This DAC-AMP combo also has a microphone input which is hard to come across, especially for such a low price. If you don't need that there might be better options out there, but otherwise I think you'll be hard-pressed to find a better deal on a DAC-AMP combo with that has a microphone input.
i would recommend the program voicemeeter if you want that kind of functionality.
Adds lag, no good for online FPS.
i run all my audio through it and the latency is unnoticable to me
@skysailz: To you, yes. It can be from 10ms > Sky's the limit depending on compatibility issues etc etc. For many people, that may be fine. I've seen quite a few installations now that have introduced noticeable lag. Particularly streamers where the lip sync issue becomes obvious.
Hard to argue with trying out a free product though.
I’ll take 2-10ms lag from a USB Dac over 30-100ms lag for a wireless headset with a 2.4Ghz dongle every day.
Thanks, but I just use Windows Volume Mixer app. I also use a Loupedeck for controlling app volumes.
Hi, what do you mean by "control individual app volumes"?
I.e. control Spotify, Discord and a game volume all individually, like you can using Windows Volume Mixer or something like a Loupedeck
I hope this one doesn't spark when being plugged in (seems dodgy af) like their older dac.
😳
(fosi audio dac-q4)
What a bonus, it doubles as a fire starter!
These are powered via USB, there's no internal power supply, so there's nothing there that can generate more than a 5v spark.
Besides ESD, which is normal and largely unavoidable, I would point the finger at the USB adapter, other powered connected devices (e.g. PC) and/or your house wiring having poor grounding.
I would point the finger at the USB adapter
Almost certainly the power adaptor, I'm yet to see one with a ground pin.
Without a ground pin on the mains plug, the 5V and ground outputs can be quite a long way from mains earth. I got a nip the other day from a phone charger, when I was touching something earthed with one hand, and my elbow brushed against a lightning cable connected to the phone charger. I measured 90V between the lightning connector's "paddle" and mains earth!
To avoid such sparks, connect everything to the amp with the charger/power supply unplugged. Once everything is connected, then plug in the charger and turn the mains on.
Does this pop/bang?
Does it have auto on/off?
I don't know what the former is, but a no to the latter.
has a microphone input which is hard to come across, especially for such a low price.
Didn't seem that hard, any number of USB sound cards have a mic input and an amplifier for headphones, e.g. $29 Creative Sound Blaster PLAY! 3 USB Sound Card at Computer Alliance.
Is there something I'm missing here?
That's great if all you need is USB connectivity but it lacks the versatility of the Fosi.
Edit: BTW, the Play 4 is actually cheaper than the previous model when you factor in shipping https://au.creative.com/p/sound-blaster/sound-blaster-play-4…
$32.95 vs $29 + shipping ($9 for me)
Grabbed a play4. Thanks for the recco!
I have one of their amps for speakers, not sure id get a headphone one, too many possible audio issues (eg hum or imbalance) which is mote noticeable at low level.
I could not find any mention of that in reviews of this product so I don't think it's a problem here. Are you sure the amp was the problem and not something else (e.g. user error)?
Im not sure what you mean, channel imbalance at low levels and hum are common with cheaper ranges of headphone amps. Ive owned half a dozen, they all operate a bit different wirh different chips sets.
Where is the bargain here? Seems to be the same price from all options. Nearly all external sound cards have a mic-in option as most users would be gamers wearing headsets needing both.
To me, this just sounds like advertising
Send me a link to a cheaper offering of the same product, would gladly take it at a cheaper price. I bought this for the optical input, most don't come with that (unless you get some unknown brand which is a gamble)
Jas a few listed in "other sponsered results" on the ebay page. Some are more but there are those at the same/similar price
Yes, you should neg the deal so people know. $3 cheaper, I will never financially recover from this.
@s1Lence: Your response is oddly hostile. I have no intention of negging, despite your childish goading.
@Aleigh123: If it seems hostile it is only because you perceive it as such. I literally upvoted your comment. If a bargain is cheaper elsewhere you are meant to neg it, I cannot do so which is why I asked you to. I reported it myself anyway so maybe it can be replaced with your link, idk how it works.
At 300 ohms this thing can even drive a pair of HD6xx's.
I drive my pair perfectly fine off the motherboard audio out
If an amplifier can drive low-impedance headphones, it can drive higher-impedance headphones like your 300-ohm ones. There's no impedance matching required.
The problem is that it doesn't have enough voltage to drive high-impedance headphones at good volume, which is shown by the 80mW output power quoted at 300 ohms. Compare that to the 500mW output power quoted for more-common 32-ohm headphones.
Protip: "gaming" DACs, "gaming" headphones, etc, are just low end audiophile products at double the price.
Is there a good DAC/AMP with the same feature set for half the price of this? My personal setup is all studio equipment so I am aware that most "gaming" marketed stuff is worse but that isn't always the case.
Not a bad price, but if I was going to buy something like this, I'd want one that can control individual app volumes too.