A dac\amp for both headphones and active speakers?

[Just4lol]

Hello, I want to use 2 Yamaha h7 for my desktop. I already have a Fiio k5 dac\amp mainly for driving a pair of LCD X. I tried plugging my speakers into the computer directly but I can hear statics and a high pitch noise when I move my mouse .

 

So I'm looking for a solution, where I can plug the speakers only in DAC output, the headphones in the DAC/amp, and be able to switch btw the 2 sources. I would also like a Bluetooth function so I can use my phone on the speakers but I can live without it. can go up to around 300$. 

 

Thanks.

[Spuriae]

If you like the K5, the K7BT has this functionality. The switches on the front select between USB and Bluetooth inputs, and between headphone and line outputs.

 

Also consider these models which have similar feature sets, better output quality, and lower prices:

• Topping DX3 Pro+ (comparable SE power, no balanced output)
• SMSL D12 (cheaper, less output power, no balanced output)
• SMSL C200 (better DAC output quality, more power into low impedance loads, but less balanced power into high impedance loads)

You could also consider using a separate DAC (with input and output switching) and headphone amplifier for better overall performance and a better future upgrade path, though this will likely be slightly pricier.

[saintlouisbagels]

???

 

The FiiO K5 already has the functionality you're looking for.

Do you have some really old model that doesn't have "Line Out" RCA ports in the back?

 

edit: Okay, it's doesn't have Bluetooth, but you said it wasn't a requirement.

 

edit2: You can buy a Bluetooth receiver with optical/coax outputs and hook it up to the K5 if you want to add Bluetooth to your setup. Here is a pricey model from FiiO. I'm sure you could find cheaper, but I figure I would look one up within the same brand.

FiiO BTA30PRO Bluetooth Receiver

https://www.amazon.com/FiiO-Transmitter-Bluetooth-Amplifier-Resolution/dp/B09J48ZPD4/

Edited July 14, 2023 by saintlouisbagels

[Psittac]

To the best of my understanding output switching isn't very common, at least all of the dac's and amp's I've used are just always on for RCA output... shoot even XLR is always on, so I would go with @Spuriae's suggestion.

 

@saintlouisbagels I think he wants output switching as well.

 

If it were me I would just hook the K5 up to the powered monitors and turn them on and off at will, that's what I do on my setup.

[saintlouisbagels]

2 minutes ago, Psittac said:

To the best of my understanding output switching isn't very common, at least all of the dac's and amp's I've used are just always on for RCA output... shoot even XLR is always on, so I would go with @Spuriae's suggestion.

 

@saintlouisbagels I think he wants output switching as well.

 

If it were me I would just hook the K5 up to the powered monitors and turn them on and off at will, that's what I do on my setup.

I mean... switching outputs is a matter of plugging and unplugging headphones if the K5 functions like every other DAC/amp I've ever used.

[Psittac]

3 minutes ago, saintlouisbagels said:

I mean... switching outputs is a matter of plugging and unplugging headphones if the K5 functions like every other DAC/amp I've ever used.

Well yeah, but I am under the impression that he wants it to be selectable from inside the dac/amp.

 

I just turn my amp on or off and the line signal is on all the time, at least that's what I thought.  Again that's what I would do but OP had a specific request IMO

[Just4lol]

8 hours ago, saintlouisbagels said:

???

 

The FiiO K5 already has the functionality you're looking for.

Do you have some really old model that doesn't have "Line Out" RCA ports in the back?

 

edit: Okay, it's doesn't have Bluetooth, but you said it wasn't a requirement.

 

edit2: You can buy a Bluetooth receiver with optical/coax outputs and hook it up to the K5 if you want to add Bluetooth to your setup. Here is a pricey model from FiiO. I'm sure you could find cheaper, but I figure I would look one up within the same brand.

FiiO BTA30PRO Bluetooth Receiver

https://www.amazon.com/FiiO-Transmitter-Bluetooth-Amplifier-Resolution/dp/B09J48ZPD4/

But is the RCA out of the back amplified? I thought this was an issue for active speakers.

[saintlouisbagels]

30 minutes ago, Just4lol said:

But is the RCA out of the back amplified? I thought this was an issue for active speakers.

It's Line Out, so it sends out the full signal from the DAC.

If it's Pre-Out, then you would just turn the knob all the way to the max. Typically Pre-Out is used for controlling speaker amplifiers that don't have volume control. But it's essentially the same functionality as Line Out if you max out the volume knob - the active speakers with their own volume knob would limit it anyways.

 

edit:

I think you're misunderstanding that guidance. You don't want to hook up your active speakers to a speaker amplifier.

In the context of hooking up powered speakers to headphone amplifiers, there's no harm being done - people do it all the time by connecting computer speakers to headphone ports. Technically speaking there might be audio quality loss because it's a double-amped signal.. but that's something people just say. I doubt anyone ould hear the difference in the Blind A/B test.

 

Edited July 14, 2023 by saintlouisbagels