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Jul 10, 2020 Nov 24, at 7: I have a HP Pavillion Windows 10 desktop and am using a Audioengine D1 usb dac to run my powered speakers and headphones via usb cable. The D1 is a nice looking unit, so I will still keep it on the list for now. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Dec 29, 2011 Audioengine announced on Thursday the D2 Premium 24-bit Wireless DAC, a high end wireless bridge for streaming HD audio. A sister product to the D1 Premium 24-bit DAC that also began shipping, the. For Mac, under System Preferences/Sound, select “Audioengine D1” Step 2 –- connect the analog output of your D1 to any audio input of your active speakers, stereo, etc. For advanced setup tips visit: audioengineusa.com.

Hello.
I'm new to this forum but I would like to ask for your opinion on some questions I have.
I just bought a DAC (Audioengine D1) because I wanted to give the 'best' sound quality to my headphones (Sennheiser Game One), but my audio knowledge is limited so here I am.
Although everything seems to be working fine I have some questions I can't find answer to on Google.
The FAQ from Audioengine says:

Which is true if I use the USB connection, but I'm currently using the Optical cable as the input (for convenience purposes) and I still have the 'normal' Windows volume control.
EDIT: It seems the USB input also provides system volume control.
Is this normal?
Another question I have is if WASAPI is worth using over DirectSound.
I've been reading about how to use it on Media Player Classic and music players, but it's a bit complicated and it seems to produce crackling sounds when I start and stop the music track.
Is it really worth using WASAPI from a sound quality perspective?
I appreciate any input.
Thanks.

Audioengine D1 Specs

Choosing the best usb dac for speakersmay be challenging as you have to screen through the large amount of similar products available on the market. Don’t worry though; we have got our hands on 10 trendy and top rated products and below is our recommendation.

In Hurry? Checkout Our Top Pick Of Best Usb Dac For Speakers.

Best Usb Dac For Speakers

Rank	Product Name	Score
Audioengine D1 24-Bit DAC, Premium Desktop Digital To Analogue Converter and Headphone Amplifier
FiiO E10K USB DAC and Headphone Amplifier (Titanium)
Kanto 2 Channel Powered PC Gaming Desktop Speakers – 3' Composite Drivers 3/4' Silk Dome Tweeter – Class D Amplifier - 100 Watts - Built-in USB DAC - Subwoofer Output - YU2GR (Gloss Red)
Micca OriGain Compact Stereo Integrated Amplifier and DAC, 50W x 2, 96kHz/24-Bit, USB and Optical S/PDIF (Black)
Fosi Audio DA2120A Bluetooth Amplifier Stereo Receiver 2 Channel Audio Wireless Amp, DAC SPDIF Hi-Fi Compact Mini Integrated Class D Power Amp for Home Speakers & Active Subwoofer with Remote Control
LiNKFOR USB to Coaxial S/PDIF Optical 3.5mm/6.3mm Headphone Jack Converter USB DAC Digital to Analog Audio Converter for Windows XP 7 10 and Mac PS4 PS3
Soundavo HP-DAC1 Digital to Analog Converter / Headphone Preamp DAC with USB, S/PDIF, Line Input
Kanto TUK Powered Speakers with Headphone Out, Built-in USB DAC, Dedicated RCA with Phono Pre-amp, Bluetooth 4.2 with aptX HD & AAC | AMT Tweeter and 5.25' Aluminum Driver | 130W Peak RMS, Matte White
Sabrent USB External Stereo Sound Adapter for Windows and Mac. Plug and Play No Drivers Needed. (AU-MMSA)
Plugable USB Audio Adapter with 3.5mm Speaker-Headphone and Microphone Jack, Add an External Stereo Sound Card to Any PC, Compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux

1. Audioengine D1 24-Bit DAC, Premium Desktop Digital To Analogue Converter and Headphone Amplifier

• The D1 is a premium 24-bit DAC and headphone amplifier for your computer, TV, allowing you to bypass your computer’s sound card or headphone output and send audio through USB or optical.
• FEATURES High-performance DAC and headphone amp, USB and optical inputs, stream bit-perfect 24/96 HD audio, desktop or portable DAC, use with Mac or PC, no driver to install.
• WORKS WITH Mac, Windows, and Linux Computers—plug-and-play with USB. Any TOSLINK Optical connection from CD/DVD Players, TVs, and more! Powered speakers, Stereo/AV Receivers, and your favorite headphones.
• WHAT’S INCLUDED: D1 24-bit DAC/Headphone Amp, 2 foot USB cable, setup guide, microfiber bag.
• WARRANTY: Audioengine builds quality audio equipment that they stand behind. All Audioengine products come with a 3-year transferable warranty.

2. FiiO E10K USB DAC and Headphone Amplifier (Titanium)

• DAC Chip—The Internal DAC chip is a PCM102 and can handle PCM files up to 24-bit/96 kHz while improving audio quality via a linear filter, reduced delay and internal silence on changing tracks, and no phase shifts.
• LOW NOISE FLOOR — The unit has an optimized low-pass filter and selectable bass boost circuit that are designed for a low noise floor in all states.
• USB CONNECTION — Connects to your laptop via its micro USB connection, which also provides it with power.
• CONNECTION VARIETY — The variety of connections include a front-panel 1/8” headphone jack, a rear-panel 1/8” line output, and a rear-panel coaxial digital output, which allows you to send your digital audio to another destination.
• PORTABLE DESIGN — A sleek, brushed aluminum shell and chassis allow for durable, portable use.

3. Kanto 2 Channel Powered PC Gaming Desktop Speakers – 3' Composite Drivers 3/4' Silk Dome Tweeter – Class D Amplifier - 100 Watts - Built-in USB DAC - Subwoofer Output - YU2GR (Gloss Red)

• POWERFUL AND COMPACT – YU2 Powered PC Gaming Speakers feature 3' composite drivers that provide distortion-free sound while 3/4' silk dome tweeters offer extreme clarity. At just under 6” tall, these small and powerful desktop computer speakers let you save space on your gaming desk setup without sacrificing premium audio quality
• STAY CONNECTED – With its built-in soundcard, YU2 can stream high-quality audio directly from your computer’s USB port, giving you seamless connectivity to your PC or laptop. Its 3.5mm AUX input also lets you connect to any device with a headphone jack, including smartphones, tablets, or other media players. For added bass response, the YU2 speakers are compatible with any powered subwoofer
• PREMIUM SOUND – The YU2’s acoustic grade MDF cabinet features a sleek rear bass port that has been specifically designed and tuned to eliminate port turbulence while extending bass response. The result is a premium quality 2.0 channel audio system made for PC gamers and audio enthusiasts alike
• UNIQUE COLOR OPTIONS – Choose from eight different color options to compliment your gaming setup or personalize your work desk area. Available in matte and gloss finishes in a variety of colors, the YU2 speakers were designed to let you express your individual personality while providing great quality sound
• COMPLETE PACKAGE – You don't have to buy multiple computer accessories to listen to high-quality audio. YU2 is ready to set up right out of the box with included power cord, speaker wires, 3.5mm mini-jack audio cord, and a USB cable to connect the speakers to your computer

4. Micca OriGain Compact Stereo Integrated Amplifier and DAC, 50W x 2, 96kHz/24-Bit, USB and Optical S/PDIF (Black)

Audioengine D1 Dac

• Compact stereo amplifiers are the best choice for powering speakers in the home or office.
• Use the OriGain with speakers of any size, from small cubes to full size floor standing speakers.
• Experience the convenience and superior quality of digital audio from a computer via USB, or to from a TV's optical audio output
• 50W x 2 power output into 4 Ohm, 30W x 2 into 8 Ohm, less than 0.5% total harmonic distortion
• Includes UL-Certified 24V/4.75A power adapter with Level VI Energy Efficiency rating

5. Fosi Audio DA2120A Bluetooth Amplifier Stereo Receiver 2 Channel Audio Wireless Amp, DAC SPDIF Hi-Fi Compact Mini Integrated Class D Power Amp for Home Speakers & Active Subwoofer with Remote Control

• Multiple Funtions Supports USB, Optical, Coaxial, 3.5mm AUX and Bluetooth 4.2 apt-X input, Infrared receive & OLED display.
• Hi-Fi Performance Adopt Bluetooth CSR64215 & USB CM6642 chips, support aptX, aptX LL & 24bit/192Khz audio; High gain antenna for long range streaming up to 65 ft(20m).
• Great Sound Class d amp 50Watt x2 power with low-pass subwoofer output can drive most home speakers, TI NE5532 operational amplifier cores to ensure sound quality.
• Remote Control Multifunctional remote control for home wireless use with bass and treble control, inputs selector, EQ, mute, loudness setting, ect.
• What's Included? DA2120A, 24V power supply, remote control, AC cord, USB cable, optical cable, user manual and 18-month warranty.

6. LiNKFOR USB to Coaxial S/PDIF Optical 3.5mm/6.3mm Headphone Jack Converter USB DAC Digital to Analog Audio Converter for Windows XP 7 10 and Mac PS4 PS3

• USB DAC Audio Converter Transfer The Computer's Audio Signal Through The USB Port, Covert Audio to Optical, Coaxial, 3.5mm or 6.3mm Headphone Jack.Can Also Be Used As An External Sound Card.(Note:5.1 Channel Is Incompatible, Please Set The Audio Output to PCM or LPCM)
• 16-300 Ohm Hi-Fi Headphone Amplifier Supports Most Headphones of High Impedance 16-300Ω, Signal-to-noise Ratio> 100Db, THD + N = 0.0003%, Fully Filter Noise, Enjoy High-quality Audio.
• USB Input Volume Control for Headphone Sound USB inputs,With the Volume Control Knob That You Could Adjust the headphones Volume ,
• Good Compatibility Compatible with both Windows and Mac System, For best playback in Windows.Compatible with PS4, PS3, Xbox 360, Xbox One S,Which Can Be Connected Your Headphones by USB DAC for Playing Games.
• Plug and Play No Driver Required, Plug-and-play for Instant Audio playing and Compliant with All Mainstream Operation Systems. No External Power Required Provides The Easiest Way to Convert Your PC into A Hi-end Music Server.

7. Soundavo HP-DAC1 Digital to Analog Converter / Headphone Preamp DAC with USB, S/PDIF, Line Input

• High Resolution Sound Performance Support HD audio and provides clarity, separation, less muffling and more detail sound and an apparent volume boost from what was output straight from your laptop. Also improves the transparency and soundstage of the music even with MP3 files playback.
• Multiple Input Sources Selection Select different inputs from USB, Optical Toslink S/PDIF and USB by using the push buttons conveniently located on the front with single-ended RCA outputs for connection to an outboard power amp or powered speakers.
• S/PDIF Output S/PDIF output supports digital surround multichannel formats such as AC3 / DTS
• Make Your Headphones Sing Built-in high-performace headphone amplifier (32 - 600 Ohm headphone impedance recommended), delivers clearer high, deeper bass and richer sound.
• Easy Plug & Play Operation Easy to install between both Mac OS & PC Windows 10, just plug it into any USB port on your computer, HDTVs, game console, or any audio source player. NO additional driver downloads needed.

8. Kanto TUK Powered Speakers with Headphone Out, Built-in USB DAC, Dedicated RCA with Phono Pre-amp, Bluetooth 4.2 with aptX HD & AAC | AMT Tweeter and 5.25' Aluminum Driver | 130W Peak RMS, Matte White

• AMT TWEETERS - TUK utilizes high-performance AMT tweeters to deliver brighter, more accurate highs. Their wide horizontal dispersion also offers improved stereo imaging and soundstage.
• ALUMINUM DRIVERS - Due to their high rigidity and low mass, TUK’s aluminum drivers operate at optimal efficiency while reducing distortion at higher volumes.
• DSP CONTROLLED - TUK features integrated digital signal processing (DSP), designed to optimize audio quality and provide greater accuracy in sound reproduction.
• ADVANCED CONNECTIVITY - Along with Optical and RCA inputs, TUK includes an independent phono input for your turntable, a USB DAC, a dedicated headphone amp, and Bluetooth 4.2 with aptX HD and AAC codecs for high fidelity streaming.
• ACTIVE CROSSOVER - When enabled, TUK's active crossover filters out frequencies below 80Hz and sends them directly to a connected subwoofer. Off-loading this portion of the frequency range further improves resolution while reducing distortion.

9. Sabrent USB External Stereo Sound Adapter for Windows and Mac. Plug and Play No Drivers Needed. (AU-MMSA)

• Connectors: USB Type-A, Stereo output jack, Mono microphone-input jack.
• Driverless for Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP/Server 2003/Vista/7/8/Linux/Mac OSX.
• USB bus-powered, no external power required.
• Reverse Compliant with USB Audio Device Class Specification 1.0

10. Plugable USB Audio Adapter with 3.5mm Speaker-Headphone and Microphone Jack, Add an External Stereo Sound Card to Any PC, Compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux

Audioengine D1 Drivers For Macbook Air

• Enable USB connectivity with your existing 3.5 mm audio headphones, headset, speakers, or microphone.
• Perfect to bypass a faulty sound card, audio port, or as a replacement for a broken USB audio adapter
• Leave connected to a USB hub or dock to avoid unplugging. Lightweight, compact, and constructed of durable aluminum in a black finish
• No additional drivers necessary; fully plug and play on virtually all modern computers. Compatible with any standard USB Audio Class enabled system including Windows XP through 10, Linux, macOS and Google Chromebook. Not compatible with USB ports on car audio systems. Not suggested for lapel microphones
• We love our Plugable products and hope you will too. All of our products are backed with a 2-year limited parts and labor warranty and Seattle-based email support