Cheap USB DAC - Eliminate interference?

Hamster · 29 Apr 2015 at 07:40

I've got my m-audio 2496 PCI soundcard hooked up to an amp via RCA cables. When the mouse is active, for example scrolling a webpage, I get lots of sound interference. Motherboard is an Asrock Z68 Extreme7 and PSU is Corsair AX1200 in a Corsair Obsidian 800 case.

Ideally I'd like a DAC that allows me to use the coax outs of the soundcard but was wondering if a cheap USB DAC would also cure it or would make no difference.

I was looking at the Behringer UCA202 as a cheap stopgap.

Any thoughts?

Yaayuh! · 29 Apr 2015 at 08:08

In my experience that's usually an earthing/ground problem or shielding issue. Usually find it on front panel connections.

I would buy the cheapest one possible or borrow one if you can, just to test first.

Hamster · 29 Apr 2015 at 08:55

Thanks. Unfortunately nowhere i know i can borrow from. I'm using the rca outs on the soundcard but also get the interference using onboard sound connected at the back. I tried a ground loop isolator which eliminated the noise but music sounded awful as I believe they just eliminate anything over a certain frequency.

Marsman · 29 Apr 2015 at 10:51

Depends whether you're also getting USB electrical noise. No way you can know without trying a USB audio device first.

Likely to be much less common, but it does happen. Rids57, gets this with his USB DAC, but his sound card is not affected.

I think the Behringer you have mentiond is certainly worth a try. They are actually quite decent, given how inexpensive they are, and being inexpensive, no great loss if USB is also affected.

If USB is affected, then optical would be the last and best solution. Being fibre, it uses light pulses, so no electrical wires for EMI to pass along. You could just go straight for a DAC with optical input, but they generally are more expensive than DACs with just USB, so depends what you're looking to spend I guess.