Instruction: Answer the given question by extracting information from the supporting document.

Input:
Question: So this has to plug directly into your amplifier?  That's what the manual shows. I run my DAC to my preamp!
Document: Using the digital in jacks, you can bring in optical, coaxial, or USB digital streams, then use this device to convert the stream to analog, and then finally output the analog stereo data through XLR or RCA jacks on the back, or the full sized headphone jack on the front. So you can bring digital signals from your computer using the USB port or, if available, the digital audio output such as on many Macs. Or you can bring digital signals from a stereo component CD player or other digital playback device.So, for example, you can take a CD player's digital output, bring it into the Teac, and then output the analog signal to your preamplifier (you can't go directly to an amplifier, as there is no volume control for the RCA/XLR jacks - only for the headphone output).
Firstly the Teac DAC is a solidly built piece of equipment. It must weigh 10 pounds, though I haven't put it on the scale! The unit has a nice look to it, which is nice as it doesn't seem out of place with the rest of my equipment.This is my first DAC and I will admit I am new to them. The manual was clear and concise, I was up and running with the Teac in under 15 minutes.Its inputs are USB, coax and optical. On the output side it has RCA and balance XLR.The difference in sound quality from my digital sources to my audio equipment with the Teac in the chain is astounding when doing an a/b comparison without it.
This is my first DAC. I primarily listen to LPs (vinyl), so I was interested in comparing analog reproduction to the best digital technology.The unit feels quite hefty and is beautifully finished - the rack mount handles look sharp. The knobs feel very solid. It comes with a cheap RCA cable and an instruction manual.I attached the unit to my Mac with a USB cable, set the input selector to "USB" (the Teac takes a few seconds to confirm that you have plugged something into your selected input), and downloaded the "DSD 128 5.6448Mbit/s" files from the 2L website.
Nothing much to add beyond what others have said, but every vote counts when you're buying without hearing, right?I've listened to this DAC through headphones (Senheizer HD-600) and, more typically, through a TEAC AX-501 amplifier feeding Dynaudio X-12 speakers. *  It's a fantastic DAC, but I'd scrutinize the specs and reviews of the UD-301 and clearance-priced UD-01 before calling it a great deal. I haven't heard those myself, but the architecture seems identical. *  Sound is definitely "weighty," not as much in the highs as some DACs I've heard (makes me think of the musicians in a carpeted room, in effect).
They are different kinds of devices - I'm just comparing the DAC quality of both products.I am running this on an iMac and playing music files on JRiver (though iTunes would work as well). The DAC is hooked up via USB because that is the only port that supports all file types and resolutions. Then I have XLR cables run to M-Audio BX8A monitors + Sub. I have been ripping CDs with XLD - a free program that can be downloaded. It verifies that the rips are correct, and seems to do a better job than iTunes in this regard.
So, for the past six months, one can now get further improvements in its sound for only $70 more when ordering. This shows that they recognize the importance of analog engineering in any digital audio equipment.It's also worth noting that in 2014, it may not be necessary to own a DAC that can decode every possible type of digital audio. When using the Schiit Audio DAC, I used Jriver's excellent MC19 software to convert DXD (i.e. 352.8 PCM), DSD-64 and DSD-128 to 176.4 PCM, on the fly.
Teac's UD-501-B is simply an astounding DAC. I have it paired with a Teac AI-501DA amplifier (which is just superb) and Bowers & Wilkins CM5 speakers. Running JRiver on Windows 8.1 the Teac sounds incredible however it is fed.Right now I am switching between JRiver upsampling material to DSD 2x output (5.6k) using the FIR2 filter (in the Teac) and having the Teac upsample everything to PCM using the SLOW filter. Both are superb.I find myself going through my library with repeated delight as I experience the Teac redefining everything I've ever listened to, revealing a new, refined structure, clarity, and &#34;airiness&#34; to the recording.
The TEAC Dual Monaural D/A Converter is one of four components comprising the 501 series. They are designed from the ground up to interconnect, acting synergistically to create even better sound. I am lucky enough to own the TEAC HA-501 Dual Monaural Headphone Amplifier which I connected via balanced XLR connectors to the DAC. I used several different headphones, including Sennheiser HD800s, Audeze LCD-3s and Hi-Fi MAN HE-500s, all top-flight audiophile phones for the best possible sound. For my PC source I used an Origin i7-4930MX, fully configured and connected via USB to the TEAC DAC.
Background:  I've been listening critically to music using audiophile and pro gear for over four decades. Lately, I've been investigating headphones, as well as digital equipment that doesn't have the &#34;cold hard&#34; sound usually associated with digital audio.Equipment for this review:  MrSpeakers Alpha Dog headphones (a new design using 3D printed earcups), Kenwood M2A power amplifier, Jriver MC19 Windows music player.Compared to:  Schiit Audio Bifrost DAC with Uber analog card and 2nd Gen USB card  http://www.amazon.com/Bifrost-Uber-Digital-Analog-Convertor/dp/B00DV38SZM/Features:  I definitely like the robust and heavy construction of the UD-501 - it has the same feel of gear you find in a pro recording studio.
Why you would do this is simple - most inexpensive CD players skimp on the DA converter. And this is a high-end audiophile DA converter. This is therefore a quick way to upgrade your CD player. Similarly, if you take your USB computer output and put it through the Teac DAC before heading off to your powered speakers, you'll undoubtedly have a superior DAC than the one built in to your computer (which is the one used if you hook your speakers directly to the headphone jack on the computer).So why did we lose a star given the excellence of the actual DA Converter present here, the high end audiophile build quality, and the overall sound quality evident in the output?
Answer: No. It is connected to the computer via USB. It connects to your audio system via RCA or XLR outputs depending upon the capabilities of your audio component(s). If you are using a preamp/power amp setup, the output will, of course, be directed to the preamp.