DAC/AMP combos with RCA-ins with no ADC.

[LegionOfHell]

I know alot of DAC/AMP combo units that have RCA-Ins but nearly all of them put an ADC right after the RCA-ins, examples:

Creative X7
Creative G6
Monolith by Monoprice combos like this.
This older Monoprice AMP/DAC ???
Fiio K5/7 ???

Are there any combos that do not put an ADC after the RCA-ins ? Analog signal goes straight to the amp section ?

 

[Koeitje]

The Fiio K7 measures pretty well, so what is the issue? I don't know if it has an ADC, but if it does it doesn't affect performance at all.

 

[staticV3]

I'm fairly certain that the FiiO units do not digitize the Line inputs:
https://www.l7audiolab.com/f/fiio-k7/
https://www.l7audiolab.com/f/fiio-k9pro/
https://www.l7audiolab.com/f/measurements-of-fiio-k5-pro-dacheadphoneamp/

 

[Vincent Kars]

but nearly all of them put an ADC right after the RCA-ins

Any evidence this to be true?
How have you established this?

 

[Salt]

I know alot of DAC/AMP combo units that have RCA-Ins but nearly all of them put an ADC right after the RCA-ins, examples:

Creative X7
Creative G6
Monolith by Monoprice combos like this.
This older Monoprice AMP/DAC ???
Fiio K5/7 ???

Are there any combos that do not put an ADC after the RCA-ins ? Analog signal goes straight to the amp section ?

What exactly is the problem with ADC-ing?

 

[LegionOfHell]

What exactly is the problem with ADC-ing?

You are right, ADC-ing the signal doesn't cause any audible problems. this has been discussed before. but Why ADC it ? since most of the DSP is irrelevant to audiophiles anyway ? The manufacturers should put a switch somewhere that bypasses the ADC ? isn't it better that way ?

 

[pogo]

NAD C3x9 with Analog Bypass option: All analog signals remain in the analog domain without analog-to-digital conversions.

 

[GXAlan]

What exactly is the problem with ADC-ing?

If you are using a digital piano through your home setups, the latency really messes up things since you are so dependent on the sound as feedback.

 

[LegionOfHell]

NAD C3x9 with Analog Bypass option: All analog signals remain in the analog domain without analog-to-digital conversions.

expensive. I am a mid tier audiophile

 

[Salt]

since most of the DSP is irrelevant to audiophiles anyway ?

Maybe even audiophiles might catch up with a thought about 'room and speaker' EQ and as this is best performed on digital domain it will be future .. also for audiophiles...

 

[LegionOfHell]

software DSP ? Also, a simple switch could bypass the ADC ? I guess adding this functionality makes the unit more expensive ? manufacturers are trying to cut corners here ?

 

[Salt]

software DSP ?

DSP is always software .. what ever base it runs on ... don't believe in advertising like 'Hardware Firewall' that is just a software running on proprietary hardware.

 

[LegionOfHell]

I meant DSP could be done on your computer ? Equalizer APO, Hesuvi+ ?

 

[Salt]

The computer as source will do any dsp that is offered by software.
Have a look at audacity, foobar and others.

 

[oceansize]

I'm fairly certain that the FiiO units do not digitize the Line inputs:
https://www.l7audiolab.com/f/fiio-k7/
https://www.l7audiolab.com/f/fiio-k9pro/
https://www.l7audiolab.com/f/measurements-of-fiio-k5-pro-dacheadphoneamp/

I have a K5 Pro and a K7, neither digitise the line imputs.

 

[LegionOfHell]

How can it not digitize the RCA-ins when the volume knob is digital ?

 

[staticV3]

How can it not digitize the RCA-ins when the volume knob is digital ?

The volume knob is an analog potentiometer, whose resistance is read by an ADC+microcontroller, which in turn controls a resistor ladder analog attenuator chip (e.g. NJU72315).

At its core, the volume control is analog.