Can I use these DAC/AMP units as standalone DACs ?

[LegionOfHell]

I have the following DAC/AMPs:

• Creative X7
• Creative G6
• FX-Audio DAC-X6 MKII
• Zorloo ZuperDac

And the following standalone DACs:

• JDS Labs Atom DAC+
• S.M.S.L SU1

I am a n00b when it comes to audio science so consider that when answering me.

I want to use my DAC/Amp units as standalone DACS. I want to pair them with my Schiit Heresy and Liquid Spark headphone amps.

Do the signals for line-outs/audio-outs on my DAC/AMPs go through the headphone amp circuits of the units ?

When using the line-outs/audio-outs, are the signals directly sent to the line-outs/audio-outs or do they go through the headphone amp circuits and then the line-outs/audio-outs ?
(A signal that is outputted through the headphone jack goes through the "headphone amp circuit")

Can someone explain ?

in other words when using the USB inputs on my DAC/AMPs, which one of the following scenarios is correct:

1. USB-in -->USB receiver chip --> DAC chip --> Line-Out/Audio-Out
2. USB-in -->USB receiver chip --> DAC chip --> Headphone Amp Circuit --> Line-Out/Audio-Out

Do all of my DAC/AMPs work like (1) or do they work like (2) ? Can somebody check ?

if they work like (2), Aren't the signals degraded when they go through the headphone amp circuits ? (amplification degrades the signal?)

When using my DAC/AMPs as standalone DACs, what volume should I set my DAC/AMPs to in windows ?

in general, Do standalone DACs perform better than the DAC sections of DAC/AMPs ?

 

[Doodski]

USB-in -->USB receiver chip --> DAC chip --> Headphone Amp Circuit --> Line-Out/Audio-Out

#2 is the way.

if they work like (2), Aren't the signals degraded when they go through the headphone amp circuits ? (amplification degrades the signal?)

Theoretically the sound is degraded a tiny bit but it is very small and otherwise how would you get more power if not using a headphone amp?

Do standalone DACs perform better than the DAC sections of DAC/AMPs ?

Usually the DAC-AMPs have slightly lesser DAC ICs but again the differences is tiny tiny.

 

[LegionOfHell]

#2 is the way.

Theoretically the sound is degraded a tiny bit but it is very small and otherwise how would you get more power if not using a headphone amp?

But how about DACs like the E30II and Atom DAC+ ? they don't have a headphone amp circuit ?


The outputted signal through line-out should be around 2Vrms ? What is the Vrms right after the DAC chip's analog outs ?

 

[Doodski]

The outputted signal through line-out should be around 2Vrms ? What is the Vrms right after the DAC chip's analog outs ?

The voltage output of a DAC varies according to the designers parameters and the IC used. There is no fixed voltage level for all DACs.