velasqte Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 Hello all. Can I connect my Arcam rDAC to my PC's Soundcard? Output goes to powered Audio Engine A2's Thanks! Gallo Ref 3.5 < Velodyne DD15 < Parasound A21 < Gallo Ref SA < Metric Halo LIO-8 < Mac Mini < Decibel and Audirvana < Pro-ject 9.1 w/ Grado Statement Master Link to comment
crisnee Posted April 11, 2014 Share Posted April 11, 2014 Why would you want to connect it to your sound card if it's a usb dac? A usb dac is meant to be connected to a usb output. Chris Link to comment
crisnee Posted April 11, 2014 Share Posted April 11, 2014 You could connect a dac to a sound card via the sound cards digital outs assuming the dac has the equivalent digital ins. Chris Link to comment
iago Posted April 11, 2014 Share Posted April 11, 2014 Can I connect my Arcam rDAC to my PC's Soundcard? Are you talking about your internal sound card? As Chris said, you can connect your DAC via USB or via digital out of your sound card. Look for S/PDIF in your sound device's documentation. You might have optical out, then you will need a TOSLink fibre optical "cable'" or coaxial out, which requires a 75 Ohm coaxial cable (looks like a single RCA link, but is not). Some internal cards don't have a digital out, some plug-in cards have both, possibly via a break-out connector. Make and model would help. The Arcam has both (and in addition USB, see Chris' remark). Primary ::= Nabla music server | Mutec MC-3+USB w/ Temex LPFRS-01 RB clock | WLM Gamma Reference DAC; Secondary ::= Nabla music server | WaveIO | PrismSound Lyra Link to comment
CatManDo Posted April 11, 2014 Share Posted April 11, 2014 A USB DAC works like an external USB sound card. Unless the USB input of your DAC is poorly implemented, it will be better than connecting the S/PDIF output of your sound card to the S/PDIF input of your DAC, because of lower jitter. Claude Link to comment
Musicophile Posted April 11, 2014 Share Posted April 11, 2014 A USB DAC works like an external USB sound card. Unless the USB input of your DAC is poorly implemented, it will be better than connecting the S/PDIF output of your sound card to the S/PDIF input of your DAC, because of lower jitter. Claude, while I agree in principle, if we are talking about the old Arcam rDAC that was launched back in 2009?, the USB implementation is probably not state of the art compared to what we have today. So in this case I'd follow Iago's suggestions and try optical out. But in the end, the OP should use his own ears and see what works better. Check out my blog at musicophilesblog.com - From Keith Jarrett to Johannes Brahms Link to comment
velasqte Posted April 11, 2014 Author Share Posted April 11, 2014 Claude, while I agree in principle, if we are talking about the old Arcam rDAC that was launched back in 2009?, the USB implementation is probably not state of the art compared to what we have today. So in this case I'd follow Iago's suggestions and try optical out. But in the end, the OP should use his own ears and see what works better. Yes, I am able to uses the soundcard optical output to my Arcam rDac. Was hoping to try the USB output to the Arcams USB input...... Gallo Ref 3.5 < Velodyne DD15 < Parasound A21 < Gallo Ref SA < Metric Halo LIO-8 < Mac Mini < Decibel and Audirvana < Pro-ject 9.1 w/ Grado Statement Master Link to comment
Musicophile Posted April 11, 2014 Share Posted April 11, 2014 Yes, I am able to uses the soundcard optical output to my Arcam rDac. Was hoping to try the USB output to the Arcams USB input...... Try both and see what sounds better! Check out my blog at musicophilesblog.com - From Keith Jarrett to Johannes Brahms Link to comment
CatManDo Posted April 12, 2014 Share Posted April 12, 2014 With USB, there can be driver/configuration issues. Check the installation instructions (FAQ PDF) on the Arcam page: rDAC / rDAC-kw - USB DACs - Arcam Claude Link to comment
velasqte Posted April 13, 2014 Author Share Posted April 13, 2014 With USB, there can be driver/configuration issues. Check the installation instructions (FAQ PDF) on the Arcam page: rDAC / rDAC-kw - USB DACs - Arcam catmando! Thank you. FAQ link answered my problem. USB working now and I think sounds better than optical. Gracias! Gallo Ref 3.5 < Velodyne DD15 < Parasound A21 < Gallo Ref SA < Metric Halo LIO-8 < Mac Mini < Decibel and Audirvana < Pro-ject 9.1 w/ Grado Statement Master Link to comment
Audioseduction Posted April 14, 2014 Share Posted April 14, 2014 catmando! Thank you. FAQ link answered my problem. USB working now and I think sounds better than optical. Gracias! Not surprised, toslink is inferior because there seems to be more jitter associated with that interface more often then not. My Dedicated 2CH System Gallery Custom C.A.P.S. Reference Music Server with UpTone Audio JS-2 External Linear Power Supply > Bel Canto REFLink Asynchronous USB Converter > AT&T ST Optical Glass Fiber > Bel Canto DAC3.7 DAC > Pass Labs XP-20 Preamp > Pass Labs XA160.5 Class A Mono Blocks > Martin Logan Summit X Speakers Powered By Balanced Power Technologies - UpTone Audio JS-2 Linear Power Supply - CyberPower Sinewave UPS Link to comment
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