computer based music solution

[dcanham001]

Hi all,

As predicted in an earlier post my PC is on it's way out. I am looking to get a new desktop PC to which I will add an amp, DAC and speakers and turn into a computer-based music system. I would be looking to spend around £300 each on an amp, DAC and speakers.

Are there any components that I should be looking for (or avoiding) in my new PC - for example would a soundcard upgrade improve the quality (or do onboard components not have a significant impact after running the music through an amp/DAC combo?

I wouldn't be looking to spend a huge amount upgrading components and around £600 on the actual PC itself (willing to go a bit higher for the right system)

Many thanks

 

[John Duncan]

Does it have to be a PC or is a Mac a possibility?

 

[Messiah]

The AVI ADM 9.1s sound like they would fit the bill nicely. A bit over your component budget and decent stands would be required but you could spend a bit less on the PC.

I would not worry about getting a better soundcard just try to get a PC with optical output (not a major concern if not because you can get an adapter).The only other requirement I would look for is as large a HDD as possible to give you plenty of space to rip your tunes in a lossless format.

 

[dcanham001]

Hi guys, thanks for the replies

JD,

For some reason my partner is against getting a Mac (God knows why but it is mainly her cash we're using to buy the computer as she uses it for work etc.)

What advantages would a Mac offer over a PC?

Messiah,

For some reason I'd not really considered active speakers before, but they'd probably be a good, space saving solution.

It's likely that I will do some of my listening using headphones. With this in mind would it be better to buy separates with my budget or go down the active speaker route (I'm assuming you'd have to plug the headphones into the PC if you have active speakers but plug them into a DAC if I go down the separates route - if so which would give better audio quality)?

Thanks

 

[John Duncan]

dangalf:What advantages would a Mac offer over a PC?

It's an elegant, easy to use, good quality music server out of the box. What it isn't is a business machine (unless your business is design, photography, music making etc). I guess your other half wins...

 

[Messiah]

A Mac is a good idea but is likely to eat up a lot more of your budget.

As far as the headphones are concerned I guess it depends how often you listen to them and the quality you would be happy with. I use a Beresford DAC as this gives me a quality headphone output but to be honest I don't use headphones often.

The AVIs are a great solution and sound excellent and I don't think you could better their sound for the same money. However if headphones are important then you may have to look at other options. If budget allows you could get an external option for the headphones such as the Beresford or headphone amp.

 

[John Duncan]

I was primarily thinking the entry Mac Mini at £649, which is admittedly top of the OP's budget, and was presuming screen and keyboard were pre-existing. Still worth a look though, particularly if you add a copy of windows in bootcamp - two computers for the price of one (well, for the price of two cheap dells really...)

 

[chebby]

JohnDuncan:dangalf:What advantages would a Mac offer over a PC?

It's an elegant, easy to use, good quality music server out of the box. What it isn't is a business machine (unless your business is design, photography, music making etc). I guess your other half wins...

And to quote the ADM9.1's manufacturer from the AVI website's Q&A section...

"Do I have to use an Apple computer with ADM9.1s?

No, you can use anything with an
optical output. Our customers get very good results with a range of
sources, including Sonos, PS3s, Squeezeboxes, set-top boxes, CD/DVD
players, and many other things. However, many make a switch to Apple
computers because the whole family can use them with ease, and because
they are small and quiet enough for a modern living room. Many customers
get results with Windows computers too, but these tend to be IT
professionals."

So if you have a family (and you are not an IT professional) then you are better off with a Mac

 

[John Duncan]

I didn't realise that IT professionals were not Apple's kind of customer...

 

[Anonymous]

Mac's make nice toys for IT pros!

Not sure why OP wuld want to spend £800 on a mac when he doesn't appear to need a lifestyle ifamily experience, merely asomething to serve music.

As for those ADM 9.1s, at £1100 they far exceed the budget, and the OP may like some bass with his music.

You guys just spent £2000!

Cheap PC is fine. Streamer(Sonos, Squeezebox Touch etc,). DAC (Cambridge, MFVdac) hif separates or cheaper powered/active speakers, will produce great sounds.

 

[idc]

Dangalf, I would audition as much as you can, since you are looking for the lot and give the reviews on the site here a good trawl to get a flavour of different products sound.

 

[AlmaataKZ]

Why don't we offer 2-3 sets of configurations with suggestions of specific kit for each, e.g:

Mac based (optical):
computer - any recent mac
dac - ca dacmagic, beresford caiman, arcam rdac, mf v-dac, project dacbox, firestone spitfire, CYP AU-D3 DAC (please continue list of dacs with optical in....)
active speakers - .... (I am not an expert here, please continue list.... one of the recent issues of WHF had a round up)
option - any amp + any passive speakers

Mac based USB:
computer - any mac
dac - ca dacmagic, beresford caiman, arcam rdac, mf v-dac, hrt music streamer, chord chrodette gem (please continue list....)

AVI based:
Computer - any computer with optical out (note only few pcs have optical out but most mac do)
dac, amp, speakers - AVI

PC based (USB):
computer - any PC
dac - ca dacmagic, beresford caiman, arcam rdac, mf v-dac, hrt music streamer, chord chordette gem (please continue list of dacs with USB in....)
active speakers - .... (I am not an expert here, please continue list....)
option - any amp + any passive speakers

PC based (Optical):
computer - only a few pcs have optical out
dac - ca dacmagic, beresford caiman, arca rdac, mf v-dac, project dacbox, firestone spitfire, CYP AU-D3 DAC (please continue list of dacs with optical in....)
active speakers - .... (I am not an expert here, please continue list.... one of the recent issues of WHF had a round up)
option - any amp + any passive speakers

 

[dcanham001]

Morning everyone.

Just like to thanks everyone for their input - it's much appreciated!

Thanks to JD, Chebby and Messiah for the info on Macs and the AVI actives

Thanks to idc and simonclayt for the advice - I will definately be auditioning before I buy

And thanks to AlmaataKZ for the great list of combinations. It made the different options I have a bit clearer and will allow me to build a shortlist for demo purposes.

I have a rough spec for a PC now so will start building a music system soon

 

[Gerrardasnails]

dangalf:
Morning everyone.

Just like to thanks everyone for their input - it's much appreciated!

Thanks to JD, Chebby and Messiah for the info on Macs and the AVI actives

Thanks to idc and simonclayt for the advice - I will definately be auditioning before I buy

And thanks to AlmaataKZ for the great list of combinations. It made the different options I have a bit clearer and will allow me to build a shortlist for demo purposes.

I have a rough spec for a PC now so will start building a music system soon

Is the PC just to be used as a music server with a bit of internet use on the side? Or do you need the PC for work or other interests? I ask because if it's the former and you are planning on using a DAC, I would suggest getting one at the cheapest price and spending the extra on better amp/speakers. The DAC at this level should not need to go above £300 (new Arcam one) and could happily be a Beresford/DacMagic/Spitfire/Music Fidelity...

 

[dcanham001]

I'm only interested in the PC as a music server/bit of internet, however my partner needs to be able to use it for work (mainly microsoft office applications) and wants to be able to play games on it. I have pointed out to her that she rarely plays games and, when she does it tends to be on a console anyway, and that this will add alot to the price of a PC but for some reason she wants it to be able to play the latest game releases.

This is why she's paying for 80% or so of the PC's overall price - all I need is hard drive space!

 

[Alec]

JohnDuncan:I didn't realise that IT professionals were not Apple's kind of customer...

Yes, many generalizations in that quote.

 

[Alec]

A soundcard with an optical out can be had pretty cheaply, and a motherboad with optical out, spare PCI/E and DIMM slots isnt that much either.

You're right, gaming ability could add lots to the price. I just bought a new PC that, i think, would be capable of some basic games, but no more, for just over £600 (tower only). But I'm no gamer.

 

[Anonymous]

Messiah:
The AVI ADM 9.1s sound like they would fit the bill nicely. A bit over your component budget and decent stands would be required but you could spend a bit less on the PC.

I would not worry about getting a better soundcard just try to get a PC with optical output (not a major concern if not because you can get an adapter).The only other requirement I would look for is as large a HDD as possible to give you plenty of space to rip your tunes in a lossless format.

Was interested to know what you mean by 'get an adapter' ?? Do you mean from usb to optical or what ? And if such a thing exists, where would I get one to feed a digital signal to amp so the amp can do the DAC work ?

don't mean to hijack the thread but was intrigued by that statement !! thanks

 

[Messiah]

Yes, from USB to Optical.

Something like THIS.

 

[AL13N]

dangalf:...a computer-based music system. I would be looking to spend around £300 each on an amp, DAC and speakers.

It's likely that I will do some of my listening using headphones.
How about:

Squeezebox Touch £230
1TB HDD £57
Beresford Caiman+ £200
Wharfedale Diamond 8.2 Pro-Active £230
SPDIF Digital Coax Cable 0.25m £13
Male XLR to Phono Cable 3m x2 £27

That's a complete setup for £457 including a quality amp for your cans. And no need for a PC except for ripping and transferring your music to the HDD, so you can setup the system wherever you like (and you're not hogging the PC/broadband connection whilst listening to music).

 

[dcanham001]

Hi ALI3N,

The Squeezebox is an interesting idea but I dont really have anywhere else in the house that I can take my music to. The good thing about having it through the PC is that the PC will be situated in its own room away from the noisier parts of the house

The Beresford Caiman+ seems to come recommended by most people so will have to demo that I think.

Thanks for pointing out the Wharfdales - of all the items in your list I know the least about active speakers.

If anyone has any further recommendations for active speakers please let me know (up to £600 max). I seem to remember an issue testing 4 or 5 pairs of active speakers fairly recently (will have to check my old copies of the mag)

 

[Anonymous]

Just stick 1 of these 2 (£30 or £110) into ur desktop pc, optical out to ur amp

Asus Xonar DS, Xonar ST

[EDITED BY MODS - house rules]

 

[Messiah]

For £600 THESE seem highly recommended.

 

[AL13N]

dangalf:The Squeezebox is an interesting idea but I dont really have anywhere else in the house that I can take my music to. The good thing about having it through the PC is that the PC will be situated in its own room away from the noisier parts of the house
Fair enough. I've amended my post above accordingly.

dangalf:If anyone has any further recommendations for active speakers please let me know (up to £600 max)
How about the Quad 11L Active for £499?

Happy hunting.

 

[Anonymous]

You've asked for a computer based music system, laptop or desktop ? You haven't specified.

Is the Apple based solution a serious suggestion ? If so I'd love to know why, Apple laptops and desktops are expensive, the out of the box software is not the best and very little of the hardware cannot be easily changed (I'm currently typing on a 17inch anti glare MBP with 8Gb DDR3 RAM, 256Mb Corsair C300 and 64Gb Verbatim Expresscard SSD).

Direct optical output from an audio processor via optical output is a good way forward, built in audio processor are very good and will offer up to 7.1 audio but purchasing a dedicated sound cards does make a difference, I've used and been happy with the Asus XONAR and HDAV (the latter was HDMI and the output seemed to be louder). Prior to Asus I'd used Turtle Beach and Yamaha, again both good.

For me I used to aim for the best quality sound I could get (very high end dedicated Hifi to compliment a 7.1 cinema system) but eventually I built a Shuttle P45 H7 (£180 for barebones from eBay), added 2Gb RAM, 2.66Ghz Wolfdale Intel processor, LG BD/HD DVD drive, 2 x PBJ22 256Gb SSD's and an ATI 5670). The Shuttle connects to the AV receiver via HDMI and the dedicated Hifi has gone. Overall I'm fairly happy with the compromise of space saving and reasonable quality output.