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Running a DAC/Amp combo to a speaker Amp?

Ion Spectre

Ion Spectre

New Member
This might be a stupid question, but if I connect a combined DAC/Headphone Amp unit to a regular speaker amplifier, would it cause any problems?

For context I have a regular PC>DAC>Amp>Speaker system and am looking at getting a new DAC, which happens to be a DAC/Headphone Amp combo. I'm just concerned that running through two amplifiers might be a bad idea.
 
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It would help a great deal if you would list the gear you already have and the gear you're going to buy.
 
It would be PC > IFi Zen DAC > Onkyo 9110 > Speakers.

So it would be a DAC with a built-in headphone amp feeding into a main speaker amp.
 
The headphone amp capability shouldn’t get involved. The DAC I use in the garage system likewise has a headphone out, but I use its analog outputs to drive a power amp.

With the Zen, use the red and white RCA jacks to feed a line level input in the 9110. The volume control likely only works with the headphone output.
 
With my Little Dot MKII the volume control effects both the headphone and line out connections.
 
Looking at the manual for the Zen, it states that the volume knob on the Zen affects both the headphone out and the preamp outs. As such, I would say perhaps start with the Onkyo volume set where it normally is, put the Zen's volume down low and then turn the Zen on and use its know to adjust volume so you do not get bit surprise if it is a lot louder than you want.
 
With a little more research iFi themselves suggest connecting it to a regular amp for speakers, so I guess I'm good.

About the volume knob, it seems you can switch it on and off for speaker use.
 
Ion Spectre said:
With a little more research iFi themselves suggest connecting it to a regular amp for speakers, so I guess I'm good.

About the volume knob, it seems you can switch it on and off for speaker use.
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Well, there you go! But, why spend the extra money for the HP amp part if you're not going to use it? Maybe spend it all on a better standalone DAC?
 
The Zen is £129. Same price as the Schiit Modi 3 I was about to buy, so it's really no more expensive than a pure DAC. They're both pretty much the best in the sub-£300 price range (that I know of anyway).

As far as I know the only real competition are significantly more expensive and yet aren't significantly better. Chord Mojo for example is around £300, which may be a slightly better DAC but I don't feel it's worth the £170 increase over the Zen or Modi. If you have a good DAC in mind for around £200 I wouldn't mind taking a look, but from what I gather nothing in this price range beats out the Zen & Modi.
 
I feed into a Benchmark DAC 1 HDR, an oldie but goody both my analogue and digital inputs then from that via pre out into a Cyrus Pre and onto Cyrus Mono X amps then speakers, currently Infinity Quantuam JRs' or BM DAC1 direct into Stax 353X energiser for the electrostatic HP experience or take my Ether headphones direct from the Benchamrk and it all sounds really good. So I'd say that having a good Dac that allows a "pre out" will be a perfect solution
 
I am very curious about iFi Zen Dac. Does anybody from forum purchased or heard it? Opinions?
Here are Topping (30 and50) well known. Khadas also. General opinion that bouth demands tweaking to be good product. Mostly change of capacitors and it is hard to do as smd mountrd.
 
The Zen did not do all that good on ASR. If the Khadas board satisfies your needs just get it. No mods required but case.
 
imral3 said:
ASR is Audio Science Review website.
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Thank you

gvl said:
Technically it's middle of the road performance, likely you won't tell the difference from Jlsounds. Is that the Bulgarian DIY vendor? I have his USB board that I plan to integrate into my Parasound DAC 1000.
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Thank you for clever advice.
Yes it is Bulgarian DIY vendor.
I made I2S over USB with AK4396 dac. Also made NoDac with LPF and tube output directly from DSD.
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/hello-from-serbia.685033/page-3#post-10034490
 
Just saw this thread. Just last week I was using my iPhone>>>TEAC HA-P50>>> 3.5mm to RCA for all my dads various (few McIntosh's, Dynakits and Marantz) old tube amps and it worked great.
 
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