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  3. 177040-383

Staticky noise when music paused

Hello

 

I have a computer, using usb into dac, into powered compuer speakers (one system)...I have a 100$ dac, which uses some flimsy cord as a power cord and a 10 000$ dac. When i pause the music and turn the volume up on my powered computer speakers, when using cheapo dac there’s a staticky noise coming speakers only when internal amp turned way up and only heard within a feet or two. With the expensive dac, same noise is way more apparent even before the volume on the speakers is anywhere close to the max (thought it would be gone altogether)...shouldn’t it be the other way around?

branislav
holmz's avatar
holmz
2,328 posts
 

Analogue from the DAC to the speakers with RCAs?
or a digital connection to the speakers using <what>?

gregm
3,405 posts
 

What you are saying is, the expensive DAC has way better resolution than the inexpensive one, correct?

branislav OP
405 posts
 

Gregm - that may be the case that I'm hearing more noise from the computer. I just don't remember hearing as much noise through previous well regarded dac (using rca's). Interestingly enough, xlr interconnects are feeding eletrostatic amp and even turned all the way up, I don't hear a thing (when music is paused, of course). 

fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,598 posts
 

A $10K DAC for a PC?

Lost me.

russ69's avatar
russ69
3,501 posts
 

Unless some noise from the computer is an issue usually it's a gain mismatch that causes audible hiss. An attenuator might help with this issue, it will drop the noise floor. 

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