USB audio adapter with line output? (re: outdoor speakers, amplifier)

[sofakng]

Does anybody know of a cheap USB audio adapter with line output?

I'm looking to connect a PC (w/o a soundcard) to a cheap amplifier (Lepy LP-2020A) to power outdoor patio speakers.

Most of the USB sound cards seem to expect headphones or speakers so I think I need something with "line output" to connect to the amplifier, right?

 

[NTK]

Headphone outputs will drive amplifiers just fine. However, you may want to be sure that the headphone output has enough voltage to drive your amplifier to full output. For example, the Apple USB-C headphone adapter has a maximum output of about 1 Vrms. The Apple adapter is close to the low end of the max output levels of the dongles Amir has tested (see chart below), but isn't the worst.

In case of the Lepy LP-2020A (Amir's review here), an input of 1 Vrms is just enough to drive it to clipping.

 

[rdenney]

Many, many DACs have RCA outputs that will feed powered speakers or a power amp just fine. If you just want playback, get a DAC--they are cheaper and often much better than the inexpensive USB sound cards. The "sound card" provides a combined ADC/DAC and is needed if you want to send line-level audio into the computer to be stored digitally--if you don't need that, don't buy it.

The Topping E30 will turn USB into line-level audio for powered speakers or a separate amp/speaker combo, and it's about as good as anything available in the general vicinity of a hundred bucks. It's very much better than you need for this application, but that abundance doesn't really come at a price penalty. That's just one of several dozen examples that perform abundantly well and have line outputs to feed an amp.

The Creative X-fi HD is a full external sound card has unbalanced (RCA) line-ins and line-outs. It's not as good as some, but it's good enough for what you are planning. It also has a volume control. They are often discounted--don't pay more than a hundred bucks for it.

Rick "selects DACs mostly for the required gozintas and gozouttas" Denney

 

[DSJR]

Would a Topping D10s be enough, if USB only?