Dave A Posted October 7, 2021 Share Posted October 7, 2021 I am getting ready to attend an event with my S-MWM's. While getting ready it was my intent to take the laptop and use it for my music server as I do with my workstation PC with stellar results. Made sure all settings were the same between the two and that the Realtek driver was hi-def and up to date. Side by side the laptop could not be made to sound as good as the PC so I am having to rethink simpler is better. I still have a minimal setup but even though both are Dells and both are the Precision line they did not sound the same. As time has run out the only thing I can think of is sometimes when running on battery power things do not do as well as when run off an outlet. I will try that and report on what I find but for now I am left wondering what exact thing caused the fidelity difference. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The History Kid Posted October 7, 2021 Share Posted October 7, 2021 Most of that will have to do with the power supply unit of the PC, and the proximity of the pre section in the PC to the rest of the topography of the other components (including how good the shielding is). My Dell computers were terrible with noise, mostly because the motherboards in them are just standard breadbox boards that aren't really built with anything other than cost cutting in mind. When I moved to a custom build with my MSI board, there was still noise until I swapped out the power cable with just a little bit better quality one. In addition, heat can cause significant problems with components in PCs. You will see degradation over time. Laptops almost always will run hotter than desktops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEH Synergy Posted October 7, 2021 Share Posted October 7, 2021 Try proper gain staging on laptop. Bypass windows internal mixer OR turn the output down to 60% to 75% max. Turn off all effects. Try running ASIO4ALL plug in and use it in something like Foobar or Jriver as your media player if not streaking HD source. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Smith Posted October 7, 2021 Share Posted October 7, 2021 I'm attending an event soon too and threw together an audio laptop using an old piece of kit that's been sitting on the shelf. I'll be curious to see if anyone can discern a quality difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godataloss Posted October 7, 2021 Share Posted October 7, 2021 Are you running analog output from the laptop to your amp? A small external dac like a Dragonfly would be far better. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEH Synergy Posted October 7, 2021 Share Posted October 7, 2021 4 minutes ago, Godataloss said: small external dac like a Dragonfly would be far better. Yes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjimbo Posted October 7, 2021 Share Posted October 7, 2021 Dave, are you using any kind of DAC on the output of the laptop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjimbo Posted October 7, 2021 Share Posted October 7, 2021 Looks like a couple of us had the same idea at the same time..... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark1101 Posted October 7, 2021 Share Posted October 7, 2021 I never use the analog output of a PC or laptop. I only use the various digital outs and it sounds much better using an outboard DAC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEH Synergy Posted October 7, 2021 Share Posted October 7, 2021 20 minutes ago, mark1101 said: never use the analog output of a PC or laptop. I only use the various digital outs and it sounds much better using an outboard DAC. Absolutely. Topping makes some excellent affordable DACs or aa mentioned above, audioquest has their portable Dacs which are supposed to be quite good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjimbo Posted October 7, 2021 Share Posted October 7, 2021 35 minutes ago, Westcoastdrums said: Absolutely. Topping makes some excellent affordable DACs or aa mentioned above, audioquest has their portable Dacs which are supposed to be quite good. The AQ Dragonfly Red is excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEH Synergy Posted October 7, 2021 Share Posted October 7, 2021 7 minutes ago, jimjimbo said: The AQ Dragonfly Red is excellent. That's what I hear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted October 7, 2021 Share Posted October 7, 2021 I admit I have never used any of the high end DACs, but have used various Presonus/Behringer/Tascam usb audio interfaces. I mostly use them to get audio into a computer, but have found they all work nicely as output devices, too. I have no idea how much better the standalone DACs are, but judging from the pricing they SHOULD be way better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEH Synergy Posted October 7, 2021 Share Posted October 7, 2021 10 minutes ago, Marvel said: judging from the pricing they SHOULD be way better. You don't need an expensive DAC to realize the difference. I just sold topping DX7 PRO DAC in here for $450 and that is a very nice sounding DAC. Yes, there is definitely a difference. However, diminishing returns coem quickly as prices climb. Also, your system may have a weakest link that may be a limiting factor for the DAC. Just me 2 cents after playing with several DACs on different systems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geezin' Posted October 7, 2021 Share Posted October 7, 2021 I have a late '09 iMac playing through a Schiit Modi 3+. Sounds great to me. I did go into Audio MIDI and adjust output to 24/96 as that's the highest resolution it offers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted October 7, 2021 Share Posted October 7, 2021 Well, y'all would probably laugh at my stuff strung together. The interfaces I use start at $100, and that's for 2 in/2 out and usb into the computer, line and headphone outs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEH Synergy Posted October 7, 2021 Share Posted October 7, 2021 1 hour ago, Marvel said: Well, y'all would probably laugh at my stuff strung together. The interfaces I use start at $100, and that's for 2 in/2 out and usb into the computer, line and headphone outs. No laughing, time for the push to upgrade to a dedicated DAC is all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Racer X Posted October 7, 2021 Share Posted October 7, 2021 Very happy with Topping E30 DAC. Best $150 I've spent. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEH Synergy Posted October 7, 2021 Share Posted October 7, 2021 Just now, Racer X said: Very happy with Topping E30 DAC. Best $150 I've spent. That's exactly the affordable model I had in mind. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Racer X Posted October 7, 2021 Share Posted October 7, 2021 The person that tipped me to the Topping E30 told me for him it was better than the Dragonfly Red. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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