How to Connect Your HeadRoom Micro DAC
Connecting Micro DAC to the Micro Headphone Amp
HeadRoom Micro DAC must always be used with a headphone amp to properly drive your headphones with safety and clear authority. The Micro DAC has no volume control ['line-level' output only] and is designed to be used with our Micro Amp, but any amplifier with a line input is 100% compatible. Simply plug a short 'mini-to-mini' interconnect cable between line Output of the Micro DAC and line Input of Micro Amp. Never connect headphones directly to Micro DAC!
Connecting Micro DAC to your Computer
The most convenient, common way to get a high-quality signal out of your computer is via digital USB output. (If you have optical/SPDIF output on your MAC computer, skip to next section.) Simply plug a USB cable into your computer and plug the smaller USB end into rear panel of Micro DAC. In most cases your computer will instantly recognize the Micro DAC, but you'll need to restart your music management program. If your computer does not recognize the DAC, restart the computer; If still not recognized, you will need to check your control panel/audio devices or system preferences/sound output and select ‘USB Audio Codec’ as your default audio device. Make sure to switch the Micro DAC's Digital Input Selector Switch over to ‘USB’ feed.
Connecting Micro DAC to CD/DVD players or computer via Optical/SPDIF Output
You will need an appropriate optical / SPDIF digital interconnect cable. Plug one end of the optical cable into your audio source's Optical Digital Output and connect the other end into the Optical Digital Input on rear of Micro DAC. (Some DVD players may require you to turn on or ''activate'' the optical/SPDIF output.)
On Apple/MAC computers, a digital optical/SPDIF connection is typically housed within the headphone jack or on a dedicated Optical-Out located on computer's side or rear panel. We suggest trying both USB and Optical connection methods to determine which sounds best. Remember to switch the Micro DAC's Digital Input Selector Switch to ‘Optical’.
Connecting Micro DAC to audio component via Coaxial/SPDIF Output. 
You will need a coaxial digital interconnect cable. Plug one end of coaxial cable into your audio component [source] and connect the other end into the Digital Coaxial Input on the back of the Micro DAC. If the coaxial cable is standard size, you will need a 'mini' plug adaptor converting full-size coaxial connector to 'mini' size for the Micro DAC, available here: RCA-Mini Mono adaptor. Remember to switch the Micro DAC's Digital Input Selector Switch to ‘Coaxial’.
Many high-end digital sources now feature a 75 Ohm digital output coaxial connection, typically with a single 'RCA-type' plug. Coaxial is a very high quality connection for digital transmission, but you MUST use a 75 Ohm impedance cable or you'll introduce jitter into the signal. Do not use ordinary [analog] RCA interconnects as they're typically not 75 Ohm.
Connecting Micro DAC to Headphone Amp/Pre-Amp via RCA inputs
If you are using a headphone amp, pre-amp, or power amp providing mini [3.5mm] line input, simply follow instructions from 'Connecting to Micro Headphone Amp' at top of this page. If using a headphone amp/pre-amp offering stereo RCA inputs, then you'll need a 'mini-to-RCA' interconnect cable. Plug the 'mini' plug [male] end into 'Output' of Micro DAC and the RCA plugs into the amp's RCA Input (as always, red ‘R’ denotes right channel).
The Micro DAC and Ultra Micro DAC Manual
