UQ2 digital out to optical in - cable?

Posted by: Paulq on 23 November 2015

I want to use the digital out on my UQ2 to connect to an external DAC which has an 'Optical In' input and then to use the Line Out on the DAC to connect to Line in on a Headphone Amp.  

 

I 'think' this is the only way to connect up a separate HP Amp to the UQ2/NAP 100 but am not sure what cable I need to have for the first part of the chain (digital - optical)?  Can anyone advise (or indeed if there is another way to hook up a HP Amp that I am missing)?

 

Thanks a lot.

Posted on: 23 November 2015 by Richard Dane

OK, easiest is to just plug your headphones into the UQ2 headphone socket.

 

However, if you wish to use a separate headphone amp that will only take a line level input things get a bit more difficult because the UQ2 doesn't have a tape rec out.  You could use the pre-amp output but it will mean going through the UQ2's volume control - this may not be the huge handicap it might appear at first to be... 

 

To use the coaxial digital output into a DAC with only an optical input, you'll need to use a coaxial to optical convertor.  But you need to ask yourself whether the DAC warrants this expense.  Surely a half-decent DAC will at the very least have a coaxial input that at least cuts out the need for conversion?

 

What are the DAC and the headphone amp here?

Posted on: 23 November 2015 by Paulq

Hi Richard

 

Agree but I am using the only other 'output' on the UQ2 into the NAP 100 so I am a bit stuffed really.  The DAC/HP Amp (both of which are excellent by the way) are from NJC Audio.

 

As far as I can see the only way to do it is UQ2 Digital out -> DAC Optical In (with converter) then DAC Line Out -> Headphone Amp Line In.

 

Agree?

Posted on: 23 November 2015 by Richard Dane

Looking at the NJC website, the DAC has a Coaxial s/pdif input, so use that and avoid a convertor.

Posted on: 23 November 2015 by Paulq

Ah ok - I actually didn't spot that (how?).  So presumably all I need is a coaxial cable from UQ2 -> DAC then the rest as above?

 

Thanks for the help Richard.

 

PS:  Is the 'Digital Out' on the UQ2 a standard coaxial socket?