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I have used my laptop digital out to feed a Audio Alchemy Ultra Dac then to my powered monitors. It worked well using the pc volume, but now my new laptop does not have digital out. I am purchasing a new Dac with usb, but is going straight to amplified speakers the way to go? Or do I need a pre? Thanks.
Follow Ups:
Okay:Case1: The old laptop
Laptop --> digital output --> Audio Alchemy Dac --> Powered Speakers
Case2: The new laptop (Your Idea)
Laptop --> USB DAC --> Powered Speakers
First of all, in Case2, you likely do NOT need a preamplifier unless for some reason there are impedance matching issues between the output of the USB DAC and the Powered Speakers input. What is the voltage output of the Audio ALchemy DAC? The USB DAC may not have quite as high as an operating voltage...you need to look at the specs. THe big question when getting the USB DAC is are you going to be using BALANCED or UNBALANCED outputs? (Do the powered speakers take balanced inputs? If they do, going balanced is the way to go.)
Secondly - why not continue to use the external DAC?
Case 3: The new Laptop (Alternate Method)
Laptop -> USB Digital output -> Audio Alchemy DAC -> Powered Speakers
Can the A.A. DAC take SPDIF TOSLINK? SPDIF Coax? AES/EBU Coax? AES/EBU Balanced? Does it have a wordclock output? I would definately consider not going with a USB DAC but a USB -> digital output and continue to use the Audio Alchemy DAC. If you have decided NOT to use the AA DAC, please let us know why. The reason I ask is because you're not going to get better DACs than the Audio Alchemy unless you get into a pretty decent USB solution. You might get a "good deal" on a USB DAC but be disappointed with the DAC quality. AS a minumim I would recommed a E-MU 0404, but the really good USB DACs can cost $1000 - $1500. This is why, since you already HAVE a DAC, getting a PCMCIA / USB device with a digital output may be a very cost effective way to go.
Does this help?
Thanks Presto.I know the AA dac to powered speakers worked in my previous setup so I guess that is the route I want to go. The speakers have balanced inputs, but the dac is single ended only (unbalanced). The dac does accept SPDIF and Optical inputs.
You hit the nail on the head. I would like to keep the setup I have so I bought the m audio transit to convert usb to optical. This does not work well with my setup, and I do not know why.
Problems:
*The sound quality is distorted and harsh.
*It pops and clicks at startup, shutdown, & application launch.
*Any windows wav sound crackles at the beginining of every playback
*The transit only sends a streaming signal to the dac when either a sound is playing or Itunes is running. This also causes the dac to click.Do you or anyone else here have any suggestions?
My detailed setup:
Dell Inspiron 9400 w/ sigma tell H def audio codec (help or hurt?)
M Audio Transit (usb to optical)
Audio Alchemy Ultra Dac w/ Power Station 3
KRK V4 Powered SpeakersI miss my old laptop, but I guess after the warranty expired it did not need a 6th motherboard replacement!
Thanks, Brad
Brad:I would get a $30 Chaintech AV710 and run SPDIF into your DAC. For $30, you can't get a cheaper bit-perfect 16/44.1 spdif.
This way you can get click/pop free sound to listen to while you surf the net for a more elaborate solution... if you even need a better one at that point.
Trouble is... there are others that are using the Transit and not getting the problems you are having...
Please describe your software playback chain.
1. Player name and version including bitdepth settings, volume controls, etc
2. Any player DSP in use (like upsampling, etc.)
3. player output plugin including settings
4. Any settings that the Transit driver has.
5. What is selected under the Default Playback Device (in Audio Settings)Something is just not right... or Dynaudio nailed it and your Transit is just toast.
Have you downloaded the driver from M-Audio and followed the instructions? Sounds simple I know, but often Windows will attempt to install a driver from "it's" collection that it "thinks" will work with your hardware... and cause mucho problemos. Sometimes these drivers are from the manufacturer, but older versions.
Get back to me with some data.
Hello Presto. Here is my latest post. Latest thoughts are: Dac cannot deal with 48 khz and does not lock on to audio signal full time. I will seek your suggestion of changing usb dac to chaintech. Let me know if you have any other suggestions. Thanks.Posted by bjbakle on January 06, 2007 at 18:22:16
In Reply to: The clock strikes posted by Jim F. on January 5, 2007 at 16:48:11:
OK. I took the equipment home this weekend to do some testing. FYI-I am only using windows XP pro and itunes (apple lossless).
The same issues were present when I hooked the audio usb transit, toslink to dac and speakers up to my home computer instead of work laptop.The Transit's light is always locked on. The Dac's primary lock comes on, but secondary lock only comes on if a sound is being sent from the computer. I think you are right with this being the issue.
Unfortunately the transit will not allow me to adjust the signal to 44.1khz. Perhaps this is what is creating the dac to click and sound crackles at beginning of audio signals.
The dac works fine in my home system replacing Benchmark DAC1 (just does not sound as good). The primary and secondary lights were always locked on. The powered speakers tested fine.
If this is the issue is there a good quality usb converter (tos or coax) that has option for 44.1 locked signal? Maybe the coax is best for this dac in computer setup. Too bad Transit does not have coax option.
I really appreciate your help. Thanks again.
Brad
Case 3: The new Laptop (Alternate Method)Laptop -> USB Digital output -> Audio Alchemy DAC -> Powered Speakers
For USB Digital output this product can get you there and is very cost effective at $29.
Behringer U-CONTROL UCA202 USB-Audio Interface
http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/product/buy_behringer_ucontrol_uca202_usbaudio_interface?full_sku=702540
Thanks Dynaudio Rules. See my other post. I bought the M Audio Transit to do this. It is not working. Can you help? Thanks.
> See my other post. I bought the M Audio Transit to do this.
> It is not working. Can you help?Can you beg or borrow another PC (desktop or laptop) to
try your M-Audio Transit and Audio Alchemy DAC with?Also, can you try a CD transport with Toslink out with your
AA DAC and see if that works?There are a number of possibilities, of which it would be
helpful to eliminate a few:1. Your AA DAC works with coax S/PDIF input, but has problems with
Toslink. Success with a Toslink CD transport would eliminate
that possibility.2. The M-Audio Transit doesn't get along with the AA DAC, or
is simply defective. Success with a different PC would
eliminate that possibility.3. Your new Dell Inspiron 9400 has a hardware, driver, or
other software or configuration problem. Failure (continued
distortion/crackling) with a different PC would eliminate
that possibility.If you can isolate the problem to one component in the chain,
then you'll know what to attempt to fix and/or replace.
> . . .then to my KRK powered monitors.Don't neglect to check the "d'oh" possibilities, such
as that you disturbed the connection to your speakers,
inadvertently misadjusted a control somewhere, or have (a) loose or
intermittent cable(s).> [I wrote] The M-Audio Transit [might not] get along with
> the AA DAC. . .It's **conceivable** (unlikely, but possible I suppose) that
the clock in the M-Audio Transit is outside the range of the
AA DAC's capability to get a stable lock.Is the "lock" light coming on (and staying on) on your AA
DAC? If the DAC has a dual PLL input circuit, are **both**
lights (the "primary lock" and "secondary lock") coming
on and staying on?
> [I wrote] It's **conceivable** (unlikely, but possible I
> suppose) that the clock in the M-Audio Transit is outside the
> range of the AA DAC's capability to get a stable lock.Maybe not so unlikely after all. You know, I'm not so sure
the old Audio Alchemy stuff can even operate at 48 kHz.
In fact, I seem to recall trying to feed a DTI 48 kHz and
having it not work. The CS8412 input receiver they used
can certainly do 48 kHz, but they also used external PLLs
to reduce jitter.It's conceivable you were getting away with it with coaxial
input (albeit without the DAC fully locked), but can't with
optical, or something like that.Are you **sure** of the sample rate that's coming out of the
Transit? Can the Transit be **forced** to do 44.1 kHz?Another thought -- are you doing any signal processing in the PC
that could be causing the DAC and/or powered speakers to be
clipping? I don't think you mentioned what player you're
using.
OK. I took the equipment home this weekend to do some testing. FYI-I am only using windows XP pro and itunes (apple lossless).The same issues were present when I hooked the audio usb transit, toslink to dac and speakers up to my home computer instead of work laptop.
The Transit's light is always locked on. The Dac's primary lock comes on, but secondary lock only comes on if a sound is being sent from the computer. I think you are right with this being the issue.
Unfortunately the transit will not allow me to adjust the signal to 44.1khz. Perhaps this is what is creating the dac to click and sound crackles at beginning of audio signals.
The dac works fine in my home system replacing Benchmark DAC1 (just does not sound as good). The primary and secondary lights were always locked on. The powered speakers tested fine.
If this is the issue is there a good quality usb converter (tos or coax) that has option for 44.1 locked signal? Maybe the coax is best for this dac in computer setup. Too bad Transit does not have coax option.
I really appreciate your help. Thanks again.
Brad
Not sure why its not working.....it does have a USB in and optical out
did you try using both the TOSlink out as well as the Coax digital out....neither of these work?You may have a diffective unit.
Thanks. After further tests I have narrowed it to Dac locking on to signal. Maybe an issue with being send 48 khz instead of 44.1 khz.The AA Dac does not have coax output so I am limited with this dac. I am going to try out a couple other usb converters and see if I can get something that allow me to choose 44.1 khz output.
Thanks again for all your help.
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