Kind of limited knowledge but would this be good to go from laptop to this dac then to home receiver. Pioneer elite sc-71 running to def tech 65 studio monitors ?
Jb52I'm pretty limited as well (I have a DAC that goes to powered studio monitors) but it seems like your setup should work.. the M8 has USB/Coax/Optical inputs so my guess is that your receiver would have to be set to coax or optical since you would be using bookshelf speakers (I had to look up your def techs I assumed they were powered monitors, but they are passive bookshelf speakers).
If you want to utilize USB, you would have to hook up powered monitors to the L/R out of the M8.
I thought about getting this M8 as a DAC upgrade, but the lack of a volume control is enraging!
tedhershI like the convenience. My DAC has multiple inputs so that I can hook up my computer, xbox, cablebox, etc. I output to powered studio monitors (since most DACs have an unamplified line-out). Most studio monitors do not have volume controls, so I would prefer that my DAC acts like a receiver in that it has a stupid knob to turn the volume. LOL
I just prefer it over using the volume control on my computer and it's a pain on the consoles. It seems like something basic a DAC should have. With the M8, I would need some kind of passive volume control in between the DAC and my speakers, which would work fine, but it's extra real estate.
PraxisxParasound zDac is what I use. Balanced and single-ended out with variable or fixed output, as well as USB, coax, and toslink inputs. Solid little DAC/headphone amp.