Stumped: Distorted through headphone amps, not distorted straight from laptop's DAC

[c.coyle]

mp3s and flacs, either downloaded or ripped from CDs, are distortion-free into headphones (2 different sets) plugged directly into my laptop's DAC. Yet, everything else the same, some of the same files have very noticeable distortion when played into two different headphone amps (Schiit Fulla, ifi Hip DAC), into both sets of headphones, when plugged into the laptop's usb ports.

In other words, some files played through the headphone amps are distorted, some are not. None are distorted when played straight from the laptop's DAC.

I'm thinking maybe there's something going wrong with getting digital audio out of my laptop.

I'm stumped. Thoughts?

 

[Dave59]

mp3s and flacs, either downloaded or ripped from CDs, are distortion-free into headphones (2 different sets) plugged directly into my laptop's DAC. Yet, everything else the same, some of the same files have very noticeable distortion when played into two different headphone amps (Schiit Fulla, ifi Hip DAC), into both sets of headphones, when plugged into the laptop's usb ports.

In other words, some files played through the headphone amps are distorted, some are not. None are distorted when played straight from the laptop's DAC.

I'm thinking maybe there's something going wrong with getting digital audio out of my laptop.

I'm stumped. Thoughts?

I'm not familiar with the two Dacs you mention, but do they require a USB driver, and if so do you have the latest one? There’s a lot more on troubleshooting USB audio issues under Windows here https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/articles/resolving-audio-interface-issues-on-windows-10/

 

[c.coyle]

@Dave59 & @botrytis: Linux. Same problem with either Asunder or Freac software.

Thanks, I'll check USB drivers. Did not think of that.

Honestly, there are only three Windows programs that I miss over here on Linux, and EAC is one of them.

And, both those DACs play live streams flawlessly.

 

[cpt_paranoia]

some of the same files have very noticeable distortion when played into two different headphone amps (Schiit Fulla, ifi Hip DAC), into both sets of headphones

Could it be a high output level from the DAC overloading the input of the headphone amp? I'm not sure I understand you signal path. I'm guessing it's either PC audio out to h/phone amp, or PC digital out to external DAC and DAC audio out to h/phone amp.

 

[c.coyle]

Could it be a high output level from the DAC overloading the input of the headphone amp? I'm not sure I understand you signal path. I'm guessing it's either PC audio out to h/phone amp, or PC digital out to external DAC and DAC audio out to h/phone amp.

Since both are integrated dac/amp units, are you suggesting that the analogue output of the dac stage might be over-driving the analogue input of the amp stage? Interesting. If so, it's happening on both dac/amps.


My basic path: PC digital audio out of (via usb port), into integrated dac/amp (via usb port), analogue out of integrated dac/amp (via 3.5mm jack) into headphones.

 

[cpt_paranoia]

Since both are integrated dac/amp units, are you suggesting that the analogue output of the dac stage might be over-driving the analogue input of the amp stage?

If they're integrated DAC/amps, I would certainly hope they haven't designed it that badly, no. I thought you were using discrete (all analogue) h/phone amps with different DACs.