Optical out thoughts

[rmryan]

I have an inexpensive (Fiio e10) USB DAC that I bought a while ago to feed a pair of powered Tannoy monitors in my home office.  It actually doesn't sound too bad for that use, but now that I've built my Crack OTL and tried to feed it I can really hear how much noise is coming in via USB.

The E10 also has an optical SPDIF (RCA) input that I would like to try.  My PC motherboard does not have an optical out.

Can anyone recommend a sound card that has an optical out that I can purchase to give this a try?  If it works effectively I will look at a better DAC.

[Loggie]

Hello Richard,

I noticed you mentioned the E10 has an optical in however if I'm correct its a digital out (Digital Coaxial RCA SPDIF).
According to the picture below:

(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.headfonia.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2011%2F09%2Ffiio_e10_03.jpg&hash=8b181ef847d0df53d13f91a0541d9d6e005a7b4f)

If you use the coaxial out you can send the (digital) signal to another DAC ( it acts now as a USB-to-SPDIF converter) or amplifier with a coaxial input.
The Line out is to connect the E10 to an amplifier without internal DAC mainly.

You can only use the mini-USB to connect the E10 to a PC.

So if you want to upgrade on a DAC and want to play music thats on your PC/Laptop you can use the E10 as a USB to SPDIF converter.
You don't need another soundcard in that case.

There are many soundcards with a digital out (however you will not be able to connect it to the E10).

Sometimes making the right connections can be very confusing with all the possibilities these days :-)

[rmryan]

Wow, how right you are, Loggie.  Feeling pretty dumb right now.     Was looking right at it too.  That's what I get for not reading....

Okay, so I need another solution to be able to play the lossless flac files on my PC.  Motherboard has no digital out, and I'm not happy with my USB DAC.

And I don't want to pay a lot for this muffler.   

Thanks!
Rich

[Loggie]

Myself I either burn FLAC files to CD or play them using a Mediaplayer.

I was just checking for soundcards with SPDIF and they are not too expensive. Not sure if they will solve the noise problem though.

Another solution could be (example) a Denon DNP-F109. Although more expensive than a soundcard.

These days there are many ways of playing music across different pieces of equipment. Some more expensive than others.

Choices.....choices