Advice on streaming please

[geordie777]

Hi I would appreciate some advice please.

I have a PC upstairs and I want to improve the sound I get from it so I thought maybe a Dacmagic linked up to some speakers I already have would do the trick but

A. Would I need a new amp or would a Dacmagic Plus do the job.

B. if I wanted to stream the music downstairs to my hifi ie. using something like Airport Express would I need another Dac to play the music through my old technics system.

Thanks

 

[John Duncan]

A. Depends what the amp is - can you tell us what you've got?

B. You wouldn't *need* a DAC as the AEX has an audio out, it's just a bit average. Adding a DAC would improve the sound, but it might not be worth it depending on the quality of the Technics system.

 

[geordie777]

Sorry do not have an amp upstairs just the pc so would I need an amp as well. Thought Dacmagic plus had integrated amp.

Also technic system is 20 years old so no USB for the airport express anyway.

Thanks

 

[John Duncan]

No it has a built in headphone amp but it wouldn't power speakers. For that you'd be better looking at something like an Onkyo tx-8050.

As for the airport express, it has a headphone socket-style audio out so would plug in to the Technic fine; I wouldn't worry about an external DAC for it in the first instance.

 

[geordie777]

Thanks that's a great help.