Gigabyte motherboard digital output into old Pioneer Amp DAT in.

JasonM

JasonM

JasonM

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I'm planning on building a media computer using an old Gigabyte motherboard, a P55M-UD2. This board has digital output.

The amp is an old school 1989 Pioneer that has digital DAT input, does anyone know if the digital output from the motherboard will connect directly into this amplifier.

This is the motherboard

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3287#sp

Digital output is the orange round circle.

1317_m.jpg


And this is the amp.

http://www.hifi-pictures.net/amplifiers-home/Pioneer A-Z360/amp.htm

The DAT input is the orange plug on the back.

back.jpg


I appreciate any help or advice.
 
It's very likely it will work.

DAT players/recorders tend to work at either the same sample rate as CD (16bit 44.1kHz) or at 16bit 48 kHz. Stick with 44.1 kHz LPCM (A.K.A. 44.1 kHz PCM) when setting up the audio out on the MB and you'll be fine.
 
Lucid,

Thanks for your help, yes i'm going to try and hopefully it will work. I'm quite keen about my audio and was preparing to use my Xonar Essence ST card in this media machine, so if the DAT takes spdif i'll be very happy indeed as that saves using an expensive sound card. Plus you can't beat some quality old school hi-fi gear :)

One question you mention using 44.1 PCM, should I not be using 48 khz as this was the DAT standard?

Thanks
Jason
 
44.1 and 48 kHz: It depends on the player/recorder. Early DAT recorders didn't support recording at 44.1 kHz because that would have made it too easy to copy CDs digitally. When SCMS was introduced then it became possible to limit digital copying, so 44.1 kHz recording became available. But this is all about recording, and not playback.

I'm looking at the specs for a 1989 vintage DAT machine (DTC300ES). It supports 48 kHz and 44.1 kHz sample rates. There's little point supporting those rates if you couldn't play back in the digital domain too.

When all is said and done we are looking at an amp that is almost 25 years old. I think you're going to have to suck it and see. Try 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz. See which one works.
 
Lucid, thanks again for your help, as said i'll try it when I can. As you say it's an old amp, but if the digital input works then it's a bonus.

Can I pick your brains on another thing. I've just purchased some 50w RMS per channel speakers that are 6 ohm (in my other speaker thread). This amp is rated at 60w rms per channel and takes speakers 8-16 ohm. Will I be ok using these 6 ohm speakers on this amp. The speakers / amp will just be used in the house and expect the speakers / amp at most will be run at 1/4 - 1/3 power.

Thanks
Jason
 
Yeah, you should be fine.

Speaker impedance (Ohms) is a nominal figure. The actual impedance of the speakers varies with frequency and phase. So the Ohms figure is only an average really. As long as you don't put 2-3 Ohm speakers with an amp expecting an 8 Ohm per channel load and then whack the volume to max it's fine.

The Wattages are a bit more important. People get scared about the idea of putting too many Watts in to a speaker. But that's not so much of a problem if the signal is clean. It's much worse to have an under-powered amp running at full volume in to some speakers of equivalent or higher Wattage. Under-powered amplification at full volume brings with it a whole load of distortion. This distortion is bad because it includes lots of harmonics that amplify the destructive power of the signal. This is on top of whatever distortion is in the source signal.

Worst case scenario is high compression MP3 playing via a small Wattage amp at max' volume. There's a great danger of frying the voice coils in the speakers.

Just keep an eye on your source quality. If it's party time with an MP3 play list then don't whack it to the max.
 
Thanks for your help again. I was aware that under-powered amp running at full volume can cause speaker damage, however I never even considered distortion from the media source.
 
24 year old - DAC sounding better then Xonar Essence!

Well good news, the amp takes s/pdif 44-48 khz.

I've run the amp back to back with my Xonar Essence ST, and if anything the DAC in this vintage amp is producing a better sound!

I have the amp connected to new Yamaha floor standing speakers. I have the matching Pioneer graphic connected also, all working. The direct drive on the amp is working with the servo controls the volume depending on setting. could have easily spent £300 for new amp + £130 for a good DAC so i'm really happy at the moment.

The amp is 1989, but you can't tell by looking at it. Now trying to purchase the correct Pioneer surround 16 ohm speakers for the amp, found some on the bay for £10!
 
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I have a very similar set-up with the same amp.

The amp sounds great in direct mode using optical inputs I've owned this amp for almost 10 years now.

I just realised today that my onboard realtek has been set to output at 24bit@ 48khz but the sound is perfect without any clipping or warping. I did a quick google and found out the DAC used in this amp is the Sanyo LC78820-B which is apparently an 18bit 2 Channel DAC converter.

I'm looking for some new speakers as I'm currently using some cheap 50w bookshelf's with the amp.

Do you know the wattage of the original surround speakers? I know their rated for 16 ohms.

Cheers
 
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