Try it when it is connected to the optical spdif and connect the usb to a 5v phone charger and connect it to the wall directly not through a power extension cords
I finally bought the D1 after 5 or 6 years of onboard audio playing through my A2 speakers. What a great difference.. used to sound like speakers playing inside a cardboard box. Now the clarity has come alive.
I am confused and I stil did not find a concrete answer. Is DAC only for headphones or for the speakers itself also ? I have Audioengine A5+ and I wanna know if it's worth buying a DAC for the speakers itself
Adjusting the volume in windows is generally not recommended, you want the strongest possible signal going into the DAC, although is IS good practice to lower the volume to 95/100 to avoid potential weirdness. Anyway I've found this to be a perfectly serviceable little DAC/AMP for my pair of Sennheiser HD 660S. I didn't have any hum or hiss issues, but I wasn't using RCA, just the 3.5mm jack for my headphones. That might be the reason, but likely there's some kind of interference baked into your setup. Definitely worth trying a different USB port, making sure your PC is actually grounded (no two pin plug connections in whatever powerstrip chain you have going from the PC to the wall outlet), etc. These claim to be for headphones up to 600 ohms but unless I'm an idiot a DAC being powered solely over USB could never drive headphones with such high impedance, or at least not drive them WELL. I'm not sure I would even trust them with 300 ohms headphones to be honest, but the HD 660S are 150 ohms and easy to drive and this works flawlessly with them. No complaints.
I've noticed a huge improvement in audio. I had a flac file and I heard the instruments very clearly. The drums hitting with tight bass. I approve and am satisfied with this audioengine Dac. 😀
Hello mate. I just switched to the A5+ , coming from Edifiers Luna Eclipse. I was kinda disappointed because I didn't notice and difference in sound quality etc.. If I buy that thing you have there , the D1, you think I will notice any difference in sound quality?
@@LOG1C76 D1 is better than dac in A2+. I use D1 via USB, then RCA to A2+ and from them RCA do Audioengine S8 subwoofer. Sound is clearer and have more basse. Also sceen is wider and gives a more spacious sound.
I never used my speakers without it so can't really say, headphones are always plugged into it and they sound better than plugged into my motherboard, not by much though, could just be that I have an expensive motherboard though.
@@JarrodsTech What audio codec does your motherboard have? I'm currently looking at either buying an ALC1220 motherboard and a desktop amp or a cheaper motherboard and a dac/amp combo.
This would not make sense, as the signal is transferred via Bluetooth (digital). The actual digital/analog conversion + amplification happens in the headset itself unless you plug it into the front 3.5mm headphone out as Jarrod mentioned.
@@alexj517 no, but I'm currently looking for one myself - Which is why I know this one works with PS4 😄 However, I'm looking for one I can use for my PC that is pretty straight forward .. Like "plug & play" 🤔 I haven't decided yet. I just want to be sure I get the right one .. I'm currently looking at the Creative Sound Blaster X3 - This one will work with both PC and console (except XBOX) and there is an app you can download to your phone, where you can sort out all the settings from there. It looks pretty cool for the price - Might be worth for you to have a look at it as well 🤷♂️
personally i would have gotten some way more older speakers, like kenwood ls880, and pair it with a 20 dollar TPA3116 based amplifier. (they are better than real transistor amplifiers). im not convinced the audioengine D1 is a good dac. i would get the asus xonar essence STU, if they hadnt discontinued it. the noise your hearing is because of the bad quality of the power your computer is delivering to the DAC. thats why a dac sucks when its powered over USB. also, the chip is rated for 300 ohm headphones, but the internal capacitors are too small, and the USB power is too small to actually deliver enough power to headphones. so while the DAC is good on paper, its really is just the chip they are talking about, everything else about this dac makes it suck completely. It completely sucks to see a world where only ASUS seems to give a damn about audio quality, because even intelligent people cant usually tell the difference in the current maze, quality has become.
Sounds good, I use them with my m50x, although not sure how a headset would go as I don't know if the output is audio out only or if the mic will work through it.
Nice, I've been using it for a couple of years. It's definitely better than onboard soundcards. I'm using it into some Logitech speakers and sounds great. When I shifted my PC around I took it out of the mix and the audio was definitely lackluster. It's not a make it or break it device, but if your speakers are even half decent then it should give it a bit of a nudge in the right direction.
You mentioned that you keep the D1's volume knob at a fixed position and use the computer volume instead. I plan to buy this but I was under the impression that you lose Windows system volume control when the D1 is connected. I believe Audioengine's FAQ mentions that as well. Can you please confirm?
That's how I'm still using it, I never adjust the volume knob and just control it through Windows, the D1 just comes up as a regular sound device with a volume slider.
No, you'll be able to use both to adjust volume. The DAC volume is separate to Windows system volume levels, which I assume is what the keyboard controls.
the thing is, that controlling the volume on windows reduces the bitdepth of the sound. so you will end up with a worse quality as when you would regulate it on the DAC knob.
Try it when it is connected to the optical spdif and connect the usb to a 5v phone charger and connect it to the wall directly not through a power extension cords
or just get a proper power supply for your computer, like some premium seasonic.
How does sound of music on speakers compare with and without dac?
I finally bought the D1 after 5 or 6 years of onboard audio playing through my A2 speakers. What a great difference.. used to sound like speakers playing inside a cardboard box. Now the clarity has come alive.
Nice! Listening through mine right now 😁
Does this make sense? Audioengine A5+ speakers have the same 24-bit AKM AK4396 Digital-to-Analog Converter found in the D1 Headphone DAC/Amp.
With this DAC, the background music is GREAT! :)
I am confused and I stil did not find a concrete answer. Is DAC only for headphones or for the speakers itself also ?
I have Audioengine A5+ and I wanna know if it's worth buying a DAC for the speakers itself
Does a headset with a microphone work with this DAC?
Adjusting the volume in windows is generally not recommended, you want the strongest possible signal going into the DAC, although is IS good practice to lower the volume to 95/100 to avoid potential weirdness. Anyway I've found this to be a perfectly serviceable little DAC/AMP for my pair of Sennheiser HD 660S. I didn't have any hum or hiss issues, but I wasn't using RCA, just the 3.5mm jack for my headphones. That might be the reason, but likely there's some kind of interference baked into your setup. Definitely worth trying a different USB port, making sure your PC is actually grounded (no two pin plug connections in whatever powerstrip chain you have going from the PC to the wall outlet), etc.
These claim to be for headphones up to 600 ohms but unless I'm an idiot a DAC being powered solely over USB could never drive headphones with such high impedance, or at least not drive them WELL. I'm not sure I would even trust them with 300 ohms headphones to be honest, but the HD 660S are 150 ohms and easy to drive and this works flawlessly with them. No complaints.
Where can you find a USB C cable instead of the provided USB cable to use with this DAC?
I've seen a similar one in a MKBHD video long time ago! *Sounds* _pretty good_
it looks good but the biggest downside for me is the lack of a quarter inch input
I've noticed a huge improvement in audio. I had a flac file and I heard the instruments very clearly. The drums hitting with tight bass. I approve and am satisfied with this audioengine Dac. 😀
Good to hear! I'm listening through mine right now 😎🎵
what headphone are you using?
audiotechnica m50x
@@JarrodsTech So how does it sound when connecting by 3.5mm to Dac? I tried to connect A5+ to DAC by 3.5mm jack and it sounded like shit :(
Hello mate. I just switched to the A5+ , coming from Edifiers Luna Eclipse. I was kinda disappointed because I didn't notice and difference in sound quality etc.. If I buy that thing you have there , the D1, you think I will notice any difference in sound quality?
Depends, what are you currently connecting the speakers to? If you already have some decent DAC then no probably not.
@@JarrodsTech i connected them via these "golden and grey" wires to my computer. EDIT : i meant via the standard jack wire that was in the box
Will this still improve the sound of A2+ even if I already have the subwoofer?
Comapred to using what? Maybe if you're just plugging into PC onboard audio or something.
@@JarrodsTech yea right now i just have it connected to the pc with the usb.
@@Snake20 did you ever get this? I'm curious how the D1 compares to the built in DAC of the A2+.
@@LOG1C76 D1 is better than dac in A2+. I use D1 via USB, then RCA to A2+ and from them RCA do Audioengine S8 subwoofer. Sound is clearer and have more basse. Also sceen is wider and gives a more spacious sound.
How about a latency mon result if external DAC is present?
Don't have this anymore, this is a very old video and I didn't know what I was doing lol.
@@JarrodsTech I did not mean this specific model but generally external DAC.
Does your speakers sound better with it?
I never used my speakers without it so can't really say, headphones are always plugged into it and they sound better than plugged into my motherboard, not by much though, could just be that I have an expensive motherboard though.
@@JarrodsTech What audio codec does your motherboard have? I'm currently looking at either buying an ALC1220 motherboard and a desktop amp or a cheaper motherboard and a dac/amp combo.
This or soundblasterx g6? Thanks à lot !
Haven't tested that one so I can't say, sorry.
Balanced output?
ive got this when i bought by A5s! Love it
Nice!
can u tell me the difference between this D1 DAC and the 16 BiT DAC that the A5s include?
@@lecal0 this is 24-bit DAC so higher quiality for sure i think. Not sure about tech details outside of that
I have a question, all your laptop reviews are about metabox, is there a reason for that? Cheers!
We use them at work so there's quite a few there, after I did my first video I asked them if they'd be able to send me more to review and they agreed.
What if I'm using Astros a50's for PC which are wireless will it still improve the audio experience? Please reply someone.
No I don't think this would be useful for wireless, you'll only gain the effects if you're plugging into the 3.5mm headphone jack on the DAC.
You could get a Bluetooth adapter into the DAC
This would not make sense, as the signal is transferred via Bluetooth (digital).
The actual digital/analog conversion + amplification happens in the headset itself unless you plug it into the front 3.5mm headphone out as Jarrod mentioned.
would this handle a dt 990 pro and or dt 770 at 250ohm
yes if you havent lost most of your hearing
if you are hard of hearing then a amp would really help boost your volume
Good review can you connect this to the ps4?
Thanks, honestly no idea, I don't know anything about consoles sorry.
@@JarrodsTech ok thanks for the reply
@@alexj517 yes, you can connect it to your PS4 :)
@@mogensen84 thanks for the reply 👍. Do you have this Dac if so is it good?
@@alexj517 no, but I'm currently looking for one myself - Which is why I know this one works with PS4 😄
However, I'm looking for one I can use for my PC that is pretty straight forward .. Like "plug & play" 🤔
I haven't decided yet. I just want to be sure I get the right one .. I'm currently looking at the Creative Sound Blaster X3 - This one will work with both PC and console (except XBOX) and there is an app you can download to your phone, where you can sort out all the settings from there. It looks pretty cool for the price - Might be worth for you to have a look at it as well 🤷♂️
personally i would have gotten some way more older speakers, like kenwood ls880, and pair it with a 20 dollar TPA3116 based amplifier. (they are better than real transistor amplifiers).
im not convinced the audioengine D1 is a good dac. i would get the asus xonar essence STU, if they hadnt discontinued it.
the noise your hearing is because of the bad quality of the power your computer is delivering to the DAC. thats why a dac sucks when its powered over USB. also, the chip is rated for 300 ohm headphones, but the internal capacitors are too small, and the USB power is too small to actually deliver enough power to headphones.
so while the DAC is good on paper, its really is just the chip they are talking about, everything else about this dac makes it suck completely. It completely sucks to see a world where only ASUS seems to give a damn about audio quality, because even intelligent people cant usually tell the difference in the current maze, quality has become.
Sober review. Ty!
is this good for ps4?
To be honest I don't know enough about PS4 to say, I have no idea if they work with USB DACs
please give feedback appreciate your time
Thinking about these with my audio Technica adg1x
Sounds good, I use them with my m50x, although not sure how a headset would go as I don't know if the output is audio out only or if the mic will work through it.
Nice, I've been using it for a couple of years. It's definitely better than onboard soundcards. I'm using it into some Logitech speakers and sounds great. When I shifted my PC around I took it out of the mix and the audio was definitely lackluster. It's not a make it or break it device, but if your speakers are even half decent then it should give it a bit of a nudge in the right direction.
Yeah agreed :) I recently changed from some Logitech speakers to the Audioengine 5+ so figured this would be a good match!
👍
$169 ouch!!
You mentioned that you keep the D1's volume knob at a fixed position and use the computer volume instead. I plan to buy this but I was under the impression that you lose Windows system volume control when the D1 is connected. I believe Audioengine's FAQ mentions that as well. Can you please confirm?
That's how I'm still using it, I never adjust the volume knob and just control it through Windows, the D1 just comes up as a regular sound device with a volume slider.
@@JarrodsTech i have a volume roller on my keyboard. Will this be disabled?
No, you'll be able to use both to adjust volume. The DAC volume is separate to Windows system volume levels, which I assume is what the keyboard controls.
the thing is, that controlling the volume on windows reduces the bitdepth of the sound. so you will end up with a worse quality as when you would regulate it on the DAC knob.
@@faziolifairmont8125 Was waiting for someone to say it so I didn't have to. Adjusting the sound in windows is a terrible idea.
Quas haay
Way overpriced.
I guess
not necessary
Probably not.
Jarrod'sTech just kidding, I brought one today for $170, I pick this over the prozor best seller on Amazon which sells for $14
Heh fair enough, I still use mine but not sure if it was worth it.
Jarrod'sTech I just brought a5+ speakers, so may as well buy this, can't go cheap now and it looks good
Yeah I have those ones too, basically same reasoning haha