DACs with built-in galvanic isolation?

[Jarrett]

Hello,

Does anyone know or would like to begin listing DACs with built-in galvanic isolation in the <$1k range? Something that will eliminate the PC electrical / random noise without needing something external? I've only seen the feature on more expensive DACs, yet I think a lot of people would pay for it if Topping, etc began to implement it.

 

[MCH]

I don't know, but I have the impression it is relatively infrequent, at least in this forum, that people has this sort of issues. I am only familiar with the AD isolators, but they are relatively expensive parts (5$ in large quantities, up to 10$ in small quantities just for the chip), so taking all together I understand why they aren't that common in cheap DACs. But on the other hand, give people an excuse to pay more for something they don't need, and they will jump on it, so yeah, it remains a mystery why they don't add it more often.

 

[nick_l44.1]

Hello,

Does anyone know or would like to begin listing DACs with built-in galvanic isolation in the <$1k range? Something that will eliminate the PC electrical / random noise without needing something external? I've only seen the feature on more expensive DACs, yet I think a lot of people would pay for it if Topping, etc began to implement it.

USB dongles have no decoupling due to the size and primary purpose of use with headphones. Headphones are in any case an isolated load and isolators will usually accomplish nothing in such cases. The effect of power conversion in USB isolators can be either positive or negative.
Desktop DACs are usually isolated, this is required by connection to other mains powered audio devices. I personally only tested the smsl dl200, it had no signs of a ground loop.

 

[staticV3]

Just use Toslink. No it doesn't reduce audio quality.

 

[Hanginon]

I believe the Rane Serato interfaces - SL2,SL3,SL4 - have isolation. They are no longer compatible with the newest versions of Serato DJ Pro software, so are pretty inexpensive

 

[Jarrett]

I don't know, but I have the impression it is relatively infrequent, at least in this forum, that people has this sort of issues. I am only familiar with the AD isolators, but they are relatively expensive parts (5$ in large quantities, up to 10$ in small quantities just for the chip), so taking all together I understand why they aren't that common in cheap DACs. But on the other hand, give people an excuse to pay more for something they don't need, and they will jump on it, so yeah, it remains a mystery why they don't add it more often.

Right, I bet streaming gets around the issue and nowadays running balanced is easy with amplifiers often coming with both options.

Just use Toslink. No it doesn't reduce audio quality.

Actually, I am about to try that once the cable arrives because my PC has optical too. I'm curious what a perfect connection should sound like when there's nothing playing.

 

[Soniclife]

I'm curious what a perfect connection should sound like when there's nothing playing.

Seriously, it should be completely silent, unless you have your ear to the tweeter.

 

[somebodyelse]

Galvanic isolation on which input?

I don't know of any with isolated USB, but as we now have isolators that do 480Mbps for £33 I'm not too worried.

Toslink is isolated by its nature.

Coax connections may or may not be isolated, more often at the transmitting end than the receiving end as that's where the pro standards say it should be. They put the necessary transformer in the output of a £17 Fun Generation UA-202 so cost isn't much of an excuse, but you won't find them in many consumer sources. I don't think I've seen S/PDIF isolation transformers as a stand-alone item, other than as DIY or as splitters for studio use.