Which DAC or Sound Card

The Audioengine A5's are arriving tomorrow. I also ordered a Fubar ll USB DAC but it is probably 2 weeks out. I have no idea if my computer is equipped with USB 1.1 or 2.0 but I can inquire with my local guru. If it is 1.1 can I install a 2.0 card or something similar prior to going the whole firewire route ?

Thanks for the response guys.

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Hi Kbamhi... if you're going USB, and your DACs need cabling,you might want to think about which USB cable... it makes a big difference! Plain old printer cable won't cut it and will nullify any hardware you're testing/acquiring. I recommend investigating Ridge Street Audio as well as Synergistic Research. By the way... a phone call to Larry Moore at Ultra Fi audio about the iRoc DAC might illuminate many variables for you... after all, this is about enjoying the music... right?

Happy listening,

Ed

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The throughput on USB 1.1 has a 12 Mbps pass through; 2.0 is 480 Mbps. BIG difference. I believe you can install a USB 2.0 card and get the higher throughout (limited by CPU).

I picked up just such a card for 29.95 from my computer guy this afternoon. Now if I could only get my hands on that DAC I ordered.

Thanks much for your help, Cerrot.

Istanbulu,

I've read some favorable reviews of the Iroc DAC, and don't doubt that it is a very good piece of equipment. But Kmamhi didn't want to spend over a couple of hundred dollars. The only price I've seen for the Iroc DAC was around $1400. Are Irocs available for less than $1400?

JPO