The only bummer is inherently higher levels of jitter due to band limiting. Neither of my current renderers support Toslink.
Unclear which DacMagic it is, but the original DacMagic has a ASRC, so jitter should not be an issue.
The only bummer is inherently higher levels of jitter due to band limiting. Neither of my current renderers support Toslink.
I think I will try this -- just to confirm, an optical cable like the one I linked will plug into the SPDIF connector? I don't have an "optical" out.
Or is something wrong with the DAC?
Sounds like it. Do you know its history? Also, did you check if by some chance volume is muted on the PC? I've just tried and the green level meter is moving while the volume is muted.
To check the functionality of the DAC, can you hook up a reliable digital source to one of the non-USB inputs? Either optical or coax from a CDP, or if lacking other digital sources, the optical or coax outputs from the back of a HDTV.
If they work, then the problem is either in the PC or the USB part of the DAC, or in PC set up issues, and you won't be spinning your wheels on the latter, without a better narrowing down if the problem likely lies there.
I can also bring in the garage receiver and speakers and use different RCA cables to eliminate the possibility that there might be something wrong with the new cables I purchased yesterday (or that they might be too long?).
You could also test the cables by temporarily using them in place of those between the tape deck and receiver, without hauling in all that other stuff.
I would say it is your internal soundcard having issues. Can you listen to it with headphones to make sure it is working?
I agree with whoaru99....
I agree with what the others have said above, with the proviso that since your DAC does indicate it is locking on signal, it seems something recognizable is coming to it via USB. To me, it seems incredibly unlikely the RCA cables are the issue.
I fear that you can't narrow down your problem unless you test the DAC via one of its other inputs, using a digital source that is not your PC. But another possibility that might shed some light is to use a different sound card if you have access to one.
Your garage system is a possibility, but if I recall, it does not have any digital outputs, so I assume you are talking hooking up the DAC to the TV, and then the DAC to your NAD receiver via RCAs. It is a compact receiver so not so much to move, and you can skip moving the speakers if you have headphones to plug into the NAD.
And, if round about you do end up connecting to the TV digital output, you must ensure the digital output of the TV is set to send PCM, not Bitstream. Your stereo DAC will not work with a Bitstream output from the TV. That could give a misleading assessment/diagnosis.
Yes, that's it. The optical is a toslink.TV -> optical cable -> DAC -> RCA -> NAD -> headphone
No, it wouldn't. There is nothing to decode the digital signal output (from the DAC) into analog sound.I am not sure this 3.5mm Female to 2RCA Male cable would work for a digital out, would it?