I have a "FiiO BTR5-2021 Receiver" external DAC which I use to power a set of headphones, and never really thought much about it. I have a soundcard in my PC which is integrated into an el-cheapo motherboard, but for whatever reason, even turned up fully, the headphones don't sound loud enough when plugged into the motherboard out, so I bought the BTR5 and plugged my headphones into that and since it worked, never thought about it again. Until now.
Browsing the web, I read that DACs can't produce sound without an amp. Wait what? That's certainly news to me because I have been listening to sound on my DAC the whole time. Is there secretly an amp in my DAC? And if so, then is my BTR5 unit actaully a DAC+AMP, and in that case, can it work independently of my on-board soundcard?
One of the reasons I am asking this is because I also read that when you plug a USB line out to say a pair of headphones (i.e. using USB instead of TRS/3.5mm), it outputs a separate digital signal from the motherboard soundcard. Since the BTR5 connects to the PC via USB, then if this is true, that would mean that theoretically, the DAC (+AMP?) could play music without there even needing to be a sound card right?
Browsing the web, I read that DACs can't produce sound without an amp. Wait what? That's certainly news to me because I have been listening to sound on my DAC the whole time. Is there secretly an amp in my DAC? And if so, then is my BTR5 unit actaully a DAC+AMP, and in that case, can it work independently of my on-board soundcard?
One of the reasons I am asking this is because I also read that when you plug a USB line out to say a pair of headphones (i.e. using USB instead of TRS/3.5mm), it outputs a separate digital signal from the motherboard soundcard. Since the BTR5 connects to the PC via USB, then if this is true, that would mean that theoretically, the DAC (+AMP?) could play music without there even needing to be a sound card right?
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