pc to amp help.

[admin_exported]

just got a new pc and was thinking of either

Asus Xonar D2X Soundcard

or

Arcam rPac

what would be better in your opinion?

i have a cambridge audio asur 640a amp

would be willing to buy new amp for improved sound,maybe with built in dac?

thank you.

 

[quadpatch]

Hi Kev,

Well those two options are quite different. The Xonar D2X looks cool and has surround sound, if you need that then it's most likely a good idea to get an internal card unless you just output optical to a decent AV amp. If stereo is all you need and care about then definitely get the rPAC, I can highly recommend that as a portable (with a laptop) headphone amp as well as a DAC, but yeah it will also output an analogue signal from the RCA connectors at the back to a stereo amp to great effect.

It's worth noting that the rPAC doesn't support 24bit 192khz (only up to 24bit 96khz) but I wouldn't let that put you off unless you have a ton of music in the former format. Purely down to quality of DAC the rPAC will win because it's only stereo. I think the Xonar will need at least 4 DAC chips for it's surround output and thus the quality of components in the rPAC will be much better and much more focused (more simple) for stereo quality.

 

[abacus]

You have already started a thread on this subject http://www.whathifi.com/forum/hi-fi/dac-or-sound-card-help-please

 

[Anonymous]

ok,thanks :cheers:

i know,sorry i thouight i'd posted in the wrong area as got no replies.

thx again.

 

[Anonymous]

and no i have no need for surround, just want the best audio from pc to amp.