Connecting a laptop to a Yamaha a-s501 amplifier via an external DAC

[Mihail76.]

Very unlikely the problem lies with the dac unless it is simply broken. The dac in the amp is perfectly adequate, advanced dac might have better numbers, but not likely any audible differences. Sourcing sound from a tv, meh.



In english?

I don't understand why it automatically translates into Russian, even though I paste in English. Maybe it's a browser setting or something.

 

[Chrispy]

Of course, I don't claim that these are premium speakers, but as I already wrote, they are not the worst, namely Triangle Esprit Ez Comete, and I believe that the amplifier's native DAC is not capable of fully revealing their potential. And perhaps with an external DAC installed, the amplifier will be able to better deliver its 80 watts per channel, as it will not be powering its own DAC. Well, that's just a guess. As you may have guessed, I am new to the world of Hi-Fi, but very enthusiastic.

The on-board dac is more than capable of providing anything your speakers can do (more capable actually). The amp wouldn't be "able to better deliver" power in any case due to dac. The amount of power the integrated amp uses to power other than the amp section is negligible. At what distance are you from speakers and what spl levels are you playing back at? Your room has more to do with the sound than the electronics so make sure you've positioned the speakers well too.

 

[Chrispy]

I don't understand why it automatically translates into Russian, even though I paste in English. Maybe it's a browser setting or something.

Don't know, could be.

 

[Chrispy]

Hopefully you're not reading idiotic reviews like this one https://theaudiobeatnik.com/review-triangle-comete-40th-anniversary-edition-speakers/

 

[Mihail76.]

Встроенный ЦАП более чем способен обеспечить всё, на что способны ваши колонки (даже более способен). Усилитель в любом случае не сможет «обеспечить лучшую подачу» мощности из-за ЦАП. Количество энергии, потребляемой интегрированным усилителем помимо питания самого усилителя, ничтожно мало. На каком расстоянии от колонок вы находитесь и на каком уровне звукового давления воспроизводите звук? Ваша комната оказывает большее влияние на звук, чем электроника, поэтому убедитесь, что вы правильно расположили колонки.

Встроенный ЦАП более чем способен обеспечить всё, на что способны ваши колонки (даже более способен). Усилитель в любом случае не сможет «обеспечить лучшую подачу» мощности из-за ЦАП. Количество энергии, потребляемой интегрированным усилителем помимо питания самого усилителя, ничтожно мало. На каком расстоянии от колонок вы находитесь и на каком уровне звукового давления воспроизводите звук? Ваша комната оказывает большее влияние на звук, чем электроника, поэтому убедитесь, что вы правильно расположили колонки.

Встроенный ЦАП более чем способен обеспечить всё, на что способны ваши колонки (даже более способен). Усилитель в любом случае не сможет «лучше передавать» мощность из-за ЦАП. Количество энергии, потребляемой интегрированным усилителем помимо усилительной части, ничтожно мало. На каком расстоянии от колонок вы находитесь и на каком уровне звукового давления воспроизводите звук? Ваша комната оказывает большее влияние на звук, чем электроника, поэтому убедитесь, что вы правильно расположили колонки.

Встроенный ЦАП более чем способен обеспечить всё, на что способны ваши колонки (даже более способен). Усилитель в любом случае не сможет «обеспечить лучшую подачу» мощности из-за ЦАП. Количество энергии, потребляемой интегрированным усилителем помимо питания самого усилителя, ничтожно мало. На каком расстоянии от колонок вы находитесь и на каком уровне звукового давления воспроизводите звук? Ваша комната оказывает большее влияние на звук, чем электроника, поэтому убедитесь, что вы правильно расположили колонки.

The on-board dac is more than capable of providing anything your speakers can do (more capable actually). The amp wouldn't be "able to better deliver" power in any case due to dac. The amount of power the integrated amp uses to power other than the amp section is negligible. At what distance are you from speakers and what spl levels are you playing back at? Your room has more to do with the sound than the electronics so make sure you've positioned the speakers well too.

I understand your concerns about the room acoustics and speaker placement are quite reasonable, but right now I am more concerned about another issue. First, outputting sound from a laptop to an amplifier using an external DAC, such as the Eversolo z8, Cambridge Audio DAC Magic 200, or Wiim Ultra, with additional connection features. and as a bonus, I was hoping to get an improvement in sound quality.

 

[Chrispy]

I understand your concerns about the room acoustics and speaker placement are quite reasonable, but right now I am more concerned about another issue. First, outputting sound from a laptop to an amplifier using an external DAC, such as the Eversolo z8, Cambridge Audio DAC Magic 200, or Wiim Ultra, with additional connection features. and as a bonus, I was hoping to get an improvement in sound quality.

What connections do you want to use? I think your expectations of another dac are misplaced, though. Where did you get the idea the dac makes such a difference?

 

[Mihail76.]

What connections do you want to use? I think your expectations of another dac are misplaced, though. Where did you get the idea the dac makes such a difference?

What connections do you want to use? I think your expectations of another dac are misplaced, though. Where did you get the idea the dac makes such a difference?

I plan to connect my laptop to the DAC using a USB Type-C cable, and from there via coaxial cable to the amplifier. It would also be nice to be able to connect an external hard drive directly to the DAC. The TV can be connected directly to the amplifier via an optical cable. I also need a separate headphone output, as there is no special switch on the amplifier and I have to constantly plug and unplug the headphones. As for whether or not the sound will be better with a good DAC, I think a good DAC will be better at converting the digital signal to analog with the least distortion, and accordingly, the amplifier will produce a clearer sound, but that's just my subjective opinion. Maybe I'm wrong, but then why do we need them at all if they don't provide any improvement? Although all you hear about these devices are rave reviews.

 

[Chrispy]

I plan to connect my laptop to the DAC using a USB Type-C cable, and from there via coaxial cable to the amplifier. It would also be nice to be able to connect an external hard drive directly to the DAC. The TV can be connected directly to the amplifier via an optical cable. I also need a separate headphone output, as there is no special switch on the amplifier and I have to constantly plug and unplug the headphones. As for whether or not the sound will be better with a good DAC, I think a good DAC will be better at converting the digital signal to analog with the least distortion, and accordingly, the amplifier will produce a clearer sound, but that's just my subjective opinion. Maybe I'm wrong, but then why do we need them at all if they don't provide any improvement? Although all you hear about these devices are rave reviews.

You control volume from a receiver/integrated amp or the computer/tv?

I'm not shopping so no real suggestion on specific units that meet your connectivity feature/needs, tho many have been reviewed here on ASR and have a good overview of basic features/connectivity.

Have you reviewed the threads here on ASR about dac audibility? Like this perhaps https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ible-difference-between-different-dacs.10092/

Maybe this thread could be helpful as well https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...-thresholds-of-amp-and-dac-measurements.5734/

 

[Mihail76.]

You control volume from a receiver/integrated amp or the computer/tv?

I'm not shopping so no real suggestion on specific units that meet your connectivity feature/needs, tho many have been reviewed here on ASR and have a good overview of basic features/connectivity.

Have you reviewed the threads here on ASR about dac audibility? Like this perhaps https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ible-difference-between-different-dacs.10092/

Maybe this thread could be helpful as well https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...-thresholds-of-amp-and-dac-measurements.5734/

I control the volume with the amplifier remote control. I should mention that when I set the control to around 13 o'clock, distortion occurs. This is another reason to add a DAC in the hope of getting better sound. Alternatively, there is the idea of replacing the amplifier with a more powerful one in terms of current, in the hope of increasing the volume. I looked at your links and I can't say that opinions about the sound of the DAC are unanimous.

 

[Chrispy]

I control the volume with the amplifier remote control. I should mention that when I set the control to around 13 o'clock, distortion occurs. This is another reason to add a DAC in the hope of getting better sound. Alternatively, there is the idea of replacing the amplifier with a more powerful one in terms of current, in the hope of increasing the volume. I looked at your links and I can't say that opinions about the sound of the DAC are unanimous.

Setting a volume control by a the position of the dial means little. How do you have gain/volume set before the amp would be more interesting.

You're welcome to the fantasy that the dac is going to change anything significantly, keep in mind dac's have been a solved problem for ages. Opinions aren't unanimous but generally well on the side of it won't matter, we do have some "believers" around here, tho. Try and find someone who can distinguish them in proper testing (blind, level matched, etc). More an audiophile fantasy (or shilling efforts in mainstream audio media).

 

[Mihail76.]

Setting a volume control by a the position of the dial means little. How do you have gain/volume set before the amp would be more interesting.

You're welcome to the fantasy that the dac is going to change anything significantly, keep in mind dac's have been a solved problem for ages. Opinions aren't unanimous but generally well on the side of it won't matter, we do have some "believers" around here, tho. Try and find someone who can distinguish them in proper testing (blind, level matched, etc). More an audiophile fantasy (or shilling efforts in mainstream audio media).

Do you have an answer to this question: how to set the gain/volume before the amplifier and how will this affect the sound, in terms of volume, or is this also just fantasy?

 

[Chrispy]

Do you have an answer to this question: how to set the gain/volume before the amplifier and how will this affect the sound, in terms of volume, or is this also just fantasy?

Generally you would use a high/max setting in the source when using a downstream volume control. It may affect the sound, depends on specifics, generally not likely. It can have an effect on volume if limiting signal to apply the amp's gain to.

 

[Mihail76.]

Generally you would use a high/max setting in the source when using a downstream volume control. It may affect the sound, depends on specifics, generally not likely. It can have an effect on volume if limiting signal to apply the amp's gain to.

Yes, the sound from the source, i.e., the laptop, is at maximum volume and is output via HDMI to the TV. I hope that the sound from the TV to the amplifier via the optical cable is also at maximum volume. For some reason, I think that the volume will be higher if I use a good DAC and an external hard drive as the source. What do you think?

 

[Chrispy]

You can check your tv for output level adjustment, may not have one though. Why would a dac (let alone a hard drive) increase volume particularly?