Confused about DACs

[DonDeWaay]

Hi, guys. So I have a plan to hide my desktop in a closet and route HDMI through the wall, making a super minimalist setup. I have a Blackwidow Ultimate 2014, which has 3.5mm jack pass through. This is great and would work for this plan of mine but I really want a Logitech G810 but that doesn't have pass through. My question is if a DAC would serve as a kind of hub where I can plug my headphones in and be able to control volume with the advantage of better quality, replacing the need and I guess being a better alternative to a keyboard pass through. If anyone has an alternative to my proposed solution feel free to let me know.

Thanks!

[vanished]

I'm not sure I understand this situation fully, but if you can run HDMI or some other digital signal into the other room and just go to analog near you, it will be better than running 3.5mm through the wall for sure.

[Guest]

Sure you can connect a USB DAC to a keyboard. Budget?

[Pomfinator]

Wait so do you want to plug a USB DAC into your keyboard passthrough or do you want to plug it into your computer and use an extra long USB cable to run it to your desk?

[megaant4]

I'm pretty sure I understand what you are saying. And the answer is yes you can. I recommend the FiiO E10K, as you will be able to plug it into your PC via USB, then mount it under the roof of your desk or on top and just plug your headphones in when ever you want to use them. Like most DACs, the E10K has a volume nob that will allow you to change the volume.

57 minutes ago, DonDeWaay said:

-snip-

 

[Dackzy]

wow wow let me just clear something up here. A dac does not have headphone output or a volume control and if you get a dac you will need a amp. There are combos where both things are build into one package.

[PingKueh]

On 5/6/2016 at 11:53 AM, DonDeWaay said:

Hi, guys. So I have a plan to hide my desktop in a closet and route HDMI through the wall, making a super minimalist setup. I have a Blackwidow Ultimate 2014, which has 3.5mm jack pass through. This is great and would work for this plan of mine but I really want a Logitech G810 but that doesn't have pass through. My question is if a DAC would serve as a kind of hub where I can plug my headphones in and be able to control volume with the advantage of better quality, replacing the need and I guess being a better alternative to a keyboard pass through. If anyone has an alternative to my proposed solution feel free to let me know.

Thanks!

Yes you can consider a USB DAC, which some are powered by USB or AC power. And try going for those with a DAC/Amp combo where you will have your volume knob on it and to plug your headphones to it as well. And one tip is to connect the DAC/Amp through USB direct to the PC itself and NOT using the keyboard's USB.

 

Recommended:

PC>USB(back of PC)>DAC/Amp>Headphones

 

Don't Use:

PC>USB>Keyboard>USB>DAC/Amp>Headphones.

 

 

Reason why is, even there is a spare port on your keyboard but it runs through the same USB cable to your PC so there will be kind of audio interference as well. To minimize that, plug the USB DAC/Amp direct to the PC.

In audio line, we try to keep things as simple and short as possible to enjoy the best

[spwath]

1 hour ago, PingKueh said:

Yes you can consider a USB DAC, which some are powered by USB or AC power. And try going for those with a DAC/Amp combo where you will have your volume knob on it and to plug your headphones to it as well. And one tip is to connect the DAC/Amp through USB direct to the PC itself and NOT using the keyboard's USB.

 

Recommended:

PC>USB(back of PC)>DAC/Amp>Headphones

 

Don't Use:

PC>USB>Keyboard>USB>DAC/Amp>Headphones.

 

 

Reason why is, even there is a spare port on your keyboard but it runs through the same USB cable to your PC so there will be kind of audio interference as well. To minimize that, plug the USB DAC/Amp direct to the PC.

In audio line, we try to keep things as simple and short as possible to enjoy the best

Not really, it Will be fine going through keyboard. Its digital, so its fine.

[PingKueh]

16 minutes ago, spwath said:

Not really, it Will be fine going through keyboard. Its digital, so its fine.

I work in a audio company and these are taken to consideration. And is just my opinion as some audiophile would agree. 

[Dackzy]

8 minutes ago, PingKueh said:

I work in a audio company and these are taken to consideration. And is just my opinion as some audiophile would agree. 

it is 1s and 0s not a analog signal.

[PingKueh]

59 minutes ago, Dackzy said:

it is 1s and 0s not a analog signal.

Even digital audio signal can get interference. Not just analog..

[Dackzy]

Just now, PingKueh said:

Even digital audio signal can get interference. Not just analog..

I know, but there should not be any interference in a keyboard unless it's made really badly and I don't think the Blackwidow Ultimate 14 is made badly. The worst that can happen is that he tries it with the keyboard and if he has interference, he can just plug it directly into his desktop then. I think that there is a risk of 1% of interference in his keyboard.