Number Six
Standard Member
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2010
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Hello
I have a PC that I am looking to upgrade by moving from an internal sound card to using the HDMI output on my graphics card to stream digital audio to an external setup.
I have a Teufel 5.1 Motiv 5 surround sound speaker set, and my intention at the moment is to stream the 5.1 channels digitally through the HDMI output on the graphics card directly to an external DAC. This would include standard PCM streams but also bit-streamed DTS HD-MA and Dolby TrueHD tracks from blu-ray rips. I would then connect the DAC's analogue outputs to the speakers (the subwoofer has a built in amp).
Therefore, a full on AV receiver would be overkill as I do not require any amps nor do I need the unit for anything other than digital to analogue conversion. I do however need the DAC to have components that would at least allow it to match premium PC internal sound cards in terms of sound quality.
Do you have any recommendations in this regard? I am completely new to digital audio streaming, having always used the analogue outputs on a PC sound card to input to my speaker set. PC sound cards often seem to have coaxial or optical digital outputs, but I have never seen anything (from this decade) that includes a HDMI output (obviously necessary for the lossless 5.1 channels). I'd be looking to spend a maximum of £500 on such a unit if it can be justified, although preferably closer to £200-300 if possible.
Thanks!
I have a PC that I am looking to upgrade by moving from an internal sound card to using the HDMI output on my graphics card to stream digital audio to an external setup.
I have a Teufel 5.1 Motiv 5 surround sound speaker set, and my intention at the moment is to stream the 5.1 channels digitally through the HDMI output on the graphics card directly to an external DAC. This would include standard PCM streams but also bit-streamed DTS HD-MA and Dolby TrueHD tracks from blu-ray rips. I would then connect the DAC's analogue outputs to the speakers (the subwoofer has a built in amp).
Therefore, a full on AV receiver would be overkill as I do not require any amps nor do I need the unit for anything other than digital to analogue conversion. I do however need the DAC to have components that would at least allow it to match premium PC internal sound cards in terms of sound quality.
Do you have any recommendations in this regard? I am completely new to digital audio streaming, having always used the analogue outputs on a PC sound card to input to my speaker set. PC sound cards often seem to have coaxial or optical digital outputs, but I have never seen anything (from this decade) that includes a HDMI output (obviously necessary for the lossless 5.1 channels). I'd be looking to spend a maximum of £500 on such a unit if it can be justified, although preferably closer to £200-300 if possible.
Thanks!