DAC for PC to 2-channel receiver connectivity

[Dolby2020]

I'm looking for a DAC to go from a Mac USB to the optical input to a 2-channel receiver (an HK 3490). I'm leaning heavily towards the Soundavo HP-DAC1 because from what I understand the DAC has a good chip and also has an optical output, which I understand to be the best connectivity option, but I'm wondering if I may be operating on a false assumption (that optical is better than RCA) and questioning whether other DACs I've looked at that I believe have better chips (but lack optical output) would be a better option. The others I'm considering are the AQ Dragonfly red and the Drop + THX AAA™ 789 Linear.

My main concern is moving the sound to my receiver. To my hears, the headphone output on the HK 3490 is very good and I enjoy Dolby headphone, but I've never used a dedicated headphone amp so it's possible I'm missing something.

In other words, is my intuitive but uninformed view that receivers like optical inputs better than RCAs shared by those who actually know something about audio, and also even if there is any difference, are the chips the other DACs use so much better that they'd far outweigh any benefit from using an optical cable to connect the DAC to the receiver, if that makes sense.

 

[lovinthehd]

Optical would still be digital, and would sort of negate the use of an external dac; you could just get a usb to optical converter instead perhaps, but if you do use an external dac you may as well let it do it's job and send it out analog to your receiver (via rca). Is there something wrong with your receiver's dac particularly? I have never used a usb to optical device (or maybe coax since you have both inputs on your receiver) so really have no suggestions in that direction.

Please do not buy Audioquest, they sell lots of audio nonsense.

 

[VoidX]

the AQ Dragonfly red

It's literally beaten by phones. This topic has an extensive list of well-performing DACs you could buy instead.

My main concern is moving the sound to my receiver. To my hears, the headphone output on the HK 3490 is very good and I enjoy Dolby headphone, but I've never used a dedicated headphone amp so it's possible I'm missing something.

Wait, so you want to get a DAC, move its sound to the receiver, and use its headphone out? That would be easier directly. Sadly, there is no Dolby Headphone support in any external DAC as far as I could search, so if you go the direct path, you have to skip on this or use Windows with a monthly Dolby Atmos for Headphones subscription.

Because of these, I also recommend the cheapest USB to optical adapter you can find, it doesn't make a difference.

 

[Eppie]

If you use the optical out of the DAC, then you are dealing in the digital domain and the receiver would use its DAC to convert to analogue. If your HK is 2 channel, you could use the RCA out unless you feel the DAC in the HK is better or need some conversion options. On the Soundavo, with USB in, the S/PDIF out acts as a converter and digital passthrough.

The Dolby feature on the HK is simulated Dolby. The 3490 does not have a separate headphone amp and actually uses the power amps for the headphones as well. That may be why you get the simulated Dolby on both headphones and speakers. The headphone out on the Soundavo will bypass this feature.

The HK manual says that the optical in only supports PCM signals (pulse-code modulation) which is standard for optical in. If all you need is a USB to optical converter, the Soundavo will work but there may be less expensive options that don't employ DACs and headphone amps. For USB to RCA I was considering one of the Topping DACs. Several units have been tested on AudioScienceReview.