What do you think?

[@deepaksrivastav5085]

what brand of speakers you have ?

[@_Dolofonia]

I have a question. In my setup, I have a dac (this exact one), a set of speaker, a set of headphones, a pc, two console, and twin monitors (if that helps). Often times, I have a console on one monitor and the pc on the other. I switch a lot between my headphones and speakers. Also, I switch between using the two on all three systems. How could I use all of those things harmoniously without messing with cords and cable and still sustaining a clean look to my setup? Real solid review btw, I enjoyed it a lot.

[@robertkat]

What about Amazon? They have 40 different dacs for sale, $20 to $65. Are they any good? Optic in audio out.

[@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120]

Robert Kattner optical in rca out digital to analog

[@Debonair.Aristocrat]

Of course they aren't any good. Good hi-fi DACs start at $4000. Lesser costing DACs are a compromise. Just enjoy what you have.

[@mrginn]

Do I still need this if I already have an audio interface? I'm using Focurite Scarlett Solo

[@jayfulf]

DACs don't have a "sound". They will either work properly and not alter the signal or they will not, in which case they will sound different.

[@grievuspwn4g3]

Everything will alter the signal, detecting and measuring the signal will alter the signal. The effect may be noticeably positive, noticeably negative, or unnoticeable.

[@latinsnakeman]

now its 2016, so how does it compare with other DAC up until now? Can you recommend me one or two please. Price range is similar to D1. Thanks

[@RustomH]

I would like to know aswell.

[@koksaltskenneth]

Same

[@electricant55]

Your best best is Schiit Modi 2 and Magni 2 or Aune X1S. D1 has pretty weak amp and buying it just for the DAC is a waste of money.

[@howerover]

What about soundcard in my pc? Does the DAC "skip" the soundcard or should I also care about getting a decent sound card if I want the best possible sound? Thx

[@Brokenhill42]

Either get an internal (PCIe) Sound Card or a DAC...a DAC is basically an external sound card. They sound better than built in motherboard sound (usually appears as "Realtek High Definition Audio" on your playback devices). If you have an internal sound card and an external sound card, you have to set the preferred sound card to "default" and it also helps to "disable" the unused sound card(s).

[@mogensen84]

Is this DAC still worth buying in 2020 for the Sennheiser pc37x (which I recently ordered from drop.com) after watching your review on it :) Looking for something easy to use, since I'm not really that experienced with DAC's .. Plug & play is preferred!

[@uNd1.6]

SUBWOFFER ? where is the SUBWOOFER on ALL those AMP's ? tell me please. I have some good sony ss-ms5 speakers, and somehow i wanna use them , i dont have an AMP right now. Or i buy a good 5.1 amp and use it with the cmputer too, or an little amp like this. But WHERE is the SubWoofer fits

[@neurix3582]

Time for the idiotic question. I want to get better sound out of my headphones, I use an iPhone 5s, so would I be able to use this DAC with my phone or not? I'm contemplating buying the Fiio E12 but this looks good too.

[@HardwareCanucks]

The D1 DAC is powered through a USB, so you wont be able to use it with your iPhone 5s! however Fiio does carry portable amps for your audio needs from your phone!

[@103959770979]

You you can use it with any phone with the proper wiring and a dedicated USB power supply.

[@tikuamyn]

i am guessing you need powered speakers to use the Analog RCA L/R stereo connections right?

[@kai_onlineaaa]

I don't need the headphone part, are there other DACs that are cheaper without it?