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Some advice needed

S

Strm

New Member
Hi!

I have Cambridge Audio AXA25 paired with Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 speakers.

Current source for playing music is my tv, TCL ep660x something. I have my amp connected via rca to 3.5mm jack to headphone out on TV.
And i listen to youtube music, and play some netflix movies.

Second source is either pc or laptop for movies, or youtube, or some FLACs i have layin around also connected via 3.5mm.

Now my question is, is there going to be some audible difference between headphone out on tv or some external dac(around 100$) connected to tv via optical? Listening to youtube? Or maybe paying for some streaming service to get better quality files and then running them from tv to dac?

Same question is for pc or laptop, connecting them via usb, or maybe phone with bluetooth?

Thanks!
 
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I’d do it. If you don’t mind the lack of a remote for input switching something like Schiit Modi 3 would be the one to try. One warning there’s enough evidence that recent DAC issues from Chinese makers like SMSL and Topping exhibit compatibility issues on their optical and coax inputs with certain TVs and CD players, so if you go with one of those get it from a vendor with easy returns should it turn out problematic.
 
One other thing is once you go optical from the TV I don’t think you’ll be able to use TV remote to control the volume, so you may want to pick a DAC that has a remote that can change the volume, as far as I can tell your amp doesn’t have a remote.
 
If you have cable box it might have sound output instead of TV. Then TV remote volume works. Mine seems to have good sound quality when I listen to it.
 
I've always taken the RCA output out of the TV source unit vice the TV. Currently I'm using the RCA outputs from my Dish Hopper (10+ years old) to my Integrated Amp and I'm getting really superb sound quality (factoring in the source signal limitations) to my ears.
 
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rwartner said:
If you have cable box it might have sound output instead of TV. Then TV remote volume works. Mine seems to have good sound quality when I listen to it.
Click to expand...

I suspect some TVs may also have volume controlled digital outputs, but some definitely don’t. I’d be somewhat concerned with the quality of such digital volume control, probably less of a concern for watching YT but can be an issue for lossless or hires.
 
I just tried mine. I have cable output plugged into DAC. DAC has analogue in. Remote doesn't work any better. If I up the volume on TV with remote then it is in conflict with cable box because one is delayed so there is echo. The cable output sounds good but I was mistaken about how remote works.
 
If you aren't hearing any ground loop issues running headphone out from the TV not sure I'd go the DAC route. In a lot of set ups it's a common problem with the cable box ground in the house (e.g. cable box HDMI out to TV, analog/headhone output to amp). Optical out from TV can solve a grounding issue not easily solved otherwise at expense of using the TV volume control since very few TVs have digital volume control (if any) these days.

In other words, if it sounds good as you are using it now with no low level hum... kind of doubt adding a cheap DAC to the mix will make it sound any better. Have never seen measurements on how good built in TV DACs are though.
 
I have my Modi 2 Uber connected to the optical out on my television. No hum, no background noise whatsoever. Of course, I'm also running it through a passive Schiit SYS and Rotel RB1050, which is a quiet setup to begin with. Loving the sound. Definitely something to not creating a TV ground loop by using optical instead of an electronic connection.
 
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