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> and audio... Overall tip for anyone using Linux and having issues with audio... USB Audio is magical and works wonder. I never bother with the computer's i

> and audio... Overall tip for anyone using Linux and having issues with audio... USB Audio is magical and works wonder. I never bother with the computer's in-board sound: it's USB Audio immediately through a DAC. Works fine. Apple sells $10 USB-C-to-3.5mmjack DAC which are basically a tiny cable (for anyone lamenting it's "too bulky" to have a full-on DAC next to their laptop). For desktops: problem doesn't even register. Just bypass the audio components on your motherboard and use a proper DAC. As an added bonus computers are particularly electrically noisy and a DAC is a great way to do away with all that the noise. So my advice: just use a DAC with Linux. Plug it in. Marvel at "dmesg" showing "USB Audio" and enjoy quality sound.

loeg 4y ago
Be somewhat careful what USB audio device you buy. I've had multiple of these and some of them have tons of EM noise, which is very obnoxious.
- TacticalCoder 4y ago
  > I've had multiple of these and some of them have tons of EM noise, which is very obnoxious. Ah darn yup! If there's one thing I'd expect from these is to not be noisy! FWIW I'm using a CambridgeAudio DAC and, well, CambridgeAudio is supposed to be a good brand when it comes to audio stuff (amp is CambridgeAudio too).
  - jnsaff2 4y ago
    I've been pretty happy with Dragonfly[0]. Tho they don't come cheap. I have had the black and am currently on the Red, I noticed the difference so I think it's worth it. Have not tried the cobalt. [0] - https://www.audioquest.com/dacs/dragonfly/dragonfly-cobalt https://www.audioquest.com/dacs/dragonfly/dragonfly-cobalt
  - loeg 4y ago
    > CambridgeAudio DAC It looks like these start at $250? I'd expect them to work well. I'm more wary of this pricepoint: > Apple sells $10 USB-C-to-3.5mmjack DAC I've gotten a lot less EM noise with builtin soundcards than cheap USB DACs, but YMMV.
    - MrDOS 4y ago
      > cheap USB DACs These numbers are several years old now, but Apple USB-C DACs do perform very well overall regardless of price point: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-apple-vs-google-usb-c-headphone-adapters.5541/ https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/r....
    - LoganDark 4y ago
      EM noise is something that someone would notice, so I'm sure Apple would have nuked it from orbit until it's completely imperceptible.
      - loeg 4y ago
        Yeah, to be clear I expect the Apple ones do fine. The ones I had issue with were not Apple.
    - TacticalCoder 4y ago
      > It looks like these start at $250? I'd expect them to work well. Price inflated, like the price of nearly everything. I paid mine 150 EUR back in the days (still not cheap but not either the 4 digits high-end audiophile stuff). The thing is: you want thing to work fine from Linux's side and in my experience USB Audio on Linux just works. I'm sure there are other brands/models at reasonable price points.
goosedragons 4y ago
I've been doing this to get my computers connected to a KVM to share speakers. Works pretty well, bought a Soundblaster for nostalgia sake.
dbielen 4y ago
This will use 10-15% CPU (intel and M1 Pro).

loeg 4y ago

Be somewhat careful what USB audio device you buy. I've had multiple of these and some of them have tons of EM noise, which is very obnoxious.

TacticalCoder 4y ago
> I've had multiple of these and some of them have tons of EM noise, which is very obnoxious. Ah darn yup! If there's one thing I'd expect from these is to not be noisy! FWIW I'm using a CambridgeAudio DAC and, well, CambridgeAudio is supposed to be a good brand when it comes to audio stuff (amp is CambridgeAudio too).
- jnsaff2 4y ago
  I've been pretty happy with Dragonfly[0]. Tho they don't come cheap. I have had the black and am currently on the Red, I noticed the difference so I think it's worth it. Have not tried the cobalt. [0] - https://www.audioquest.com/dacs/dragonfly/dragonfly-cobalt https://www.audioquest.com/dacs/dragonfly/dragonfly-cobalt
- loeg 4y ago
  > CambridgeAudio DAC It looks like these start at $250? I'd expect them to work well. I'm more wary of this pricepoint: > Apple sells $10 USB-C-to-3.5mmjack DAC I've gotten a lot less EM noise with builtin soundcards than cheap USB DACs, but YMMV.
  - MrDOS 4y ago
    > cheap USB DACs These numbers are several years old now, but Apple USB-C DACs do perform very well overall regardless of price point: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-apple-vs-google-usb-c-headphone-adapters.5541/ https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/r....
  - LoganDark 4y ago
    EM noise is something that someone would notice, so I'm sure Apple would have nuked it from orbit until it's completely imperceptible.
    - loeg 4y ago
      Yeah, to be clear I expect the Apple ones do fine. The ones I had issue with were not Apple.
  - TacticalCoder 4y ago
    > It looks like these start at $250? I'd expect them to work well. Price inflated, like the price of nearly everything. I paid mine 150 EUR back in the days (still not cheap but not either the 4 digits high-end audiophile stuff). The thing is: you want thing to work fine from Linux's side and in my experience USB Audio on Linux just works. I'm sure there are other brands/models at reasonable price points.

goosedragons 4y ago

I've been doing this to get my computers connected to a KVM to share speakers. Works pretty well, bought a Soundblaster for nostalgia sake.

dbielen 4y ago

This will use 10-15% CPU (intel and M1 Pro).