I expect just the title of this post alone to attract some abuse. However, I thought I'd post some thoughts on a recent "upgrade" ... System: Rote RCD-02 CD Player, RA-02 Amp and RB-03 Power Amp, Mission 782SE speakers and a REL Sub. Okay: well, I've always found my CD player to be quite 'forward' sounding and whilst browsing the AVI website I came across their new speakers which incorporate a DAC and amp. I read some of the various links regarding computer audio on their webpage. After some research and reading on the fantastic www.computeraudiophile.com website I went out and bought a Mac Mini, 500GB external hard drive and a KingRex UD-01 USB DAC. Ripping CDs to the hard disk in lossless format, with error correction enabled, ensures a bit perfect audio file on your hard disk. And I understand that by using USB to output a digital stream into the DAC I am eliminating jitter (I think). In testing, using Apples 'Front Row' software to browse through my albums on my Panasonic Plasma is just great. But Im more impressed with the sound. Where my Rotel made some, particularly electronic based music, quite forward and in some cases harsh, this combination makes listening a pleasure. I've also found that since the first time listening the sound seems to be improving as the DAC runs in. I've made some direct comparisons with the CD player, flicking between the two, and whilst on some tracks its close, I'd say the Mini Mac / DAC combo is pretty much winning every time - it has a more analogue sound. The DAC is available for less than £150. It makes me wonder where I could go from here so I'll probably start saving for something better shortly. Anyhow - any thoughts ?? A What HiFi test would be great - there are a fair few DACs out there at various price points. Using a Mac is better than PC though - - - as I understand that Windows plays with sound a little. Matt.
Computer HiFi
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[quote user="Schbeemb"]But Im more impressed with the sound. Where my Rotel made some, particularly
electronic based music, quite forward and in some cases harsh, this combination
makes listening a pleasure.[/quote]Same experience here. Used to play cds with midpriced marantz gear...sounded simply awful with my sennheisers HD650 and headamp. Tried the pc as alternative- after some tweaking definately better. After purchasing Macbook pro came another shock- so good I don't feel a need to upgrade. Actually made my haedphone amp -MF X-can v3- virtually redundant.Good to hear from someone with similar experiences!Currently using Tascam/Teac usb144 as an external dac for pc- made a great improvent, noise gone, more detail. Haven't tried the tascam on my macbook yet. Don't need to...don't feel like there's missing anything, no noise, nice tonal balance, massive convenience...besides it needs to stay mobile.Unfortunately, I haven't tried the dac you are using, so I can't compare.According to a german hifi magazine usb external dacs are the best- Aqvox, Reimyo and benchmark are their favorites.The trouble is, as I found out, there's no way to test the more affordable dacs unless you know people who would be so kind to lend you their own.
electronic based music, quite forward and in some cases harsh, this combination
makes listening a pleasure.[/quote]Same experience here. Used to play cds with midpriced marantz gear...sounded simply awful with my sennheisers HD650 and headamp. Tried the pc as alternative- after some tweaking definately better. After purchasing Macbook pro came another shock- so good I don't feel a need to upgrade. Actually made my haedphone amp -MF X-can v3- virtually redundant.Good to hear from someone with similar experiences!Currently using Tascam/Teac usb144 as an external dac for pc- made a great improvent, noise gone, more detail. Haven't tried the tascam on my macbook yet. Don't need to...don't feel like there's missing anything, no noise, nice tonal balance, massive convenience...besides it needs to stay mobile.Unfortunately, I haven't tried the dac you are using, so I can't compare.According to a german hifi magazine usb external dacs are the best- Aqvox, Reimyo and benchmark are their favorites.The trouble is, as I found out, there's no way to test the more affordable dacs unless you know people who would be so kind to lend you their own.
Hi Guys
Great to hear that your both happy with your set up's as I am going to start using my PC as my Hi-FI as I can't afford a seperates set up as I have splashed out on lots new things of late.
Can I just ask what speakers you are using, are you running them straight off the external DAC? Are they powered speakers or are you utilizing a seperate amp.
I'm thinking of buying the Audioengine A2's you see following a number of excellent reviews and their reasonable price (and they will fit on my desk next to my 22" monitor. Would I benefit from an external DAC as the soundcard on my new pc is just an integrated 7.1 thingy!
Also would the Audioengines benefit from a speaker cable upgrade? I would be using 3.5mm headphone jack to connect or if using a DAC maybe RCA inputs?
All very confusing, any advise would be very much appreciated! Many thanks!
Great to hear that your both happy with your set up's as I am going to start using my PC as my Hi-FI as I can't afford a seperates set up as I have splashed out on lots new things of late.
Can I just ask what speakers you are using, are you running them straight off the external DAC? Are they powered speakers or are you utilizing a seperate amp.
I'm thinking of buying the Audioengine A2's you see following a number of excellent reviews and their reasonable price (and they will fit on my desk next to my 22" monitor. Would I benefit from an external DAC as the soundcard on my new pc is just an integrated 7.1 thingy!
Also would the Audioengines benefit from a speaker cable upgrade? I would be using 3.5mm headphone jack to connect or if using a DAC maybe RCA inputs?
All very confusing, any advise would be very much appreciated! Many thanks!
I have just purchased the beresford dac after reading very good things on it.
Some very clever person has made some bit perfect drivers to work with all CMI 8738 chip based soundcards, which means you can now buy a soundcard that produces a bit perfect digital output for around £15.
My Trust SC-5250 soundcard arrives on tuesday so i cant wait to see how this sounds outputting to my beresford dac then into my amp and speakers, it should hopefully be a big improvement from the analogue out from my soundblaster xfi.
I'm particularly interested to see how my bit perfect flac sounds compared to my lossy mp3's
Some very clever person has made some bit perfect drivers to work with all CMI 8738 chip based soundcards, which means you can now buy a soundcard that produces a bit perfect digital output for around £15.
My Trust SC-5250 soundcard arrives on tuesday so i cant wait to see how this sounds outputting to my beresford dac then into my amp and speakers, it should hopefully be a big improvement from the analogue out from my soundblaster xfi.
I'm particularly interested to see how my bit perfect flac sounds compared to my lossy mp3's
You have definately put a fair bit of time planning your set up. Do you have any advice for me. At present I have no kit what so ever other than my Dell PC and all my music in iTunes (Apple Lossless). I want to keep iTunes.
The soundcard on the dell is just the standard one that came with it. integrated 7.1 soundcard according to the spec.
I am on a tight budget hear but I want to get the best possible sound from my iTunes music. Budget is around £200 absolute max! I was going to go for the Audioengine A2 desktop speakers having heard a number of excellent reviews!
The soundcard on the dell is just the standard one that came with it. integrated 7.1 soundcard according to the spec.
I am on a tight budget hear but I want to get the best possible sound from my iTunes music. Budget is around £200 absolute max! I was going to go for the Audioengine A2 desktop speakers having heard a number of excellent reviews!
Alec
Well-known member
[quote user="carl62"]
You have definately put a fair bit of time planning your set up. Do you have any advice for me. At present I have no kit what so ever other than my Dell PC and all my music in iTunes (Apple Lossless). I want to keep iTunes.
The soundcard on the dell is just the standard one that came with it. integrated 7.1 soundcard according to the spec.
I am on a tight budget hear but I want to get the best possible sound from my iTunes music. Budget is around £200 absolute max! I was going to go for the Audioengine A2 desktop speakers having heard a number of excellent reviews!
[/quote]
On that budget that sounds like a reasonable start, unless you want to wait until you can afford more. What model is your Dell? Is it the same as the one in my sig by any chance...? If so, it gives fairly decent sound without a sound card, so you'd be best just getting those speakers, or wait til your budget increases. EDIT - and its probably sigmatel HD sound anyway, so itll be reasonable.
You have definately put a fair bit of time planning your set up. Do you have any advice for me. At present I have no kit what so ever other than my Dell PC and all my music in iTunes (Apple Lossless). I want to keep iTunes.
The soundcard on the dell is just the standard one that came with it. integrated 7.1 soundcard according to the spec.
I am on a tight budget hear but I want to get the best possible sound from my iTunes music. Budget is around £200 absolute max! I was going to go for the Audioengine A2 desktop speakers having heard a number of excellent reviews!
[/quote]
On that budget that sounds like a reasonable start, unless you want to wait until you can afford more. What model is your Dell? Is it the same as the one in my sig by any chance...? If so, it gives fairly decent sound without a sound card, so you'd be best just getting those speakers, or wait til your budget increases. EDIT - and its probably sigmatel HD sound anyway, so itll be reasonable.
Carl if I were you i would be more inclined to spend the £200 on something upgradable.
I dont know much about the audioengine a2's but im sure if youve researched it they will sound good. But if you went the separates route then you will be able to improve your sound year on year.
I was in an exact same position to you several months ago, and bought an arcam alpha 8 integrated amp 2nd hand for ebay, you can pick one up for about £100 and there are other great 2nd hand amps available at somewhere around the £100 mark (dont be put off 2nd hand). I also bought smoe tannoy mercury custom f1 speakers for about £100 and a qed jp2 interconnect which is a good cable from your analogue out on your pc to your amp.
Now i have bought a beresford dac a new optical out soundcard for about £130. It should be another leap in the sound.
Its totally your choice but for that money i think you may be better served going down the separetes route.
I dont know much about the audioengine a2's but im sure if youve researched it they will sound good. But if you went the separates route then you will be able to improve your sound year on year.
I was in an exact same position to you several months ago, and bought an arcam alpha 8 integrated amp 2nd hand for ebay, you can pick one up for about £100 and there are other great 2nd hand amps available at somewhere around the £100 mark (dont be put off 2nd hand). I also bought smoe tannoy mercury custom f1 speakers for about £100 and a qed jp2 interconnect which is a good cable from your analogue out on your pc to your amp.
Now i have bought a beresford dac a new optical out soundcard for about £130. It should be another leap in the sound.
Its totally your choice but for that money i think you may be better served going down the separetes route.
Alec
Well-known member
[quote user="kingnothing83"]
Carl if I were you i would be more inclined to spend the £200 on something upgradable.
I dont know much about the audioengine a2's but im sure if youve researched it they will sound good. But if you went the separates route then you will be able to improve your sound year on year.
I was in an exact same position to you several months ago, and bought an arcam alpha 8 integrated amp 2nd hand for ebay, you can pick one up for about £100 and there are other great 2nd hand amps available at somewhere around the £100 mark (dont be put off 2nd hand). I also bought smoe tannoy mercury custom f1 speakers for about £100 and a qed jp2 interconnect which is a good cable from your analogue out on your pc to your amp.
Now i have bought a beresford dac a new optical out soundcard for about £130. It should be another leap in the sound.
Its totally your choice but for that money i think you may be better served going down the separetes route.
[/quote]
Good call. Tho you would need to keep interconnects and speaker cable very much "budget" to come in on, er, budget. It certainly gives more upgradability tho.
Carl if I were you i would be more inclined to spend the £200 on something upgradable.
I dont know much about the audioengine a2's but im sure if youve researched it they will sound good. But if you went the separates route then you will be able to improve your sound year on year.
I was in an exact same position to you several months ago, and bought an arcam alpha 8 integrated amp 2nd hand for ebay, you can pick one up for about £100 and there are other great 2nd hand amps available at somewhere around the £100 mark (dont be put off 2nd hand). I also bought smoe tannoy mercury custom f1 speakers for about £100 and a qed jp2 interconnect which is a good cable from your analogue out on your pc to your amp.
Now i have bought a beresford dac a new optical out soundcard for about £130. It should be another leap in the sound.
Its totally your choice but for that money i think you may be better served going down the separetes route.
[/quote]
Good call. Tho you would need to keep interconnects and speaker cable very much "budget" to come in on, er, budget. It certainly gives more upgradability tho.
fatboyslimfast
Well-known member
[quote user="carl62"]I am going to start using my PC as my Hi-FI as I can't afford a seperates set up[/quote]
I'm running a cheap (£5 off ebay) sound card out of my XP/iTunes PC using an optical lead into a 2nd hand sony minidisc deck (£30 off ebay a while ago and only using it as a DAC now!). I was amazed at the sound - not far off my Arcam CD, and it means I can use my old wifi PDA as an itunes remote using Salling Clicker software (£15)...
So in total, by spending £50 on kit, I've turned my PC from sounding like a PC, to sounding like a decent hifi cd player (awaits comments/flames!), with a fully-featured remote!
I'm running a cheap (£5 off ebay) sound card out of my XP/iTunes PC using an optical lead into a 2nd hand sony minidisc deck (£30 off ebay a while ago and only using it as a DAC now!). I was amazed at the sound - not far off my Arcam CD, and it means I can use my old wifi PDA as an itunes remote using Salling Clicker software (£15)...
So in total, by spending £50 on kit, I've turned my PC from sounding like a PC, to sounding like a decent hifi cd player (awaits comments/flames!), with a fully-featured remote!
[quote user="fatboyslimfast"][quote user="carl62"]I am going to start using my PC as my Hi-FI as I can't afford a seperates set up[/quote]
I'm running a cheap (£5 off ebay) sound card out of my XP/iTunes PC using an optical lead into a 2nd hand sony minidisc deck (£30 off ebay a while ago and only using it as a DAC now!). I was amazed at the sound - not far off my Arcam CD, and it means I can use my old wifi PDA as an itunes remote using Salling Clicker software (£15)...
So in total, by spending £50 on kit, I've turned my PC from sounding like a PC, to sounding like a decent hifi cd player (awaits comments/flames!), with a fully-featured remote!
[/quote]Though I'm not sure you're willing to lose the convenience of itunes and the remote- here's another tip: download asio4all, foobar or winamp following these install instructions http://www.aqvox.de/Asio-USB-Audio-installation-e.htm and be prepared for another step up in performance.
I'm running a cheap (£5 off ebay) sound card out of my XP/iTunes PC using an optical lead into a 2nd hand sony minidisc deck (£30 off ebay a while ago and only using it as a DAC now!). I was amazed at the sound - not far off my Arcam CD, and it means I can use my old wifi PDA as an itunes remote using Salling Clicker software (£15)...
So in total, by spending £50 on kit, I've turned my PC from sounding like a PC, to sounding like a decent hifi cd player (awaits comments/flames!), with a fully-featured remote!
[/quote]Though I'm not sure you're willing to lose the convenience of itunes and the remote- here's another tip: download asio4all, foobar or winamp following these install instructions http://www.aqvox.de/Asio-USB-Audio-installation-e.htm and be prepared for another step up in performance.
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