BF2S Forums Need DAC/External Audio Card

.Sup wrote:

Morpheus wrote:

.Sup wrote:

Do you get the noise only from the laptop or from a desktop PC too?

I think we said it was the laptop power adapter?
I know mine is pretty bad... although, come to think of it, I don't have any noise right now....
Hmm, i wonder if it's related to the ground? Right now I've got my adapter on a ground lift (actually a 2-prong to 3-prong[ib4euros])...
Bevo, is your adapter a grounded or ungrounded type? If it has a ground prong, try the adapter. You've probably got one around somewhere....

No, the cheating adaptors that remove the ground are unsafe, I don't recommend that. Bevo unplug the PSU from the laptop and report back if you still have issues. It could be the interference within the lappy. Its possible its just the laptop's soundcard being shit.

Yea, i know. But for testing things, they can be useful. If that's the solution, there are adapters that you can buy that keep the ground, but are able to isolate it from causing interference like this.

.Sup wrote:

I think it would be easier to just run the laptop on batteries. That way we would instantly know if the issue is related to ground and power supply.

well, that would help isolate the problem, but there could still be bunch of different things that the power supply could be introducing.
Either way, guess we'll have to wait for him to get back.

.Sup wrote:

Morpheus wrote:

.Sup wrote:

I think it would be easier to just run the laptop on batteries. That way we would instantly know if the issue is related to ground and power supply.

well, that would help isolate the problem, but there could still be bunch of different things that the power supply could be introducing.
Either way, guess we'll have to wait for him to get back.

but laptops only have batteries inside them don't they? The charger is also the power supply is it not? I have a disassembled laptop somewhere but never bothered to look if it has an internal PSU, I always thought the charger is the PSU.

yep.


wall socket-->adapter/charger/power supply-->laptop batteries.

like i said, I know my laptop gets pretty noisy, and pulling the plug out of th back helps, but right now it's clean, my only guess is the ground adapter I have on.

The low hum has to be due to the poor performing integrated. I have never experienced any hum or any other noise with half decent external DACs. Hum is probably made by the amplification part of the soundcard.

What you need to know is that integrated cards have the most interferences. I remember when I replace X-Fi pro with an external DAC the background was silent. I didn't know the noise was there until I upgraded. Huge difference between internal and external.

well then get a soundcard and you will upgrade when you can. Its best to go through a learning procedure: going from integrated to cheap aftermarket soundcard then to a DAC and then to better DAC.

So you want one output for music and movies(speakers) and the other for gaming (headphones)?

Bevo wrote:

.Sup wrote:

So you want one output for music and movies(speakers) and the other for gaming (headphones)?

Yes, simultaneously.

then you should seriously consider the uDac I mentioned earlier. Has RCA out (for speakers) and a headphone amp. MSRP=99$

http://www.nuforce.com/hp/products/iconudac/index.php

Bevo wrote:

.Sup wrote:

Bevo wrote:

Yes, simultaneously.

then you should seriously consider the uDac I mentioned earlier. Has RCA out (for speakers) and a headphone amp. MSRP=99$

http://www.nuforce.com/hp/products/iconudac/index.php

The whole point of getting the audio card/using the desktop would be to keep the price down..  if I was going to spend $100, wouldnt I might as well get a self-powered one for my laptop?
Using the laptop is ideal, the desktop would only be to save money.

the uDac is powered by USB. So it is self powered and you can use it with a desktop and a laptop. Are we on the same page now?

Bevo wrote:

.Sup wrote:

Bevo wrote:

The whole point of getting the audio card/using the desktop would be to keep the price down..  if I was going to spend $100, wouldnt I might as well get a self-powered one for my laptop?
Using the laptop is ideal, the desktop would only be to save money.

the uDac is powered by USB. So it is self powered and you can use it with a desktop and a laptop. Are we on the same page now?

No. Freezer said it was likely that using a USB powered device would continue creating the same hissing/screeching issue that I'm having with my laptop.

okay then there's nothing more that I can do. I have had 4 external usb DAC altogether and another one on the way and never had any issues. But hey what do I know right, its the specs not personal experience that matters right? Same ol' BF2s

Bevo wrote:

.Sup wrote:

Bevo wrote:

No. Freezer said it was likely that using a USB powered device would continue creating the same hissing/screeching issue that I'm having with my laptop.

okay then there's nothing more that I can do. I have had 4 external usb DAC altogether and another one on the way and never had any issues. But hey what do I know right, its the specs not personal experience that matters right? Same ol' BF2s

Well how the fuck am I supposed to know? Have you ever had this noise/screeching issue?

How are you supposed to know? I never base my opinion on specs like Freezer. I wouldn't suggest if I wasn't sure it would benefit you. No I never had any issues except when wireless on a very old Compaq laptop was enabled.

Oh, sorry I forgot to reply to out PM exchange.. I've been busy with uni.

Bevo wrote:

The whole point of getting the audio card/using the desktop would be to keep the price down..  if I was going to spend $100, wouldnt I might as well get a self-powered one for my laptop?
Using the laptop is ideal, the desktop would only be to save money.

Then you aren't going to get one for under 100 that has XLR outputs.. (re: complexity of XLR circuits compared to RCA)


Look, for what its worth you need to find a local audio store where the people are helpful etc and where they have DACs as part of the showroom. Just bring your laptop in and "audition" a few of them to see if the hum is fixed when using a USB powered DAC. I'll write a bit more once I've finished some uni work, but try find a place to visit..


edit: Also.. what happens to the hum when you change power sockets? (ie go to another room?).. or are you able to try a different power cable all together, cause it might just be THAT particular transformer?

Oh.. I know the one. The transformer in the AC adapter is fucked.