currently i'm just using low end external usb soundcard creative soundblaster 5.1 pro..not really nice for music..
anyone can recommend suitable DAC for my speaker?
laptop>creative soundblaster 5.1 pro>Edifier S730+Chord Cobra RCA cable+QED 79 strand speaker cable

I did some research and list out some DAC (within my budget max to RM600)
1. Nuforce Udac around RM470
2. Audioengine D1 RM570
3. Topping TP60 RM600

anyone wanna sell second hand DAC? pm me please..

This post has been edited by SunrayCM: Apr 18 2013, 10:56 AM

tried the UD100 usb dac yet?

your soundcard is good enough ya know...

havent tried UD100 but probaly i need a more powerful DAC with power supply only can drive 300watt s730..

The speakers have their own amp in the subwoofer. All you need is a good DAC to feed the speaker with. Also the UD100 outputs a considerably powerful output at 1Vrms. I have compared it to my Aune T1 DAC and it is indeed considerably louder.

schiit modi hehe

schiit modi good? anyone using?

maybe u can look to Topping D20?

Exactly. UD100 actually outputs about 2Vrms, which is a full line-out signal.

I think ur sound card is good already. Perhaps, if u want to hear significant difference, change to a good stereo speaker.

How not really nice for music?

IMO, that sound card was good enough for most listener, you can try get a short USB cable instead of using stock USB cable can further improve the sound.

Try replace your interconnect and speaker cable to well known custom cable material such as Canare, Van-Damme etc from custom cable maker in trade zone as Chord cables and QED low range wasn't sound as good as those cables.

Also make sure your satellite speakers are positioned in equilateral triangle and in between mid and tweeter should at your ear level for best sounding.

i tested the short cable..less distortion..haha..thanks for the info bro that helps alot..
my ears are too sensitive cuz previously im playing with headphone..
Chord low end cable crimson plus more neutral and flat sounding but cobra much better, more details and bass are tighten..i dont think custom made cable are better..i own a gotham custom made with swithcraft plug also the same as crimson plus..thats why i return the crimson and upgrade to cobra..
btw i still prefer van den hul cable..haha..

i think the speakers are the weak link... the edifiers are good pc speakers but serious listening... it is not there as compared to a proper setup...

i felt how edifier decided to cross the frequency from the bookshelf to the sub is a bit weird.... i would have rather let the bookshelf handle a bit more than it should have...

getting good speaker cables is a bit of effort wasting as i am not sure if it makes much difference... it'll be good for some OFC cables though as it uses spring clips instead of spades or expanding plugs...

i doubt that there will be much DAC that can power speakers as most DAC acts as a bypass or at best desktop ones would act as a digital pre-amp and give you line level outputs...even those would be mighty expensive...

do you need to play digital HD music with it? that complicates selection even further

err.. not sure do u understand what a DAC does?
this thing only convert digital signal (cd, wav, mp3, flac) to analog form (sine frequency), before amplified. nothing more
hence the name Digital to Analog Converter (DAC)
if u have a optical cable, can make use of DAC inside s730


well said. same as my opinions.

1. s730 is ultimate "pc speaker" can do well as an integrated set but definitely wont sound the same to other system.
2. crossover point shows some cost cutting
3. spend too much on wire

i've got a feeling TS wants to replace the amp and dac segment on the s730...unfortunately, the s730 is not modular based system and it doesn't quite work that way...

of course, an external DAC on his computer feeding line level input into his s730 will still work... just not sure if it provides what he needs unless he is looking to change the characteristics of the set...

if u have a optical cable, can make use of DAC inside s730??

Im thinking to let go my S730..haha..wanna play with true Hi-Fi speakers which can play with dac/amps, tubes and cables..

This post has been edited by SunrayCM: Apr 22 2013, 07:48 PM

sifu, u guys really teach me alot..haha..im still new in speakers setup..much more to learn..
do i need to pay tuition fees to u all? hahaha..btw really thanks..

U can try going to passive or active stereo setup 1st for serious music listening. Passive setup is more expensive, more choices, more headache and questions to match which amp with which speaker. But that's the best part. For active speaker, not much high end for serious listening, for beginning, I can suggest you Audioengine or aktimate brand which are quite famous and available here. Both are nice, can consider hifi, price is around rm1500++.
Happy hunting

This post has been edited by barjoyai: Apr 22 2013, 08:33 PM

Nothing wrong with your soundcard.. Change your speaker to edifier s2000..

what mean by 2Vrms?? still new in speaker

the S730 actually has both a coaxial and optical input... if your PC onboard sound card or creative has optical or coaxial out... you just need a coaxial cable or toslink to connect it... then the digital signals will get send through to the s730 to be converted to analogue...

here comes the complicating part... how much would you believe that the creative is a worst DAC than the one in your s730? and how much analogue signal degradation do you think will happen if you transmit analogue signals from your creative to the s730 direct?

refer to input type
http://www.edifier-international.com/produ...multimedia/s730

we thought you had the intention of getting a better DAC in the first place...

hmmmm..sure is my creative DAC is better than the DAC inside S730..
can say my setup now will not have a significance changes on the sound signature right no matter how i change the DAC or cables..
initially i choose between edifier S730 and audioengine A2 but too bad there is no reseller for audioengine in penang so i cannot audit it..i get S730 instead..
S730 really a nice multimedia speaker but im a serious listener..
waiting to change my setup..^^








Big Woofer to ''shake'' your house!



Chord Cobra & QED 79 strand cable


This post has been edited by SunrayCM: Apr 23 2013, 05:47 PM


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letting go my S730!!! anyone interested can pm me for much lower price than retail i open a thread on garage sales you may go have a look..

as you're letting go of the unit, i can assume the discussion's over? can consider closing the thread then