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Home audio & video forum: Use of a Portable USB Sound Card/DAC with my laptop and amp?

by: hamman226 June 27, 2012 9:54 PM PDT

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Use of a Portable USB Sound Card/DAC with my laptop and amp?

by hamman226 - 6/27/12 9:54 PM

Hi all,

I'm quite new to the concept of a DAC or Portable USB Sound Card and was curious about something.

Would the use of a DAC improve the sound I currently get from my laptop headphone jack to my NAD C316BEE?

Most if not all of the discussion I've seen regarding DACs involve headphones and not full stereo set-ups so I am simply curious. Although I realize it is quite inexpensive, the product that caught my attention was the HIFIMAN EXPRESS HM-101 Portable USB Sound Card (http://www.head-direct.com/Products/?act=detail&id=113#)

Any input/advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!


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I am going to venture and say yes.

by ahtoi - 6/28/12 9:01 AM

In Reply to: Use of a Portable USB Sound Card/DAC with my laptop and amp? by hamman226

Generally the internal DAC is not all that great on a laptop, so a good ext. DAC should be better.


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I believe this is best suited for headphones & speakers

by Pepe7 - 6/28/12 12:35 PM

In Reply to: Use of a Portable USB Sound Card/DAC with my laptop and amp? by hamman226

If you look at the connections, it would appear to be better suited for headphones/speakers, burr brown under the hood aside wink Ideally you would have simple red/white stereo outputs, like you would with a more highly regarded HRT unit (example).

http://www.ramseeker.com/hrt-music-streamer-ii-usb-dac-digital-audio-converter-review/

The higher priced DACs will no doubt be better sounding/made to last, and won't suffer from some of the noise complaints I've heard on lower priced models like this one.

If you are going to try it based on price, just buy one from an e-tailer with a liberal return policy.


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