Powered studio speakers not working through my Digital to analogue converter

[erraticjoe93]

CALLING ALL AUDIOPHILES

I have a serious issue that has been bugging me over the last few weeks. I have a pair of JBL LSR 305 powered studio speakers and i am wanting to use these with my pc without getting any interference. So I bought a cheep DAC from amazon here: https/www.amazon.co.uk/Digital-Converter-Adapter-Optical-Headphone-2-1-CH-3-5mm-Audio-Output/dp/B00IXN6L3G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1506787481&sr=8-2&keywords=dac+esynic - I am using the SPDIF input from my DAC which connects to my audio line out jack on the PC. I am then running left/right RCA output on the DAC to 1/4 inch mono into each speaker. I have set the speaker as my default playback device in sound settings but still getting no sound through the speakers. I really don't know what to do now, hope someone can help before I pull my hair out

 

[americanaudiophile]

A DAC converts digital audio to analog audio so the one you link to requires an optical or coax digital audio output on the PC. You can't connect it to the analog line output on the PC.
If your PC doesn't have digital audio out you would need a USB DAC.

 

[erraticjoe93]

A DAC converts digital audio to analog audio so the one you link to requires an optical or coax digital audio output on the PC. You can't connect it to the analog line output on the PC.
If your PC doesn't have digital audio out you would need a USB DAC.

Thanks man that makes perfect sense! USB DAC it is

 

[erraticjoe93]

A DAC converts digital audio to analog audio so the one you link to requires an optical or coax digital audio output on the PC. You can't connect it to the analog line output on the PC.
If your PC doesn't have digital audio out you would need a USB DAC.

Would this be okay? https/www.maplin.co.uk/p/digital-to-analogue-audio-converter-a14kf

 

[americanaudiophile]

MERGED QUESTION
Question from erraticjoe93 : "Can't get my audio to work through my studio speakers!"

So basically I'm running 2 x JBL Lsr 305's studio speakers through a digital audio converter into the audio jack on the pc. Im running a toslink to 3.5mm optical cable into the line out jack. I'm also using an RCA to 3.5mm cable as my output cable which is plugged in from the speakers into the headphone output jack on the DAC. Would I need to buy a normal RCA cable and use this as the output cable instead going into the left and right output on the DAC as no sound is being produced from the speaker. PLEASE HELPPP

The DAC has to be connected to the PC with either USB or with a digital audio connection (optical or coax RCA). This feeds digital audio from the PC into the DAC where it is converted into analog audio.
You may need a driver if you use USB. Either way you have to select this connection as your audio device in the PC audio control panel. It will sound best if you leave the volume level of the PC all the way up.
The powered speakers would normally connect to the analog line level output of the DAC.
This should all be in the DAC manual.

HI Thanks for the reply! So I'm using an RCA to 3.5mm jack cable which goes from the speakers into the headphone output jack of the DAC. Then I have an Spdif optical to 3.5mm jack cable which runs from the input jack of the DAC to the line out audio jack on my PC. I have also selected the speakers as my playback device however still getting no sound from the speakers. Is this the correct set up? I don't know what I'm doing wrong, I'm new to this hope you can help. Cheers

There is no such thing as an optical to 3.5mm cable.
Optical is light and 3.5mm is electrical.
If your PC has a SPDIF optical out then then connects to the DAC with a toslink optical cable. The output of the DAC connects to the speakers wtth Select the optical out as your playback device and set the PC to output in 2 channel stereo.
If your PC doesn't have an optical or coax digital audio output you can't use a DAC unless it has a USB input.