Oh I don't know. All these noisy bluddy PCs running amok everywhere with rip snortin' picture cards and crazeee ass soundin' sound cards. I don't know.
I currently plug my sound card straight into my M audio AV40, there active, do you think i'll evan get better sound with my new set up? (Marantz , Dali Lektors)
I'm going to really consider getting a good dac, a usb one. Does anyone know how they work with another sound card? Is it easy to switch between the dac and the soundcard?
I'm going to really consider getting a good dac, a usb one. Does anyone know how they work with another sound card? Is it easy to switch between the dac and the soundcard?
Well I have been looking for myself re quietening the computer and the noise is mostly emenating from your psu but the good news...you can purchase extremely quiet psu's here is the one I am looking at http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?HYP-4S425. I don't know if you are a pc gamer if you are you might want to look at a higher wattage but that would appear to resolve the noise problem
Stevie_Blaze:
lol nope no PS3 : ( just my pc!
Is there a better way to conect my PC to the amp than 3.5 to RCA cable? Baring in mind the Marantz has no spdif or anything.
Doesn't your Asus Xonar sound card have a pair of phono sockets so you can use interconnects to the amp?
lol nope no PS3 : ( just my pc!
Is there a better way to conect my PC to the amp than 3.5 to RCA cable? Baring in mind the Marantz has no spdif or anything.
Doesn't your Asus Xonar sound card have a pair of phono sockets so you can use interconnects to the amp?
Stevie_Blaze:
I'm going to really consider getting a good dac, a usb one. Does anyone know how they work with another sound card? Is it easy to switch between the dac and the soundcard?
When you use DAC over USB, the DAC essentially becomes a soundcard and the integrated soundcard in your comp becomes inactive (I personally disable it completely to make sure, too). Once you remove the USB, the computer goes back to using the soundcard for sound output.
If you however use optical out, then sound has to go through your soundcard.
I'm going to really consider getting a good dac, a usb one. Does anyone know how they work with another sound card? Is it easy to switch between the dac and the soundcard?
When you use DAC over USB, the DAC essentially becomes a soundcard and the integrated soundcard in your comp becomes inactive (I personally disable it completely to make sure, too). Once you remove the USB, the computer goes back to using the soundcard for sound output.
If you however use optical out, then sound has to go through your soundcard.
I have NOT used a CD player for a couple of years now, but I have Apple Computers which actually sound pretty good, so you have to make sure that the DAC you're considering is better, but Windows Computers are different and always sound horrid, even expensive ones like the Sony Vaio IMO.
However there is an inexpensive solution that is far better than you'd believe possible. It's an M-Audio Transit for £50 from Dolphin Music. It's about the size of a pack of twenty cigarettes and also has an A to D in it so you can digitise old vinyl or whatever as well. And if you even want a better DAC, you've got a good reference to compare it with and an optical output that most PCs don't have.
Otherwise I wouldn't bother with a USB DAC because it ties you to an ugly noisy and clumsy PC. Optical Digital is universal now and has the advantage of avoiding electrical connection between computer chassis and delicate hi fi.
Ash
However there is an inexpensive solution that is far better than you'd believe possible. It's an M-Audio Transit for £50 from Dolphin Music. It's about the size of a pack of twenty cigarettes and also has an A to D in it so you can digitise old vinyl or whatever as well. And if you even want a better DAC, you've got a good reference to compare it with and an optical output that most PCs don't have.
Otherwise I wouldn't bother with a USB DAC because it ties you to an ugly noisy and clumsy PC. Optical Digital is universal now and has the advantage of avoiding electrical connection between computer chassis and delicate hi fi.
Ash
Ashley James:.....Windows Computers are different and always sound horrid, even expensive ones like the Sony Vaio IMO.
I beg to differ. Windows computers sound no different than Macs when output is via USB- and computer price has absolutely nothing to do with sound quality. It is very easy to get to bit-perfect output on a PC. I am surprised such as statement comes from somebody in the trade.
I beg to differ. Windows computers sound no different than Macs when output is via USB- and computer price has absolutely nothing to do with sound quality. It is very easy to get to bit-perfect output on a PC. I am surprised such as statement comes from somebody in the trade.
In my opinion the analogue output of my Mac Mini is surprisingly okay, whereas my Windows laptop is horrible.
The digitial outputs are potentially the same, but with a Mac the optical input is built-in and will support upto 24/96, bit perfect, and out of the box.
With a Windows machine you often have to experiment with drivers and use specialist software.
iTunes on Mac is bit perfect and can be controlled by iTouch, etc. It's a nice solution when fed into a high-end DAC.
The digitial outputs are potentially the same, but with a Mac the optical input is built-in and will support upto 24/96, bit perfect, and out of the box.
With a Windows machine you often have to experiment with drivers and use specialist software.
iTunes on Mac is bit perfect and can be controlled by iTouch, etc. It's a nice solution when fed into a high-end DAC.
Ok so i can tke the optical out of my xonar and plug it into the optical in on something like the CA dac and then take the RCA out from the dac into my amp?
Will the xonar not colour the sound in any way? And would this give me higher quality over pluging it via usb?
Cheers for all the help guy
Hifi nubie - Many thanks for link to quiet psu however most of the noise from my pc comes from the 8 case fans and the gfx card (geforce 280GTX)
Will the xonar not colour the sound in any way? And would this give me higher quality over pluging it via usb?
Cheers for all the help guy
Hifi nubie - Many thanks for link to quiet psu however most of the noise from my pc comes from the 8 case fans and the gfx card (geforce 280GTX)
I'm not sure what a Xonar is.
Which operating system and music software do you use?
What is the bitrate and format of your music?
Which operating system and music software do you use?
What is the bitrate and format of your music?
An Xonar DX is a sound card - Here is a link to the specs http://techreport.com/articles.x/14500
I use windows vista and xp and mostly use itunes to play apple lossless format, however i do sometimes play flac using vlc player
I use windows vista and xp and mostly use itunes to play apple lossless format, however i do sometimes play flac using vlc player
You can take an optical lead into a DAC Magic and it will sound fine.
However, it is likely that the sound will not be "bit perfect" as Windows resamples the audio.
This may not matter really. You could install Foobar2000 and ASIO drivers to see if the difference is audible to you.
Make sure iTunes volume is 100% and that any EQ etc is switched off.
I believe Richer Sounds operate a returns policy so you could try the DAC Magic like a home demo.
However, it is likely that the sound will not be "bit perfect" as Windows resamples the audio.
This may not matter really. You could install Foobar2000 and ASIO drivers to see if the difference is audible to you.
Make sure iTunes volume is 100% and that any EQ etc is switched off.
I believe Richer Sounds operate a returns policy so you could try the DAC Magic like a home demo.
heystak:Stevie_Blaze:
lol nope no PS3 : ( just my pc!
Is there a better way to conect my PC to the amp than 3.5 to RCA cable? Baring in mind the Marantz has no spdif or anything.
Doesn't your Asus Xonar sound card have a pair of phono sockets so you can use interconnects to the amp?
No i only have the DX that has only 3.5 out i belive.
lol nope no PS3 : ( just my pc!
Is there a better way to conect my PC to the amp than 3.5 to RCA cable? Baring in mind the Marantz has no spdif or anything.
Doesn't your Asus Xonar sound card have a pair of phono sockets so you can use interconnects to the amp?
No i only have the DX that has only 3.5 out i belive.
Eddie Pound:
You can take an optical lead into a DAC Magic and it will sound fine.
However, it is likely that the sound will not be "bit perfect" as Windows resamples the audio.
This may not matter really. You could install Foobar2000 and ASIO drivers to see if the difference is audible to you.
Make sure iTunes volume is 100% and that any EQ etc is switched off.
I believe Richer Sounds operate a returns policy so you could try the DAC Magic like a home demo.
Ok cheers for your help eddie. Just one last question, will the dac be ok with me inputing optical and wanting to output only via rca?
You can take an optical lead into a DAC Magic and it will sound fine.
However, it is likely that the sound will not be "bit perfect" as Windows resamples the audio.
This may not matter really. You could install Foobar2000 and ASIO drivers to see if the difference is audible to you.
Make sure iTunes volume is 100% and that any EQ etc is switched off.
I believe Richer Sounds operate a returns policy so you could try the DAC Magic like a home demo.
Ok cheers for your help eddie. Just one last question, will the dac be ok with me inputing optical and wanting to output only via rca?
Blazer,
Optical in, and RCA out, is exactly the right way to incorporate a DAC.
Is there a Richer Sounds in your part of the country?
Optical in, and RCA out, is exactly the right way to incorporate a DAC.
Is there a Richer Sounds in your part of the country?
idc:I would go with a computer because I have been told you can see mufty on a computer, but I never saw any on my CD player.
LOL!
What be this mythical Mufti creature?
LOL!
What be this mythical Mufti creature?
My 2p would be just buy a CD player.
i've been lookin on ebay for one to replace my DVD player on my third system and there's loads for £20-£30 up to 10 years old (cambridge, NAD, marantz). FOr this money why not? At least you can listen to music with no background noise.
When I was a student I had a PC and a dedicated HiFi (NAD/Mission) and yes MP3s had been invented then!
i've been lookin on ebay for one to replace my DVD player on my third system and there's loads for £20-£30 up to 10 years old (cambridge, NAD, marantz). FOr this money why not? At least you can listen to music with no background noise.
When I was a student I had a PC and a dedicated HiFi (NAD/Mission) and yes MP3s had been invented then!
The point was raised earlier though that if Steve has the computer on a lot, then the noise will be there regardless. Steve I do think you should go into your local computer shop and find out what a difference a more expensive PSU will make. You mention about having x amount of fans but don't forget the fans found in the psu. It sounds like you are a hardcore gamer to so obviously you need all of those fans lol.
Eddie - The nearist richer sounds to me is in Sheffield, about an hours train ride away, why do you ask?
Hifi Newbie - I'll look into a new psu its just my current one cost over £80 so i am reluctent to replace it. I only live in one room but it is a large one so i can put the pc at one end and listen to my hifi at the other, hopefully this wont be too bad, i also have control over the speed of my fans, when put to there lowest rpm its not too bad, i just couldn't do anything demanding with the pc while listing to my music.
I think i'm going to go with a DAC over a cd player as i rarly listen to a full album all the way through any more. Is the CA dacmaigic the best one to go for? So i'll be able to hook the dac up over the optical out on my xonar and it will work fine?
Hifi Newbie - I'll look into a new psu its just my current one cost over £80 so i am reluctent to replace it. I only live in one room but it is a large one so i can put the pc at one end and listen to my hifi at the other, hopefully this wont be too bad, i also have control over the speed of my fans, when put to there lowest rpm its not too bad, i just couldn't do anything demanding with the pc while listing to my music.
I think i'm going to go with a DAC over a cd player as i rarly listen to a full album all the way through any more. Is the CA dacmaigic the best one to go for? So i'll be able to hook the dac up over the optical out on my xonar and it will work fine?
chainrock:
Ashley James:.....Windows Computers are different and always sound horrid, even expensive ones like the Sony Vaio IMO.
I beg to differ. Windows computers sound no different than Macs when output is via USB- and computer price has absolutely nothing to do with sound quality. It is very easy to get to bit-perfect output on a PC. I am surprised such as statement comes from somebody in the trade.
Sorry - Just to clarify
The analogue output from Apple Computers sounds surprisingly good, but it doesn't from any Windows PCs in my experience. However I agree that with the exception of the known problems with XP, the digital output from either Mac or Windows should be the same.
Ash
Ashley James:.....Windows Computers are different and always sound horrid, even expensive ones like the Sony Vaio IMO.
I beg to differ. Windows computers sound no different than Macs when output is via USB- and computer price has absolutely nothing to do with sound quality. It is very easy to get to bit-perfect output on a PC. I am surprised such as statement comes from somebody in the trade.
Sorry - Just to clarify
The analogue output from Apple Computers sounds surprisingly good, but it doesn't from any Windows PCs in my experience. However I agree that with the exception of the known problems with XP, the digital output from either Mac or Windows should be the same.
Ash
Did you say 8 fans in your PC? Does it do vertical take offs too?
I'm inclined to go with consensus here and suggest you don't go the CD route if your PC is on most of the time.
You should as you've said try to get the PC located where it's noise will be less intrusive. Behind a chair, in a ventilated cupboard.....something like that.
Check out SilentPCReview for quietening ideas. A few days of intensive research on that site and I now have a machine that makes less mechanical noise playing FLAC files than my CD player transport makes.
If you're considering the Cambridge DACMagicit looks like you have at least £250 to spemd on this project. If the £250 is near the top of your budget I'd definitely suggest buying the cheaper Beresford TC7510 for £110 or so. The rest of the budget can be put towards quietening that PC.
You suggested you have fan voltage or fast switching controls to slow them down which is a good start. Maybe you could replace the noisiest fans with quieter ones at the same air flow, and possibly go passive on processor and graphics cooling. This could be problematic on a hardcore games machine though given the heat you might need to dissipate. The Enermax 82 PSU range is well liked. Though they cost a fair bit more than the £30 one linked to earlier. Consider how you might mount your hard drive better too. Possibly silent rails in a 5.25 bay or rubber gromets or even a DIY solution suspending it in the air via a few good elastic bands.
I'm inclined to go with consensus here and suggest you don't go the CD route if your PC is on most of the time.
You should as you've said try to get the PC located where it's noise will be less intrusive. Behind a chair, in a ventilated cupboard.....something like that.
Check out SilentPCReview for quietening ideas. A few days of intensive research on that site and I now have a machine that makes less mechanical noise playing FLAC files than my CD player transport makes.
If you're considering the Cambridge DACMagicit looks like you have at least £250 to spemd on this project. If the £250 is near the top of your budget I'd definitely suggest buying the cheaper Beresford TC7510 for £110 or so. The rest of the budget can be put towards quietening that PC.
You suggested you have fan voltage or fast switching controls to slow them down which is a good start. Maybe you could replace the noisiest fans with quieter ones at the same air flow, and possibly go passive on processor and graphics cooling. This could be problematic on a hardcore games machine though given the heat you might need to dissipate. The Enermax 82 PSU range is well liked. Though they cost a fair bit more than the £30 one linked to earlier. Consider how you might mount your hard drive better too. Possibly silent rails in a 5.25 bay or rubber gromets or even a DIY solution suspending it in the air via a few good elastic bands.
I "designed" (ahem) my latest PC to be very quiet (quiet Hdd, "silent" PSU, quiet case and CPU fans) its not hard as most of the decent fan companies offer quiet alternatives.
A few quiet fans would cost about £20-£30 max and would be beneficial i'm sure. They are a doddle to fit, bar perhaps the CPU fan which can be a pain.
Placement of the PC helps too, try to put it on the floor behind something...
A few quiet fans would cost about £20-£30 max and would be beneficial i'm sure. They are a doddle to fit, bar perhaps the CPU fan which can be a pain.
Placement of the PC helps too, try to put it on the floor behind something...
Or invest in an Airport Express, put the pc in another room and use one of those netbooks as a remote.
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