Need help with a DAC

[FluffyQuido]

Hi,

I recently bought a pair of passive speakers, Roth Audio Oli RA 1, and a relatively cheap AMP that had good reviews, the Nobsound NS-10G. The sound quality is excellent and the AMP can easily power the speakers. The problem is the electrical noise at lower volumes or when nothing is playing. Changing up the speaker wire and using banana plugs has reduced the noise slightly but its still noticeable. After a quick Google search, I saw that DACs are the answer to remove the unwanted electrical noise but the DACs I have looked at, £100 and lower, only have two audio inputs, a L and R channel whilst the AMP requires positive and negative inputs for the L and R channels resulting in 4 input wires. Is it possible to connect the speakers through both the AMP and DAC? If so, which DAC would you recommend at around £100? Also, is it possible to power those speakers through a DAC alone so I wouldn't need two devices?

 

Kind regards,

Quido

[Volbet]

As far as I can tell your amp doesn't require four seperate inputs. In fact, it requires one: a 3.5mm TRS cable. 

If you want to connect an external DAC, then all you need is an RCA-to-3,5mm TRS cable.  

 

Although, the amp you mentioned seems to already have a build in DAC. It seems to accept an audio signal via USB, which would require DAC circuitry.

[SupaKomputa]

No guarantee with an external dac the problem will be gone.

Do you have any problems when you plug in a headphones or an active speakers?

If not, then i'll put my finger on the AMP.

Getting a DAC is if you're really not satisfied with internal soundcard, which nowadays is pretty good.

[FluffyQuido]

6 minutes ago, SupaKomputa said:

No guarantee with an external dac the problem will be gone.

Do you have any problems when you plug in a headphones or an active speakers?

If not, then i'll put my finger on the AMP.

Getting a DAC is if you're really not satisfied with internal soundcard, which nowadays is pretty good.

I dont have any electrical noise issues when plugging my headphones or other speakers into the back of my PC. The headphone port on the AMP doesnt really work so I cant test if I also get noise from there but I did get a full refund whilst being able to keep the AMP which is why I wouldnt be bothered buying something new.

[FluffyQuido]

10 minutes ago, Volbet said:

As far as I can tell your amp doesn't require four seperate inputs. In fact, it requires one: a 3.5mm TRS cable. 

If you want to connect an external DAC, then all you need is an RCA-to-3,5mm TRS cable.  

 

Although, the amp you mentioned seems to already have a build in DAC. It seems to accept an audio signal via USB, which would require DAC circuitry.

I'm not sure I quite understand. I have two cables coming from each speaker that plug into the AMP, this is what I meant by input, I should have been more clear. An RCA to 3.5mm does make sense.

 

Yes, I connect the AMP to my PC using a micro USB to USB cable, although this is the supplied cable. The AMP also requires its own power, maybe the supplied power adapter is generating the noise or the micro USB to USB is doing so?

[SupaKomputa]

If i'm not mistaken that amp support bluetooth, have you test it?

[Volbet]

17 minutes ago, FluffyQuido said:

I'm not sure I quite understand. I have two cables coming from each speaker that plug into the AMP, this is what I meant by input, I should have been more clear. An RCA to 3.5mm does make sense.

 

Yes, I connect the AMP to my PC using a micro USB to USB cable, although this is the supplied cable. The AMP also requires its own power, maybe the supplied power adapter is generating the noise or the micro USB to USB is doing so?

The front TRS jack is an auxiliary input. Apart from USB and Bluetooth it's the only way to input anything into the amp. If you want to connect a DAC it'll be through that port.

The binding posts on the back can't act as inputs. If you feed anything into them you'll risk frying the amplification circuit. 

 

It could very well be the power adapter. 

The power bricks that ships with these small, Chinese amps are usually hit'n'miss in terms of quality. 

It could also be something on your breaker that creates a feedback loop. Moving it to somewhere else in the house would confirm or debunk this. 

[FluffyQuido]

14 minutes ago, SupaKomputa said:

If i'm not mistaken that amp support bluetooth, have you test it?

 

11 minutes ago, Volbet said:

The front TRS jack is an auxiliary input. Apart from USB and Bluetooth it's the only way to input anything into the amp. If you want to connect a DAC it'll be through that port.

The binding posts on the back can't act as inputs. If you feed anything into them you'll risk frying the amplification circuit. 

 

It could very well be the power adapter. 

The power bricks that ships with these small, Chinese amps are usually hit'n'miss in terms of quality. 

It could also be something on your breaker that creates a feedback loop. Moving it to somewhere else in the house would hekp confirm or deny this. 

I will try both of these suggestions over the next few days and report back to see if the issue has been fixed.

[SupaKomputa]

Yes the AMP itself have a DAC onboard so buying another is a waste.

I think using bluetooth is saver as there's no wired involved.

And a 9v power adapter is cheap, maybe you already have one from you other devices.