How can the D1 external computer DAC improve my music?
The D1 is essentially a very high end external sound card. Its components and implementation of those components make it more capable than what might be built into a computer, not to mention the benefit of moving those sensitive components external to the potentially noisy interior of your computer. All of this means the signal your speakers receive will be clearer, with a lower noise-floor, and with a more pronounced dynamic range over your internal sound card.

How do I find out more information about DACs and computer audio?
There are some excellent online computer audio forums and a quick search will turn up everything you need to know about the best hardware and software and how to get started on any budget. Computer audio is quickly evolving so we suggest to check and make sure the information you find is up to date.

How easy is it to set up the D1?
Connect the included USB cable from your computer to the D1. If using a Mac, go to System Preferences/Sound, and select “Audioengine D1”. If you’re using a PC, no setting changes are needed as the computer will automatically find the USB driver. Now play music from iTunes or your favorite media player and that’s it – setup really is that easy.

Where can I download drivers for the D1?
The D1 is a USB Plug-and-Play audio device. This means that the drivers it uses are developed and provided by the developer of your computer’s operating system. In the case of a Windows PC for example, these drivers are provided by Microsoft, and are a part of Windows.

What media player software and audio file formats are compatible with the D1 when using it with a computer?
When connected via USB with a computer, the D1 acts like a USB sound-card. Because of this, once it’s set as your default playback device, it should work with any application on your computer playing audio, and with any file format the software supports.

How do I make sure that the D1 DAC is set to 24-bit/96KHz audio?
If using a Mac, open the Audio MIDI Setup utility in Applications->Utilities, choose “Audioengine D1” under audio devices and check that the format is set to 96 and the bit depth is set to 24bit.

Is there a recommended “break-in period” for the D1?
Your D1 will sound great out of the box and will get better over time, however, it’s best to play music for 40 to 50 hours first before doing any critical listening.

When I plug in headphones will the D1 RCA outputs be muted?
Yes, the output will mute and audio will only play through your headphones.

Are the RCA connections on the rear of the D1 fixed or variable?
These RCA outputs are variable, adjusting the volume on the D1 will adjust the output of any speakers or amp connected to this output. This makes the D1 a handy way to control the volume of both your speakers AND headphones.

Will the D1 work with my low-impedance headphones?
The D1 includes a headphone amp based around the TI OPA2134 low noise opamp. This headphone amp is able to provide low-impedance, high-fidelity audio to a wide range of headphones and supports headphones with impedances 10 ohms and higher.

I have the original Audioengine 5 (not the A5+), will the D1 / D2 DAC work with the inputs on that original model?
You can use Audioengine DACs with your original A5s, no problem. You would simply use a standard RCA cable and the RCA to mini-jack adapter that came with the A5 to connect the RCA output from the DAC in to one of the mini-jack inputs.

Can I connect the D1 DAC to a USB hub?
Although D1 may work just fine when connected to most USB hubs, this is not recommended as the data rate may not be fast enough for higher-resolution music. We therefore suggest you select a high-speed USB bus all by itself and don’t use a USB port on your keyboard, for example.

Will the D1 work with USB 1.1?
Yes, however, note that 24/96 HD digital audio pushes the limits of USB 1.1 speeds. Due to this it’s highly recommended that you connect to a higher-speed USB 2.0 port.

Is D1 USB input isochronous or asynchronous?
The D1 is asynchronous, which means it controls the data streams timing using it’s own internal clock to minimize jitter.

What is the best USB cable length to use with D1?
The maximum length USB cable you’ll be able to use with good results will vary based on your computer’s USB port, and the type of cable being used. Some USB ports perform better than others, so be sure to try them all.

How do I use the optical input of the D1?
Connect an optical cable and the D1 will sense that an optical input is present and give that input priority. If using D1 with optical outputs from your TV, DVD play, Apple TV, etc you will need an AC USB power adapter (sold separately) to power D1. When using the optical output from your computer, you may power D1 via the computer’s USB power and therefore no external power supply is needed.

Can I use the D1 with an Apple iPhone or iPad?
Yes! You will need an Apple USB camera adapter, and a self powered USB hub. We’ve tested this with the D-link DUB-H4 and DUB-H7, and it works well. Here’s an example of how this would be connected:

phone and tablet w/ USB Camera Adapter –USB-> Powered hub –USB-> D1 –RCA/Mini-> Speakers/Headphones

Can I use the D1 with my Airport Express for even better sounding Airplay?
Absolutely! We’ve had a lot of really good feedback from our customers on this, and its really easy to add to an existing Airplay setup. You can connect your Airport Express into the D1s optical input using a mini-Toslink to Toslink cable to pass a digital signal to the D1. Like other setups without a computer you’ll still need to connect the D1 to a USB connection for power – Either a USB AC adapter like we offer in our accessories, or a nearby USB port capable of delivering a minimum of 500mA. Please note that the USB port on the Airport express is intended only for lower powered or self powered devices (like a printer) and will not reliably power the D1.

Why do I lose system volume control when using the D1 with my computer?
Optical and USB outputs are all digital, so both Windows and Mac OS X will disable the system volume control when they are in use. You can still control the volume directly in iTunes (or any media player), with the front panel volume control on the D1, or with the volume control on your audio system.

Is there an easier way for Mac users to get to System Preferences and the Audio MIDI Setup control panels?
A customer recommended an app called Soundsource – http://rogueamoeba.com/freebies – which is an easy way to switch between audio input and outputs as well as to access System Preferences and the Audio MIDI control panels.

I’m hearing a crackling/popping sound when playing music. What am I doing wrong and how can I fix this?
When issues do crop up in USB audio, this is a common symptom. The PDF linked below outlines the issue and potential causes as well as some common fixes.

View PDF

The D1 is connected to the optical output of my TV but I’m not getting any sound. What can I do?
In your TV menu verify that “PCM STEREO” is selected and “DOLBY DIGITAL” is off.

I’m having trouble using my D1 with Foobar in WASAPI and KS mode. What do I do?
In the Foobar control panel, under Preferences->Output, set the buffer length to minimum. A few customers have mentioned that WASAPI mode is more stable when used under WinAmp, so try that as well.

My D1 occasionally makes a clicking noise during playback. How can I avoid this?
Try removing all other USB devices temporarily, and try each USB port on your computer one at a time to see which one works best in your setup. USB audio needs quite a bit of bandwidth, so for best results ensure your D1 is on a “High-Speed” bus and not a “Full-Speed” bus.