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Post by wrinklemash on Oct 4, 2012 0:05:44 GMT -5
Couple things to note. That's not really a volume control on the speakers, it's a level setting to match between the two and then leave it. You can use an 1/8" to RCA splitter from your PC, but may get hum and noise because computers are noisy. An external DAC is a far better option, but you need a preamp to control volume. A standalone DAC with no volume control will not work. The XDA-1 is a DAC/preamp combo that will take a USB (or coax, or optical) signal from your PC, convert to analog, control the volume, and send the signal to your Airmotivs via RCA or XLR connectors. The Matrix Mini-i is another option. Yep, that's the right way to go... FWIW - bought a pair of Airmotiv 4s for the same use as the original poster, computer speakers. Currently hooked up to sound card with a quality stereo 3.5mm to L+R stereo rca y-adapter. It doesn't sound good - definitely no where near their potential. Looked at Nuforce ($120) and AudioEngine ($170) DACS on amazon. Will be going with the Audioengine D1 DAC as it is made for powered monitors (theirs) and NuForce did not test very well independently. See these review of AudioEngine DAC - www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjNv94qRy7E www.avguide.com/review/audioengine-d1-dacheadphone-amp-playback-54Also looked on the "high end" of compter sound DACS. Camber and ASUS - yes ASUS - make some very nice DACS, but they cost ~$600. Big Dan, if you are reading, that ASUS XONAR Essence 1 ( www.asus.com/Multimedia/Audio_Cards/Xonar_Essence_One/ ) unit's capabilities would be VERY nice in a Emotiva small form factor. (Didn't they say that there would be more DACS and along with headphones mentioned at Emofest - could have sworn....  ) DO NOT use the outputs of the sound card with the DAC - even if optical. Bypass the soundcard for the best sound with a DAC. |
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Post by ribbonking on Oct 4, 2012 0:35:30 GMT -5
Here is a link to a nice deal on an open box Audioengine D1 @ $109 delivered. I've bought open box from Shoreline before with good results. www.shorelinemusic.com/closeouts/closeout-audioengine-d1/Couple things to note. That's not really a volume control on the speakers, it's a level setting to match between the two and then leave it. You can use an 1/8" to RCA splitter from your PC, but may get hum and noise because computers are noisy. An external DAC is a far better option, but you need a preamp to control volume. A standalone DAC with no volume control will not work. The XDA-1 is a DAC/preamp combo that will take a USB (or coax, or optical) signal from your PC, convert to analog, control the volume, and send the signal to your Airmotivs via RCA or XLR connectors. The Matrix Mini-i is another option. Yep, that's the right way to go... FWIW - bought a pair of Airmotiv 4s for the same use as the original poster, computer speakers. Currently hooked up to sound card with a quality stereo 3.5mm to L+R stereo rca y-adapter. It doesn't sound good - definitely no where near their potential. Looked at Nuforce ($120) and AudioEngine ($170) DACS on amazon. Will be going with the Audioengine D1 DAC as it is made for powered monitors (theirs) and NuForce did not test very well independently. See these review of AudioEngine DAC - www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjNv94qRy7E www.avguide.com/review/audioengine-d1-dacheadphone-amp-playback-54Also looked on the "high end" of compter sound DACS. Camber and ASUS - yes ASUS - make some very nice DACS, but they cost ~$600. Big Dan, if you are reading, that ASUS XONAR Essence 1 ( www.asus.com/Multimedia/Audio_Cards/Xonar_Essence_One/ ) unit's capabilities would be VERY nice in a Emotiva small form factor. (Didn't they say that there would be more DACS and along with headphones mentioned at Emofest - could have sworn.... ) DO NOT use the outputs of the sound card with the DAC - even if optical. Bypass the soundcard for the best sound with a DAC. |
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Post by wrinklemash on Oct 4, 2012 0:51:29 GMT -5
Thank you ribbonking - I just took shoreline up on that offer! $60 bucks off is nice.
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