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Topic: Connecting Creative XFi (digital) to Arcam alpha 7 amp (analog) (Read 5046 times) previous topic - next topic
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Connecting Creative XFi (digital) to Arcam alpha 7 amp (analog)

Hi All,

I'm having some problems solving this one so thought i'd post...

I have a Creative XFi setup on my pc and an Arcam alpha 7 amp (about 6 yrs old, i think).  The problem is the amp doesn't have any digital inputs, only rca phono types (red & black jacks) whereas the Xfi box only has digital outs (optical, spdif, and a 9-pin din actually).  I'm trying to work out the best system to connect the 2.

At the moment I am using the headphone jack on the Xfi and a standard 3.5mm to rca phono cable.  I suspect that i could get better sound by using the digital outs and a converter (and after all, better sound is why i bought the xfi kit) but i'm at a bit of a loss as to what my options are and which is preferable.

So, any suggestions to an appropriate connection setup would be gratefully received.  Or would the best thing to do be to upgrade the amp?!

Thanks
Rob

Connecting Creative XFi (digital) to Arcam alpha 7 amp (analog)

Reply #1 –
Did some research around the Net', it appears that any (inexpensive) outboard DAC will do the trick.

Andrew D.
www.cdnav.com

Connecting Creative XFi (digital) to Arcam alpha 7 amp (analog)

Reply #2 –
Quote from: digital on
Did some research around the Net', it appears that any (inexpensive) outboard DAC will do the trick.

Andrew D.
www.cdnav.com


thanks mate.  any suggestions on the DAC - there don't seem to be that many out there available via the net.

Rob

Connecting Creative XFi (digital) to Arcam alpha 7 amp (analog)

Reply #3 –
What's wrong with using the onboard DACs? The X-Fi is quite a nice card, I doubt one would be able to tell the difference between it and an external DAC, unless maybe you spend A LOT of money.

If you bought the X-Fi for better sound, just use it.

Connecting Creative XFi (digital) to Arcam alpha 7 amp (analog)

Reply #4 –
.
Emon,

Rob wants to check out the potential difference in sound between this X-Fi's headphone jack and the card's digital outputs.  I agree that there is likely to be little to no audible difference between the onboard DAC and a stand-alone unit, but think that in this case he's dealing with interface issues.

Rob Hick:

Check out this site for pretty much everything that you could want to learn about outboard DACs (including pricing), and a heck of a lot more

http://www.tweakheadz.com/index.html

I have another list somewhere with about three times as many DACs, will shoot it your way if I come upon it in the near future.  I don't know what you have in mind for a budget, but here is what I picked up the other day:

http://cgi.ebay.ca/YULONG-DAH1-DAC-Headpho...ksid=p1638.m118

Andrew D.
www.cdnav.com

.

Connecting Creative XFi (digital) to Arcam alpha 7 amp (analog)

Reply #5 –
Hi Emon - digital's right, the problem is the outputs on the 'i/o module' of the XFi are digital only, and my amp is analog.  I'm trying to make the most of the sound.

Digital - thanks for the site recommendation, looks interesting.  The DAC you suggest is slightly out of my budget in that if i spent that much, i may as well just upgrade the amp!

Rob

Connecting Creative XFi (digital) to Arcam alpha 7 amp (analog)

Reply #7 –
that's quite a list!  i'll pick my way through it...