Comments on: Simply-designed outboard DAC improves computer audio quality

By: Can a HDMI cable replace Component cables?

Can a HDMI cable replace Component cables? — Thu, 06 May 2010 11:07:43 +0000

[...] Simply-designed outboard DAC improves computer audio quality … [...]

By: Sat Vocab

Sat Vocab — Sun, 02 May 2010 05:04:33 +0000

Very helpful device in any kinds of music instruments.

By: bostongraf

bostongraf — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:58:09 +0000

This sounds like a great idea for when I’m listening to tunes at work. When doing so, I have my iPod plugged into my PC, and my headphones plugged into the front headphone jack. (I prefer controlling my sound from iTunes instead of from the iPod itself.)

For any home desktop/home theater/audio systems not using headphones, I would highly recommend getting a sound board that has an optical digital out port. Granted, it takes a slightly nicer sound card, unless it is built right on to the mother board. But this will dump the digital music directly to your audio equipment, which is (generally) far better suited to perform digital to analog conversions. It also prevents any power supplies or unshielded cables from interfering with the signal, which could happen if it were analog.

Enjoy your nice DAC. It sounds like it really is worth it. I may get one for my work desk…

By: dimitris

dimitris — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 02:46:30 +0000

I have to mention the awesome Squeezebox products here. I’ve used a pair (now down to one, due to uncluttering since ’04 and can’t praise them enough.

And, since they can run over a wireless network, there’s less ethernet/USB cable clutter

By: Chriso

Chriso — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:38:13 +0000

Scot, regarding your iMac’s hardware failure, if your computer is the “white plastic” Intel iMac then the audio ports are part of the Main Logic Board and will be an expensive replacement. However if it is a ’08 or ’09 model of aluminum Intel iMac (meaning not the new 21″/27″ model), then be aware that your audio ports are located on a separate replaceable audio board, the cost of which should be FAR lower than a new MLB.

Best of luck with the repair if you choose to pursue it, and cheers on your highly unique and useful work-around, I appreciate your post even if a number of the other commenters feel it is not ‘uncluttering’ enough for them. Good job.

By: Jamie

Jamie — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:54:02 +0000

Daniel, no disrespect, but you have no idea what you are talking about. An external DAC is not an audiophile component. It is the same thing built in to your computer, cd player, whatever, but this one is of higher quality, which translates into better sound. Scot already has excellent headphones, Grado SR-80′s, so he has no weak link there. From that point an upgrade to components will give you some level of improvement, then the law of diminishing returns comes into play. Do you want to pay $400 for a DAC to get 2-3% better sound? Some people do, so don’t.

It’s only a fraudulent industry if you let it be. If you rely on your ears and not only reviews/heresay, then there is no fraud. The same can be said regarding uncluttering. The Container Store will sell you organization crap all day long, but is it always functional or worth it?

By: Charles

Charles — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 06:19:59 +0000

Thanks for the post. I had the exact same thing happen to me on my Mac Mini. Cleaning with a duster and hit my computer speaker cables and zap! — killed my mini’s audio board.

Since I’m no longer under warranty, I’ve been looking for cheap replacement.

By: Keith

Keith — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 08:23:41 +0000

Saxophones have keys, not valves. For a moment I thought Sonny Rollins had switched to trumpet!

By: Daniel Ho

Daniel Ho — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 03:29:35 +0000

Interesting that Unclutterer would post an article on audiophile equipment, a highly fraudulent industry. The truth is, the weakest link in most audio systems is the loudspeaker, not the sound card, amplifier, cables, CD transport, or any digital-analog converter.

In the case of laptops, the biggest problem is the switching noise that accompanies the phono jack output when connected to the A/C outlet. The noise goes away when a laptop is running on batteries. In that case, I would understand a purpose-built audio attachment.

By: gypsy packer

gypsy packer — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 01:43:39 +0000

Will it allow me to translate those imprecations Jimmy Smith mutters while playing?

By: Jay

Jay — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:59:29 +0000

I appreciate the post even though I am, for now, OK with my computer’s audio. If my audio stops working or I decide I want better audio, I now know where to start looking for a solution.

Thanks for the post.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:35:38 +0000

I’m very surprised (and happy and grateful) to see this entry today. My laptop also has a malfunctioning headphone jack, so I’m looking for options that don’t require a $200 motherboard replacement.

Don’t forget: always buy the best that you can afford. Buying once and buying right is better than buying twice.

By: Hessiess

Hessiess — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:26:47 +0000

Definitely was not expecting to see this kind of thing on this blog, but it was interesting non the less. The audio on all my machines sounds awful and has a lot of `clicking’ noize in it whenever the computer reads or writes to a HDD. Would an external DAC solve this?

By: Anthony

Anthony — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:16:36 +0000

Of course now I’m wondering what headphones I should use with a $100 audio port. Especially if I want to hear “cork linings of the valves” of a saxophone.

By: freemo

freemo — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:13:29 +0000

This is a funny little esoteric article! I can see how it would unclutter the setups for a very small subset of your readers, but it seems to clutter up your blog for the rest.