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Connect Laptop to DAC or preamp

Hello,
I've been spending a lot of time lately on you tube and have discovered some awesome concerts..... Would love to play this through my main stereo versus using headphones.

I know I can use the headphone out and convert to RCA connects and go into my preamp. Prefer not to as it does not provide the best in audio quality.

I have a AUNE DAC/Headphone amp with a USB input. Can I use the USB port on my Laptop connected to the USB port on the DAC? Would like to use the external DAC if possible.

Or, any other connect approaches that offer good sound quality?

Thanks!!!!!
pdspecl
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,132 posts
 
You sure can. Set sound output to USB speakers if the laptop does not immediately recognize the AUNE. And run w volume on PC wide open and control volume w your main rig. You will, however, find that the resolution of the u-tube audio is fair at best.
sfar's avatar
sfar
1,352 posts
 
If your laptop is a PC the USB output to the Aune DAC is the way to go, as Swampwalker explained.

I've had a couple of the Aune DACs and they're quite good. I used them with the optical output on Mac laptops from the combined headphone/mini-Toslink jack and thought that sounded a little better than USB but either is going to be an improvement over the headphone output.

And, as Swampwalker said, YouTube audio isn't great quality but getting yourself set up to use the USB output will give you considerably quality from other streaming services like MOG, where the 320 kbps output can sound pretty good.
pdspecl OP
197 posts
 
Swampwalker, Sfar,
Thank you!!!! I had a USB cable but the DAC had a different, more squarish connector versus a flat rectangular slot. I purchased the appropriate USB cable at Radio Shack. Will try it tomorrow. Will also look up MOG.
So nice to be able to expand music material.
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