Behringer DEQ 2496 help

I may finally get a new DAC for my desktop system, either a Bel Canto, Lavry or Benchmark.

If I go from the DAC into the balanced inputs (instead of the optical I have been using) will this therefore bypass the internal DAC of the Behringer?

Thank you

Cwlondon...NO!!! If you use a DAC to feed an analog signal into the DEQ2496, it will immediately do an analog to digital conversion. If you want to avoid the A/D and D/A converters of the DEQ2496 (completely unnecessary IMHO) you should feed digital into the DEQ2496, and take digital out of it and then run it through your outboard DAC.

Thanks Eldartford.

As usual, I defer to you on the complexity of this device.

Re your humble opinion, if I am trying to stream bits out of a PC using WAV files and USB, you think the D/A converter inside the Behringer will hold its own against a Bel Canto/Benchmark/Lavry?

Now that might stir up some controversy around here.

Another interesting effect of this permutation - I therefore dont need to worry about paying up for the USB interface on the outboard DAC?

In the end, I would like the purest, least jittery, least "digital" signal coming from PC based WAV files, exported through USB (?) converted (I thought) through an audiophile DAC, and then have the option of tinkering and/or room correction with the Behringer.

From there, I would continue to use the pair of A500's as monoblocks for the time being, but consider an upgrade of the amps at some point in the future.

Thanks for your expert advice.

Ok doh...now I get it?

The EQ and room correction is also digital, and only taking place in the digital domain?

Therefore, the only way to bypass the converters in the Behringer is to bypass or go straight through the device altogether?

Cwlondon...You can bypass the A./D input converter, and the D/A output converter if you feed digital in and provide an outboard D/A converter connected to the digital output. Within the Behringer the EQ processing and other processing is done by digital algorithms using a purpose-designed (for music) 32 bit floating point module, so all the usual digital phobias don't apply.

Frankly I think that all the complexity and cost of your proposed setup is a waste. Although many audiophiles just can't accept it in a $300 piece of electronics, the A/D and D/A converters used in the Behringer are darned good. Unless YOU can hear better results with an outboard DAC, your money would be better spent on superior recordings.
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