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[spiggytopes]

Hi All,

I'm feeling really dumb about this, but hang the embarrassment.

OK, I know that I can connect the DAC via USB, but opinion is that coax is better.

But, how do I connect via coax to my PC?  Or, indeed, via optical?

Sorry, at a loss here.

Presently using an ASUS Sonar to feed a power amp ...

All replies welcome!

[csimon]

Coax and optical (TOSlink) are both SPDIF digital outputs from a sound card.  So you need that sort of output on your PC (selecting that output as the output device in MC) and that sort of input on the DAC. Do they have such ports? If the sound card only has optical and the DAC has coax, then you could buy an optical to coax converter.

[Arindelle]

Do you have an Asus Xonar ST or STX. If you are feeding to an external DAC you have both digital coax and optical already as choices. OR, especially if you have a good asynchronous DAC forget the soundcard and go USB.

Sort of unclear because you didn't mention a name for your external DAC. But just in case, if you meant you are using the Xonar to go directly to your amp(s) then you would need to use the analog out not much of a choice is there? (the ST has RCA left and right ch.  out for coax direct).

if you have a Xonar D series going to an external DAC, that's something else again ... everything is just micro jacks if I remember correctly?

[spiggytopes]

Thanks for the replies.

Currently, it is an ASUS Sonar STX driving a power amp.

I've just received a QuteHD DAC.

I wanted to remove the ASUS, but now see that I need to keep it to drive the Qute if I don't use USB .... thanks.

[Arindelle]

I've just received a QuteHD DAC.

  of course its in the title of the post .. oops

I'd compare the USB and the coax just to see though ... 

it seems like you can even stream DSD through USB without going through PCM conversion which could be pretty neat.

[spiggytopes]

Thanks!

Yes,it looks really tasty!


Can't wait to connect it up.