2. digital
  3. 188778-107843

Digital Preamp with USB-input but without a DAC?

I have been looking for preamp with USB input, but without a built in DAC. I cannot find any. Maybe there is a good reason for it, but is my requirement, so special? 

I have an Innuos Pulse mini streamer connected to a pair of active Buchardt speakers though Platin Hub. Right now the streamer is connected with RCA to the Hub and Wisa to the speakers. However, there is a DAC in both the streamer and the speakers, so I do not need an additional DAC. Hence, I am contemplating running USB from streamer to Hub to allow for the digital signal to be sent to the DAC in the speakers. However, it turns out that the Platin Hub cannot do volume control via USB, which I why I would need a preamp. 

Any advice?  

mtraesbo
mtraesbo OP
46 posts
 

My speakers are 3,000 $ active speakers from Buchart and my input is an Innuos streamer, so this is a decent setup - and I like it. And yes, they do have a DAC built in.

However, I realised that my Platin Hub that connects the streamer and the speakers via WiSA has been factory preset in such a way that I could not regulate the volume control when the connection was via USB. I could only volume control via optical and RCA. Now I been able to reset the Platin Hub in such a way that it can be used for volume control when connected via USB. 

So problem solved. Thanks for the input that after all helped me to find a solution. 

 

 

mahler123
3,062 posts
 

@yyzsantabarbara 

 

aren’t there streamers, or more correctly perhaps Network Players, sans DACs, that usb inputs, take the digital input from an external storage device such as a flash drive, and then send that unconverted stream to an external DAC?

fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,502 posts
 

Nice.

Problem solved.

yyzsantabarbara
4,530 posts
 

@mahler123 I would agree with you. I totally forgot about the new Schitt CD player that does exactly what you described. It does not have an internal DAC.

More to discover