Gilbert Posted September 20 Share Posted September 20 I'll be ordering a new PC within the next week or two at most. I'm buying it though a company called Maingear, I should probably ask their advice, but I'll start here. My question is, what's the best way (considering sound quality) to send the music signal to my external speakers. The source will either be my hardrive (95%) or internal CD drive (10%). I'm thinking a good quality soundcard, but are there other, better, options? 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted September 20 Share Posted September 20 At work I use a Presonus Audio Box 96 USB audio interface that has a headphone ot that works pretty well driving phone plus line our to an amp driving speakers. I haven't installed any drivers as it is class compliant and running Linux mint. There's extra stuff for recording, but I haven't used it for that. IT'S also usb powered. $100 I'm sure there are many DACs people will/could recommend. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuzzzer Posted September 20 Share Posted September 20 Pretty much any external USB DAC would be the way to go. I think a lot of forum members use ones from Schiit Audio. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilbert Posted October 5 Author Share Posted October 5 Thank you guys.... new PC ordered, should be shipping in a couple weeks. Only OS available for me was Windows 11, with the option to configure to emulate 10, but decided to evolve and go with 11, that little voice in my head must have been my inner Darwin that kicked-in. Don't like having to learn a new OS, supposedly not that much different and their still trying to emulate Apple OS. I survive switching from apple phone to android, so this too shall pass. Still researching external DAC's, thanks for the recommendation Bruce will investigate the offerings from Focusrite. The chief purpose if for listening, have a pair of decorator cornwalls that have been sitting idle for too long. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted October 5 Share Posted October 5 On 10/5/2024 at 11:32 AM, Gilbert said: Only OS available for me was Windows 11... Windows 10 was designed to be a service and just update it. I would guess the pc manufacturers wanted a 'new' version number to help sell PCs. The organization where I am employed has over 300 computers, desktops, laptops and servers. Approx 2/3 are linux based, the rest are various Windows iterations. One Apple product, that the graphics/crafts/photographer uses. He's in his upper 80's, and will be retiring soon. Then the Apple will go away. It's been a long time since they were better for graphics and layout, etc. Even Adobe has said their products are actually better on Windows. Windows 11 is ok, and management wise has some nice things. Linux distros have matured a LOT in the last ten years. A lot of music and art companies are supporting or beginning to support linux. Even MS allows a linux subsystem to be installed on Windows. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuzzzer Posted October 5 Share Posted October 5 1 hour ago, Gilbert said: Thank you guys.... new PC ordered, should be shipping in a couple weeks. Only OS available for me was Windows 11, with the option to configure to emulate 10, but decided to evolve and go with 11, that little voice in my head must have been my inner Darwin that kicked-in. Don't like having to learn a new OS, supposedly not that much different and their still trying to emulate Apple OS. I survive switching from apple phone to android, so this too shall pass. Still researching external DAC's, thanks for the recommendation Bruce will investigate the offerings from Focusrite. The chief purpose if for listening, have a pair of decorator cornwalls that have been sitting idle for too long. I got used to 11 right away. Very minor changes in my opinion that were very intuitive to figure out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schu Posted October 5 Share Posted October 5 unfortunately the best way, if you set on streaming from your computer, is via optical link to external DAC. if you get a motherboard with acl1220 audio processing, then it will sound decent but not elite. Bluetooth will also work reasonably well. I use Optical to Topping Amp to Focal 100iwlcr speakers and a Dayton Low Profile Subwoofer. I am using the internal motherboard acl1220 processing. I would not suggest anything lower than that codec. I run this with the latest JRiver audio player/library. I would never run my computer to a main system, but that's just me. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilbert Posted October 5 Author Share Posted October 5 2 hours ago, Marvel said: Windows 10 was designed to be a service and just update it. I would guess the pc manufacturers wanted a 'new' version number to help sell PCs. The organization where I am employed has over 300 computers, desktops, laptops and servers. Approx 2/3 are linux based, the rest are various Windows iterations. One Apple product, that the graphics/crafts/photograger uses. He's in his upper 80's, and will be retiring soon. Then the Apple will go away. It's been a long time since they were better for graphics and layout, etc. Even Adobe has said their products are actually better on Windows. Windows 11 is ok, and management wise has some nice things. Linux distros have matured a LOT in the last ten years. A lot of music and art companies are supporting or beginning to support linux. Even MS allows a linux subsystem to be installed on Windows. The PC is being built by Maingear, this will be my first from them, but I did previously buy one of their laptops and a desktop for my daughters. Actually the previous desktop was supposed to be for me, but my eldest said she needed it for college so I've been using the same ole desktop for going about 9 years. Maingear offers both Linux and 11 pro for server grade PC's. I know jackshyt about Linux other that it's supposed to be a rock solid OS. Anyway, I only had the one choice for compatibility reasons. When I arrived at the engineering firm in OK the office was split, about 70/30 on PC/Apple.... and I hear yea on the graphics thing, slowly but surely Darwinism was kicking-in and most of the old stuborn dogs reluctantly switch to PC's, but there were still some hardcore mac dudes. It got kind of laugable during my final years years with the die-hard Mac'ster running "Windows" software or some kind of Window's emulation software on their mac's just so they could use certain engineering programs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilbert Posted October 5 Author Share Posted October 5 1 hour ago, Schu said: unfortunately the best way, if you set on streaming from your computer, is via optical link to external DAC. if you get a motherboard with acl1220 audio processing, then it will sound decent but not elite. Bluetooth will also work reasonably well. I use Optical to Topping Amp to Focal 100iwlcr speakers and a Dayton Low Profile Subwoofer. I am using the internal motherboard acl1220 processing. I would not suggest anything lower than that codec. I run this with the latest JRiver audio player/library. I would never run my computer to a main system, but that's just me. that's precisely my intent. will be using an optical output into my dac. it's a bit overwhelming for me right now, so many options with DAC's. Saber/Burr Brown/Cirrus etc. etc...... this guy's a bit goofy but goes through some good info to consider. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted October 6 Share Posted October 6 Regarding the DAC chips, the details are in the implementation and not the specific chipset. Recording folks argue about it all the time, too. If it sounds good to you, that's wht is important. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJkizak Posted October 6 Share Posted October 6 When A DAC can track a 100 person chorus with several cymbal hits and not get confused. JJK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave1291 Posted October 6 Share Posted October 6 Running a Schiiiiit Modi into my MAC 4100 and using my Heresy when I'm o/l w/np at all. HDMI outta the laptop into the Schiit then RCA out into the MAC. Cake @ $150. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schu Posted October 7 Share Posted October 7 On 10/5/2024 at 5:27 PM, Marvel said: Regarding the DAC chips, the details are in the implementation and not the specific chipset. not true... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted October 12 Share Posted October 12 Not gonna argue with you... but it is true. Of course there are some crap chipsets. No getting around that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJ Posted October 12 Share Posted October 12 Hey @Gilbert just be careful with the windoze sound settings. That is after you go with the pc to the DAC to the amp(s). A few times it has worked to set this up on the admin's acct, but sometimes not & I never go there except for updating the pc. So set this up on the ltd user acct that you're on all the time. Make what you want to be the default sound output in "all sound devices" I set all the others to "no show" Set the volume there and under "volume mixer" for whatever is playing. It wont show up there until you start playback. Under my sound chip's properties you have to set the format, sometimes I drop back from 24/192k to 24/96k for better sound. You also have to set it at system-sound "more sound properties" I bought a gamer's motherboard for oc'ing and the sound. But windoze has always changed the parameters of what I set every time I log in. They haven't catered to audiophiles that have 100wpc going into Klipsch hyper-sensitive speakers. That's until the last build. Not a beta but been on that update channel for years now. Do not know if it will stay like this or not so turn it down for starting the pc up if you've got similar to what my sound rig is now! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MassiveG Posted October 13 Share Posted October 13 Getting a good sound card is definitely a solid choice for sending music to your external speakers, especially if you're looking for better sound quality. Another option to consider is using a USB DAC (digital-to-analog converter). They can really enhance audio clarity and often handle high-resolution audio better than built-in sound cards. Plus, many DACs come with their own volume controls and headphone jacks, which can be super convenient. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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