I bought a pair of Ortizan studio monitors for my home studio. Aside from the standard TRS, RCS, and aux inputs, it has a usb-c option. Would it be better to directly connect my desktop via usb-c instead of going through my interface and into the TRS inputs? I figured skipping a step (interface) would keep the signal more pure, but then I’m just transferring the digital-to-analog processing from the interface to the speakers themselves. Or is that the wrong assumption and should I stick to the interface+TRS connection?

  • navigator@piefed.zipOPEnglish
    0·
    1 month ago

    I did some light reading and I think interface+TRS is looking to be the better option for the following reasons:

    • The monitors’ DAC might be modest (they are supposed to be for music production after all), but a dedicated audio interface which is built specifically for it would still likely have a better DAC than the monitors’ built-in interface. The specialty of a speaker is the actual speaker components, not the built-in interface.
    • Using balanced TRS cables means you eliminate any noise before it hits the actual speaker components. While USB-C won’t have any analog noise, any noise that gets involved after it leaves the USB cable and as it gets processed from the speaker DAC and into the speaker components has no protection.

    Do you think that’s a fair assessment?

    • Zatore@lemmy.zip
      0·
      1 month ago

      If you’re concerned about the DAC being not great then yes, the audio interface is the better option. However using TRS cables doesn’t mean there can’t be noise. Your audio interface will have a noise floor too. It’s still possible that the amplifier in the speaker will be the thing that introduces noise. I doubt the DAC in the speaker will make more noise than the pre-amp and amp components, but you could test it.