i just facepalmed myself

[JewishBacon]

well, I just decided to splurge and get myself a new set of headphones (sennheiser hd 380 pro) and an amp (schiit magni).  I am very excited to get them.  I understand theres no shortage of different ways to do things in audio land so don't hate on my setup.  my issue is well...kind of embarrassing.  It just occurred to me that i cant plug the amp into anything.  i have the z87 MSI GD-65 mobo, and im currently up a creek.  Apparently for whatever reason, i thought i could buy an optical to RCA cable to plug into my schiit. so now i dont really know what to do.   Id rather not shell out another $100 on the DAC, but im afraid i might have to if i want to have both speakers AND my headphones plugged in at the same time (so i dont have to go under my desk every time i want to swap)  my only saving grace is that i have a coax out on my mobo as well. Will this 

( http://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-Digital-Coaxial-Splitter-Adapter/dp/B003L1AGVS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1401242859&sr=8-3&keywords=coaxial+to+rca+cable )

 

do the job i need it to do? or do i really need a dac?

 

 

**************************************** update ***************************************************

 

SO, the amp came and it had this loud buzzing sound when i do the splitter/adapters method.    so i tried removing the them from the equation by plugging the amp into the back of my subwoofer, and plugged my headphones into that.  that stopped the buzz.  this tells me the issue is either with my RCA<> 3.5mm adapter or with the 3.5mm splitter.  thoughts?

 

 

**************************************** update 2 ***************************************************

after much testing i have deemed that it is the splitter part of the chain.  currently trying to decide what to do...

[ericlee30]

( http://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-Digital-Coaxial-Splitter-Adapter/dp/B003L1AGVS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1401242859&sr=8-3&keywords=coaxial+to+rca+cable )

 

If you want to purchase that cable,do not buy that cable from amazon, if you want that cable, please buy it from Monoprice them self's.

 

Amazon price $6.99= Rip off

 

Monoprice price $2.75= Good deal

 

Same Y splitter

[AMICLG]

Coaxial out is a digital signal so you'll need a DAC to convert it to analog.

[JewishBacon]

well, I just decided to splurge and get myself a new set of headphones (sennheiser hd 380 pro) and an amp (schiit magni).  I am very excited to get them.  I understand theres no shortage of different ways to do things in audio land so don't hate on my setup.  my issue is well...kind of embarrassing.  It just occurred to me that i cant plug the amp into anything.  i have the z87 MSI GD-65 mobo, and im currently up a creek.  Apparently for whatever reason, i thought i could buy an optical to RCA cable to plug into my schiit. so now i dont really know what to do.   Id rather not shell out another $100 on the DAC, but im afraid i might have to if i want to have both speakers AND my headphones plugged in at the same time (so i dont have to go under my desk every time i want to swap)  my only saving grace is that i have a coax out on my mobo as well. Will this 

( http://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-Digital-Coaxial-Splitter-Adapter/dp/B003L1AGVS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1401242859&sr=8-3&keywords=coaxial+to+rca+cable )

 

do the job i need it to do? or do i really need a dac?

you sir are a good person

[orangecat]

I don't quite know whats going on. So you bought all the stuff but you don't have a RCA on your soundcard?

[t0wer]

http://www.amazon.com/Hometheatre-Female-Splitter-Cable-6-Inch/dp/B0016LC5VY/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1401244926&sr=8-12&keywords=3.5mm+to+rca

http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Speaker-and-Headphone-Splitter/dp/B000067RC4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1401244968&sr=8-1&keywords=3.5mm+splitter

http://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-1-5ft-Premium-22AWG-Cable/dp/B003L1717K/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1401244994&sr=8-5&keywords=rca

 

you might want some longer rca cables, but that should be all you need to hook everything up.

[JewishBacon]

I don't quite know whats going on. So you bought all the stuff but you don't have a RCA on your soundcard?

i have longer cables in my garage

just no adapter

[JewishBacon]

@t0wer wait. Are you saying i need all 3 of those?

[JewishBacon]

well, I just decided to splurge and get myself a new set of headphones (sennheiser hd 380 pro) and an amp (schiit magni).  I am very excited to get them.  I understand theres no shortage of different ways to do things in audio land so don't hate on my setup.  my issue is well...kind of embarrassing.  It just occurred to me that i cant plug the amp into anything.  i have the z87 MSI GD-65 mobo, and im currently up a creek.  Apparently for whatever reason, i thought i could buy an optical to RCA cable to plug into my schiit. so now i dont really know what to do.   Id rather not shell out another $100 on the DAC, but im afraid i might have to if i want to have both speakers AND my headphones plugged in at the same time (so i dont have to go under my desk every time i want to swap)  my only saving grace is that i have a coax out on my mobo as well. Will this 

( http://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-Digital-Coaxial-Splitter-Adapter/dp/B003L1AGVS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1401242859&sr=8-3&keywords=coaxial+to+rca+cable )

 

do the job i need it to do? or do i really need a dac?

 

I don't quite know whats going on. So you bought all the stuff but you don't have a RCA on your soundcard?

i dont think any of these will do the trick.  and for that matter, neither will the one that i suggested.  i need male coaxial to male RCA

[ShearMe]

You could simply use a splitter off your onboard sound (basically all three things that t0wer linked) if you want a cheap option.

 

The problem with coaxial input DACs, is that they still need power, so you might as well just get a USB one - ie, a Schiit Modi to stack with your Magni.

[NannerBeans]

If you want to purchase that cable,do not buy that cable from amazon, if you want that cable, please buy it from Monoprice them self's.

 

Amazon price $6.99= Rip off

 

Monoprice price $2.75= Good deal

 

Same Y splitter

Actually it's about the same price after shipping if you are only buying a single cable. Most of the cables are sold directly from Monoprice and it's really the same thing.

[ShearMe]

Actually it's about the same price after shipping if you are only buying a single cable. Most of the cables are sold directly from Monoprice and it's really the same thing.

 

I'm pretty sure Amazon has a bulk deal with them so that they get a decent cut, which is good for people with prime cuz dat shipping speed.

[NannerBeans]

I'm pretty sure Amazon has a bulk deal with them so that they get a decent cut, which is good for people with prime cuz dat shipping speed.

Oh yeah I didn't actually click on the link. A lot of them the seller on Amazon is actually Monoprice so they are just selling through Amazon. 

[ericlee30]

Actually it's about the same price after shipping if you are only buying a single cable. Most of the cables are sold directly from Monoprice and it's really the same thing.

With shipping from Monoprice the total comes to $5.25, still cheaper then the $6.99 with free shipping at Amazon and buying the cable directly from the source "monoprice", then a second party retailer.

[creatip123]

Tower's solution is the best value to try, I think. First, use the 3,5mm splitter, and plug that to your mobo. One end goes to speakers, the other goes to 3,5mm-to-RCA adapter. Then use RCA male-to-males cable for length extension, and plug that to the magni. This should get everything going. Just remember to set the volume to the lowest level for the first time playing, before plugging your headphone in. Play a music, and add the volume as you're listening. I've heard a guy who was using a headphone on his amp (quite big amp), and left the volume as it was. Then he plugged an IEM, and forgot to adjust the volume. On play, one of the driver popped, and died right away. Might not be the case for Senns headphone, but doesn't hurt to be extra careful. 

 

Or you could use the front panel's audio jack to plug into the Magni. That way, you won't need the 3,5mm splitter, and you can select what output you're going for, the speakers, or the magni (depends on the driver of your onboard)

[t0wer]

@t0wer wait. Are you saying i need all 3 of those?

 

 

the splitter will let you keep using your current speakers.

the 3.5mm > rca will let you plug in the magni

the rca connectors are because you need male rca and the 3.5>rca is female.

[JewishBacon]

the splitter will let you keep using your current speakers.

the 3.5mm > rca will let you plug in the magni

the rca connectors are because you need male rca and the 3.5>rca is female.

ah that makes sense. took a closer look at the cables and now i get it.  (so much facepalm, so little face!).  I was looking around my house for a 3mm splitter because i KNOW i have one somewhere, and i came across this:

 

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9t8ixpid67g1qb3/2014-05-28%2018.39.54.jpg

 

 

im 95% sure this will do the job of the 3.5mm to rca, or does it NEED to be for audio only?

[NannerBeans]

ah that makes sense. took a closer look at the cables and now i get it.  (so much facepalm, so little face!).  I was looking around my house for a 3mm splitter because i KNOW i have one somewhere, and i came across this:

 

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9t8ixpid67g1qb3/2014-05-28%2018.39.54.jpg

 

 

im 95% sure this will do the job of the 3.5mm to rca, or does it NEED to be for audio only?

The RCA part should work but that is a 4 pole plug and the adapter you need to split the headphone and mic parts of it cost more than an actual splitter. 

[ShearMe]

ah that makes sense. took a closer look at the cables and now i get it.  (so much facepalm, so little face!).  I was looking around my house for a 3mm splitter because i KNOW i have one somewhere, and i came across this:

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9t8ixpid67g1qb3/2014-05-28%2018.39.54.jpg

 

im 95% sure this will do the job of the 3.5mm to rca, or does it NEED to be for audio only?

 

That should work - just make sure you're connecting to the correct RCA jacks (sometimes audio is sent to the yellow instead of one of the others).

[JewishBacon]

so the Schiit amp arrived today.  So i plugged in my Razer Kraken Pros (senns arrive tomorrow) and i was looking foreward to see is there was a difference with my onboard and schiit. well, there was this LOUD buzz, like when you are going out of range of a radio station on a road trip.  I could hear the music, but there was a buzz that i could just NOT ignore.  does this mean i need to go get a dac? or could it be an easy fix? 

[t0wer]

if it was a loud buzz, I'm guessing the 3.5mm <> rca adapter doesn't have a good ground because it's trrs not just trs.

get a different adapter.

[JewishBacon]

if it was a loud buzz, I'm guessing the 3.5mm <> rca adapter doesn't have a good ground because it's trrs not just trs.

get a different adapter.

so what you're saying is my splitter is in this config and i need one with one less "band" around the jack?

[Seed]

Can you use your front 1/8th jack? You should have two with the audio header no? One green on the back for speakers and one on the front. Not sure if it's one or the other though. Haven't tested that myself in a long time.

[JewishBacon]

Can you use your front 1/8th jack? You should have two with the audio header no? One green on the back for speakers and one on the front. Not sure if it's one or the other though. Haven't tested that myself in a long time.

ya its either use one or the other.

[Seed]

I have the Asgard 2 and have some feedback as well. I got this:

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002E4YI8/ref=oh_details_o07_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

I hope it helps out. Arrives today. I'm on USB with a DragonFly DAC. I should try with and without the DAC, 1/8th to RCA as well on the Asgard 2.