Been a while since I logged in here, but I can’t wrap my head around a simple question, and I know someone here will know.
My computer audio set up is a laptop, connected to a dock. From the dock, I have a usb-C to 3.5mm Aux adapter. Then a 2.1 active speaker/sub system fed off of the Aux.
Where is the Dac?
Obviously the laptop must have a built in dac, but through the dock it’s putting out a signal through USB C that must be digital.
The active speakers probably have a built in dac, however since the signal is coming from a 3.5mm aux, it must already be analog (is this where I’m wrong?).
I highly doubt the $9 usb C to Aux dongle has a built in dac.
There is a DAC in the USB C dongle. DAC chips are not that expensive at the low end. It is all the companion components in the higher end DACs that influence the end result.
NP, there are pictures on several sites of cross sections of those types of dongles showing how small the board is in there. it is a very simple setup, the DAC chip is doing both the conversion and amplification.
It is a common belief that transducers have the biggest influence on sound, then the amplifier, then the DAC. According to Mike Moffat of Schiit Audio, the analogue stage is crucial & is much bigger than the digital stage.; look inside any proper stand alone/ separates DAC & this will be clear to see.
When I said “companion components” I was referring to the other components on the circuit board within the higher end DACs (which would include the analog stage). I own a Bifrost 2/64 myself .
No issues thus far, but I do most of my listening using a Wiim Pro. Motherboard selection and driver versions might be the cause in some instances. I have an ASRock x570 Taichi.
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