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Laptop to DAC Connection

quadaptor

quadaptor

Active Member
I haven't a lot of experience in doing this type of work, but my question is what is the best way to connect my laptop to my Cambridge Audio DacMagic DAC? I've tried using the USB ports but they don't seem to do the job. Many thanks for your help.
 
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The point of the DAC is to offload the digital to analog conversion from the (cheap) laptop sound card to a (hopefully better) converter in the DAC. USB is the only way unless your laptop has a SPDIF coaxial or optical digital outuput. The Dacmagic supports all three inputs. Most laptops will only support the USB connection which should work just fine.

How old is your laptop (what kind is it, what OS is on it) and what problems are you seeing with using USB to connect?
 
Wow, thanks for the fast response. My laptop is a Toshiba with Windows that isn't a year old yet. I went USB to USB but got no sound when I switched the DAC to the correct port. Is this because I'm lacking a driver?
 
Not sure what media player you are using, but J.River sends the signal to your Pre-Amp (receiver or integrated) without using the UI volume controls.

VLC and Windows Media Player rely on the UI Volume slider and suppresses the proper use of the volume of your stereo.
 
botrytis - thanks, that's a great graphic you posted, but I do not have the digital audio icon on my laptop.
 
What playback software are you using? You typically need to go into the playback software's setup or preferences menu and set the software to send the audio output to your preferred audio device: in this case, your DAC.
 
Hyfi said:
Not sure what media player you are using, but J.River sends the signal to your Pre-Amp (receiver or integrated) without using the UI volume controls.

VLC and Windows Media Player rely on the UI Volume slider and suppresses the proper use of the volume of your stereo.
Click to expand...

J.River is using exclusive mode with WASPI; that's all. Literally, that is the only thing I can see it does. Other than that; it's just a bunch of "bolted-on" WDM drivers in WASPI that do nothing but add complexity to the path of the circuit. It's WDM driver doesn't even bypass the mixer...unless you're using exclusive mode.

And if you're using exclusive mode output in WASAPI; you have zero need for J.River software.

I believe that DAC supports ASIO and has it's own ASIO driver. On my Win7 PC; my DAC has issues working with WASAPI without some user intervention; where as ASIO output works flawlessly. Try something using ASIO output; or; go in to sound device window where you pick your output device, right click it, bring up the properties, and try running a test on the advanced tab.

But you may have to upgrade the firmware and driver if you're using Windows 8.
 
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