mr_seanstanley
Established Member
Hi all,
Currently I am running most of my music from a computer in .wav format.
Now, my CDP sounds better (as you would expect) but the computer is so much easier to get to and I dont have cds laying about all over the place. What I want to achieve is a similar quality of sound from my computer.
My computer is situated about 3-4m (including the corners needed to keep the wires out of the way) from the electronics of my hifi. I dont have a PCI slot spare in my computer so I'm currently using a SoundBlaster audigy NX USB sound card, connected up with cables costing many times what it cost me in the first place (the were just surplus, does look silly though.) This is sat on top of my hifi rack with a long USB lead connecting it to the computer. Other gear is listed in my sig.
That I can see there are two paths to getting better sound.
1) New sound card. This must be USB which limits the choice, so far I've seen
http://www.russandrews.com/lookup/1...uct-Pro-HiFi-Link-External-Soundcard-4700.htm
Which appears brilliant on the surface but is actually made by xitel and a model with no digital output can be had for $50 from the us Amazon. So maybe not so great...also all the blurb for the pro model seems to go on about is the fact you can connect it to an a/v amp and use the internal dacs in that to make your music sound good. Kind of an expensive way of adding a digital out to your computer I feel.
The other is from m-audio
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/AudiophileUSB-main.html
This is based on a highly respected card with outstanding reviews but comes with a raft of features Im not really bothered about. Cost for this one seems to be about £110 delivered.
2) Dac. I like this idea a little better. My budget is around £100 for this and Ive been looking at (and stuck a lowish bid on a second hand one) on the Derek shek nos dacs on eBay. I have a digital coax out on the audigy which I can use. The supposed sound characteristics also appeal to me in that my cdp can tend to a slightly harsh/brittle treble at times, a mismatch with the amps for sure but it was originally bought for a partnership with a now deceased sugden a21a.
Over to you guys/gals. Any ideas on this welcome. Looking through Derek sheks feedback I saw a familiar name (londondecca Im very much looking forward to hearing from you).
Cheers in advance
Currently I am running most of my music from a computer in .wav format.
Now, my CDP sounds better (as you would expect) but the computer is so much easier to get to and I dont have cds laying about all over the place. What I want to achieve is a similar quality of sound from my computer.
My computer is situated about 3-4m (including the corners needed to keep the wires out of the way) from the electronics of my hifi. I dont have a PCI slot spare in my computer so I'm currently using a SoundBlaster audigy NX USB sound card, connected up with cables costing many times what it cost me in the first place (the were just surplus, does look silly though.) This is sat on top of my hifi rack with a long USB lead connecting it to the computer. Other gear is listed in my sig.
That I can see there are two paths to getting better sound.
1) New sound card. This must be USB which limits the choice, so far I've seen
http://www.russandrews.com/lookup/1...uct-Pro-HiFi-Link-External-Soundcard-4700.htm
Which appears brilliant on the surface but is actually made by xitel and a model with no digital output can be had for $50 from the us Amazon. So maybe not so great...also all the blurb for the pro model seems to go on about is the fact you can connect it to an a/v amp and use the internal dacs in that to make your music sound good. Kind of an expensive way of adding a digital out to your computer I feel.
The other is from m-audio
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/AudiophileUSB-main.html
This is based on a highly respected card with outstanding reviews but comes with a raft of features Im not really bothered about. Cost for this one seems to be about £110 delivered.
2) Dac. I like this idea a little better. My budget is around £100 for this and Ive been looking at (and stuck a lowish bid on a second hand one) on the Derek shek nos dacs on eBay. I have a digital coax out on the audigy which I can use. The supposed sound characteristics also appeal to me in that my cdp can tend to a slightly harsh/brittle treble at times, a mismatch with the amps for sure but it was originally bought for a partnership with a now deceased sugden a21a.
Over to you guys/gals. Any ideas on this welcome. Looking through Derek sheks feedback I saw a familiar name (londondecca Im very much looking forward to hearing from you).
Cheers in advance