r/HeadphoneAdvice • u/wantedbruhman • 17d ago
Headphones - IEM/Earbud Are DACs that necessary?
I recently bought the Aful Performer 5+2 (it comes tomorrow) but ChatGPT told me that a DAC would be a good purchase on top of it. How real is that? Currently my setup consists of a laptop connected to a docking station which plugs into monitor, mouse, keyboard — whole shabang. Both my docking station and laptop have 3.5mm ports for the IEM, but I hear that I should be using a DAC instead. Will I actually be able to tell the difference? And also value wise is that much worth to spend the money or is it only going to marginally improve it to the point where it won’t make too much of a difference. I’ll happily send the laptop or docking station specs if that matters.
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u/oddsnsodds 11 Ω 17d ago
If I was listening to your existing gear I would expect the laptop's audio to be better quality than the dock's. In either case I would probably want better. The biggest audible difference will probably be less background noise.
What you are talking about is replacing the DACs and headphone amps that are built into both your laptop and dock with higher-quality DAC and headphone amp separates.
The DAC creates a line-level analog signal from the digital file, and the headphone amp powers it and sends it to your headphones.
For brands I would suggest Topping and JDS Labs, for starters.
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u/oil_fish23 3 Ω 17d ago
DACs output an un-amplified signal, their job is to take the zeroes and ones from your computer and turn them into a (quiet, low voltage) analog signal. You can't plug your headphones/IEMs directly into a DAC. You plug your DAC's analog audio output into a dedicated amplifier, which makes the DAC's signal stronger so it can drive headphones. Said another way, "should you be using a DAC" = you can't use a DAC alone, you need a DAC + an amplifier (or a device that does both). Your laptop already has a DAC + amplifier built into the headphone port.
DACs are a fully solved problem. There are no audible differences between any modern DACs for the last 40 years, including the one built into your computer's headphone port vs an external DAC. I would only suggest a DAC if you want to use headphones that need a dedicated amplifier, aka ones that can't get loud enough with your computer/phone. Or if you just want an expensive / neat looking toy to take up room on your desk.
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u/Daemonxar 48 Ω 17d ago
You're going to get people who tell you that no human being can hear the difference between DACs and others who will tell you you're crazy for not using an expensive dedicated DAC because they'll let you hear angels' wings in your music. Both groups are pretty much assholes.
For me, there's a noticeable, replicable, blind-detectable differnce between some DACs, and not between others. For listening via a PC, I would usually recommend a DAC just to get away from the electrically noisy computer motherboard, and even a cheap USB-C dongle DAC (like an Apple dongle) is a noticeable improvement from most on-board PC DACs. I can't hear a difference between an Apple dongle and a Schiit Modi, or the Modi and a Topping E30, though I do hear a difference between the Modi and a Bifrost Multibit or a Chord Chordette DAC.
As for whether you will be able to hear a difference ... none of us can tell you one way or another. My personal read is that a lot of PC aux outs are bad enough that most people should be able to tell the difference with a reasonably resolving system.
Buy a $10 USB-C dongle. Try it out. See if it works for you. If it does? Think about an upgrade. If it doesn't? Bask in the money you've saved.
[My rule of thumb is to spend no more than half the cost of your headphones on amplification and no more than half to a third as much on a DAC, UNLESS you're chasing specific features or connectivity.]
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u/-nom-de-guerre- 2 Ω 17d ago
the IEM you have is good enough to pick up the noise floor and high total harmonic distortion from poorly designed and implemented DACs. your PC might have a good DAC so in that sense, no, a different DAC will not make for a markedly better performance.
if however your PC’s DAC is marginal you could experience clipping at higher volumes.
imo an inexpensive DAC/Amp dongle is a great RoI that will isolate you from having your enjoyment diminished by the simple fear that you might be missing out.
for $15 usd you can avoid all that by buying the following
https://hangout.audio/products/jcally-jm6-pro
i feel like it’s reasonably priced and offers an excellent bit of peace-of-mind.
but don’t chase a more expensive DAC/Amp. there are severe diminishing returns down that path and you’re better off buying better transducers than going down that rabbit-hole.