Should I buy a DAC for Ruark MR1

darvast · 25 Jan 2015 at 13:58

I'm wondering if I should buy a cheap-ish DAC for the Ruark MR1. These are powered speakers. As of now, I would be plugging them straight into my mobo's standard audio socket (Asus P6T).

I'd like DAC with a headphone output too, since my headphones cable is too short to reach the back of my computer - And for better sound quality on my ATH-M50x.

1) Should I buy a DAC for these?

2) If so any recommendations?

Marsman · 25 Jan 2015 at 15:17

Makes sense to buy a DAC/headphone amp. Depends what you mean by cheap though, as 'cheap' varies from person to person.

rids57 · 25 Jan 2015 at 15:44

first thing you need to do is decide on a budget

darvast · 25 Jan 2015 at 21:05

I'm flipping around but here's what I'm now thinking:

Wharfedale Diamond 210 speakers £135

SMSL SA-60 Amp £52

E-DAC 24 bit Miniature USB DAC £90

Total: £277

Opinions? (can't find any comparisons of the diamond 210 to 220)

rids57 · 25 Jan 2015 at 21:15

Just get the Topping VX1 for £70 and the Diamonds for £135 which gives you a very decent system for £205

The Topping has a USB DAC and a 2x25W amp plus headphone socket should you wish to use cans.

darvast · 25 Jan 2015 at 21:17

rids57 said:
Just get the Topping VX1 for £70 and the Diamonds for £135 which gives you a very decent system for £205

The Topping has a USB DAC and a 2x25W amp plus headphone socket should you wish to use cans.

That's what I was thinking til I watched this video which says the vx1 combo sucks for headphones:

Marsman · 25 Jan 2015 at 22:00

Headphone outputs on these amps are not as good as those found on proper headphone amps. Sure they work OK, but it's a convenience more than a decent headphone amp output. Really, they are best used for speakers, which is where they work best.

I very much doubt there is an all-in-one solution that is small, that is a speaker amp and a decent headphone amp. For a decent headphone output as well as a speaker amp, you're looking at two devices.

The previous two devices you mentioned aren't much use for a setup where headphones can be used, because neither has a headphone output. There are some Tripath speaker amps that do have headphone output, but you'd still be stuck with an average headphone output. The E-DAC has line out only, which is not much use for connecting headphones, unless you want to control the volume only via software.

The guy in the video complains about the lack of line out from the VX1 to connect a better headphone amp. They are not that common on these small speaker amps though. They generally only have line in. Generally, you have line out coming from a headphone amp into the speaker amp.

rids57 · 25 Jan 2015 at 23:35

The Creative X7 would certainly do the job, very good DAC, decent speaker amp and a very capable headphone amp, all in a small enclosure - it's only drawback is it costs £300

Marsman · 25 Jan 2015 at 23:44

Then there's the cost of the speakers to add....

Something like a FiiO E10, might be an idea. Decent DAC and headphone amp with line out to which a speaker amp can be connected. Topping TP20 or SMSL SA50.

darvast · 25 Jan 2015 at 23:59

So I may just push the boat out and go:

O2+Odac and SMSL SA-60 = £232

Wharfedale Diamond 210 = £135

The headphone amp/dac will also be poweing my ath m50x headphones.

The question is, how much worse is the diamond 210 than the considerably larger 220.

Marsman · 26 Jan 2015 at 00:18

Although it's a costlier option, the O2D looks like a really nice DAC and headphone amp.

I'd probably choose the SA50 over the SA60, unless you need the secondary input. The SA50 will drive the speakers louder, and more headroom before clipping. Depends how loud you want the speakers though I guess.

As for the speakers themselves, well I imagine the difference may be similar to the older Diamond 9.0 compared to 9.1 and 10.0 compared to 10.1. In both cases, the .1 speaker was better. If you can afford the 220 and the bigger size is not an issue, I'd probably go for them.

Edit: Actually, for some reason I thought the SA60 was lower wattage output than the SA50. In light of that the SA60 should be a good choice.

darvast · 26 Jan 2015 at 00:25

Marsman said:
Although it's a costlier option, the O2D looks like a really nice DAC and headphone amp.

I'd probably choose the SA50 over the SA60, unless you need the secondary input. The SA50 will drive the speakers louder, and more headroom before clipping. Depends how loud you want the speakers though I guess.

As for the speakers themselves, well I imagine the difference may be similar to the older Diamond 9.0 compared to 9.1 and 10.0 compared to 10.1. In both cases, the .1 speaker was better. If you can afford the 220 and the bigger size is not an issue, I'd probably go for them.

Regarding speaker size, these are really desktop speakers to sit either side of a PC. In your opinion would the 220 model be oversized in that case?

Hmmm unless I wall mount the large 220's and get them off my desk... http://www.amazon.co.uk/B-Tech-BT77...1422232245&sr=8-1&keywords=speaker+wall+mount

Marsman · 26 Jan 2015 at 00:48

I've got some 9.1's, which are slightly bigger than the 220. I don't use them with my PC, but I did try them on my desk at one point, and they looked huge. Way too big for my desk which is 120cm long and 60cm deep. I have seen a few pictures where people have them on either side of a monitor. Personally for me that size of speaker is too imposing to have on a computer desk, but not a problem for others. Horses for courses n' all that.

Bigger speakers with 5"+ woofer have more bass response, so it depends what is more important to you. I have some speakers that are slightly larger than the 210 on my desk, which also have 4" woofer and they are just the right size. Not as much bass, but I don't mind that as I am not a massive fan of too much bass.

darvast · 26 Jan 2015 at 00:58

Marsman said:
I've got some 9.1's, which are slightly bigger than the 220. I don't use them with my PC, but I did try them on my desk at one point, and they looked huge. Way too big for my desk which is 120cm long and 60cm deep. I have seen a few pictures where people have them on either side of a monitor. Personally for me that size of speaker is too imposing to have on a computer desk, but not a problem for others. Horses for courses n' all that.

Bigger speakers with 5"+ woofer have more bass response, so it depends what is more important to you. I have some speakers that are slightly larger than the 210 on my desk, which also have 4" woofer and they are just the right size. Not as much bass, but I don't mind that as I am not a massive fan of too much bass.

Here's the space I'm working with.

I dunno. I'm considering trying the larger 220's on my desk. Dunno if they'll be too close together in that case?

Or I could have left speaker on desk and right speaker on stand behind my PC case.

Marsman · 26 Jan 2015 at 01:10

I don't think being too close together is an issue. Distance apart looks fine from what I can see looking at the picture. Depth of the speakers and possibly having them away from the wall would possibly be more of an issue.

Some speakers can sound boomy if too close to a wall. Reading a description: According to Wharfedale, they can be just 5cm from a wall. That's not too bad really, as some other speakers need to be much further from a wall. None the less though, depth of the speakers and any space left behind, does add up.