2. tech-talk
  3. 178695-175284

Cablebox Audio Out to DAC inputs and other options ?

For those who might shed some light on various connection options for an Audio Out connection to a DAC , then to an int amp or power amp, please feel free to leave your thoughts.

First of all, the main objective is to connect my Audio Out on the cable box to a new int amp or power amp down the line. Right now connecting the Audio Out to my existing int amp and works fine. Now, just say I purchased a new power amp with just inputs from DAC , is it at all possible to connect my Audio Out from the cablebox to the digital inputs on the DAC (Denafrips Pontus II) & then somehow connect to a new power amp with just one set of RCA inputs. The user manual for the DAC is quite scant in overall scope of info provided there.

The audio signal from the cablebox will have to incorporated directly to the amp or even to the DAC first , as all sound is coming through external speakers and not the TV. So, given the current configuration and desire to keep the DAC, would connecting the Audio Out from the Cablebox to the DAC and then a Power amp be possible or will another Int amp be the only solution at hand ?

chaseton
chaseton OP
38 posts
 

So, what I am planning to do is purchase an Optical audio cable to run from the Opt output on the cablebox & then connect to the Opt input on the DAC. I can control the various inputs on the DAC such as USB and Opt from the front panel of the DAC. The Analog RCA ouputs on the DAC are connected to RCA inputs on the int amp. This way I can see for certain if it is possible to configure a new power amp in the future this way , since the power amps I am looking at all have just one set of RCA inputs as opposed to int amp with several. The results will determine if a new power amp is the way to go and indeed possible or will the new amp be an int amp affair. I will report back on what transpires over the next several days. 

fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,629 posts
 

Sure. Just run the analog outs through an ADC. After running it through an iso transformer to cancel the hum from cable’s non grounded ground. Why oh why? Every cable box I’ve ever had has one or more digital outs.

You’re going to have to understand the difference between analog and digital. No one else can do it for you.

 

chaseton OP
38 posts
 

So, I ran the new opt cable from the cable box to the DAC , which in turn is then connected via RCA cables to the int amp. Next, by switching between the input sources on the DAC , selecting the opt there , sound came through. Just so much lower in volume compared to the previous setup of RCA cables from the cable box to the DAC and onto the int amp. Although much lower in volume , the sound seems a tad warmer in tonality compared to before. Just seems a bother to set the amp volume for the cable box & TV sound so high , then when switching back to the USB input , the volume is quite considerably higher. In turn , requiring instant volume adjustment or risk waking the neighbors. 

More to discover