better audio from pc

[Guest]

I have not been happy with music passed from a dedicated windows htpc using foobar or xbmc with wasapi over hdmi or optical into an emotiva umc-1, all cds have been ripped to flac. I am about to upgrade my preamp to a parasound p3(if I can find one) and wanted to know if a usb dac from the pc into the parasound would improve sound quality.

 

[Purite Audio]

TKB welcome to the Wam, the answer is borrow some different dacs and compare them in your system.

Keith.

 

[Guest]

TKB welcome to the Wam, the answer is borrow some different dacs and compare them in your system.Keith.

Not really a new member more a long term lurker, been a member since 2008 and visit most days, thanks for the reply to my first post. Borrowing or demoing dacs is going to be difficult, so looking for advice as to whether I would see an improvement from the pc with dac approaching cd playback before I purchase one.

 

[vacdac]

This could work well, however another route to consider could be a decent streaming solution such as Logitech SBT (Squeezebox Touch) Sonos or Cambridge Audio streamers (*Np30 or Stream-magic 6).

Does the Parasound have a decent built in Dac & are you proposing to use a USB/SPdif converter such as a HiFace or Musical Fidelity V-link?

These can work really well & are a good option, but streaming does confer some advantages of taking the computer out of the equation in terms of electrical noise/psu nasties. It can also remove any need of having the computer + drive/fan noise being a factor for any low level listening & as long as the pooter is on W/Lan / Wi-Fi network you can stream from elsewhere in the house.

Richers have the C.A. NP30 streamer on at £250 & in terms of SQ* (*Sound Quality) should be at least as good as the SBT if not better even & fed from its digital out into a decent external Dac or Dac/pre-amp should be better still. I have its big brother the C.A. Stream Magic 6 which recently supplanted my SBT + Musical Fidelity M1 Dac.

Some people find the need for additional standalone USB psu's to give these USB/SPdif converters a clean power feed & add fancy USB cables. The cost of a streaming solution instead can soon start to look v favorable against this YMMV.....etc.....etc.

Welcome to the Wam BTW with your first post.

BR

C.

 

[dingus]

have you looked at tuning the settings on your sound card?

if its an integrated (or otherwise low performing) sound card you could also look at trying a usb sound card to feed a dac.

 

[Guest]

I was thinking of something like the arcam rdac usb to analogue then into the pre, rather than usb to spdif to analogue. I do stream bluray, dvd, music etc with the pc already and it is very quiet in use with slow under volted fans in a antec fusion case.

 

[Guest]

have you looked at tuning the settings on your sound card?if its an integrated (or otherwise low performing) sound card you could also look at trying a usb sound card to feed a dac.

Don't use a sound card I have tried the built in optical spdif but generally use the hdmi ati graphics card to pass audio, which is great for lossless bluray tracks but not great for stereo audio.

What I wan to do is take the audio away from the emotiva processor and into a dac then stereo pre and power, keeping cd audio purely in the hifi realm and away from the surround processor.

A good usb to to analogue dac is really what I need that wont break the bank

 

[brystonian]

The HRT Music Streamer II always seems to get good press and isn't too expensive.

http://highresolutiontechnologies.com/music-streamer-ii

 

[Guest]

The HRT Music Streamer II always seems to get good press and isn't too expensive.http://highresolutiontechnologies.com/music-streamer-ii

Looks just the thing. I'll add that to my short list

 

[David.D]

This won't break the bank, if it doesn't improve the sound you can sell it on.

48hz 16bit though. :http://www.dv247.com/computer-hardware/behringer-uca222-ultra-low-latency-2-in-2-out-usb-audio-interface--61721

 

[David.D]

This particular one has sold but is supposedly a good DAC to try:

http://www.avforums.com/forums/home-cinema-hi-fi-classified-adverts/1787019-sale-musical-fidelity-v-dac-ii.html

 

[Guest]

This particular one has sold but is supposedly a good DAC to try:http://www.avforums.com/forums/home-cinema-hi-fi-classified-adverts/1787019-sale-musical-fidelity-v-dac-ii.html

Yes, saw that one, to late though

 

[Nick1881]

Where are you based? If your near me I have a USB DAC you'd be welcome to try. I'm near Coventry, feel free to drop me a PM.

the DAC is a JKDAC32.

 

[DPICT]

J River - MF V-Link to V-Dac with a half decent p/s sorted my pc music nicely, i kept thinking this is getting very close to my vinyl setup.

Then i go and ruin it by playing a load of records, when i switch back to digital, something is missing .....realism/impact/proper dynamics, whatever! but the music seems a little tame in comparison, sort of restrained but very detailed. I still prefer digital when using headphones, but through speakers good vinyl is hard to beat imo.

 

[Chumpy]

All of the best in enjoying listening from PC ( I often do whilst browsing web/writing massive tomes) ... n.b. the bite of GIGO...

 

[Guest]

Has any one had the chance to test a M2Tech HiFace DAC? It did well in the TNT review.

 

[Voice_Coil]

im needing a dac also, my new pc's digi out wont lock to my old audio synthesis one, gutted !

 

[belloire]

the ESi Dr DAC that sodders sells is a lovely little machine for £300. added bonus of a headphone output too

 

[It Cost How Much!?!]

Based on my experience, don't get a USB DAC, as I have yet to hear a DAC with a USB input that sounds any good. By far the best method is to get a SPDIF converter (such as the Hi-Face or even better the mains powered ones on eBay). I used the one below;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Teralink-X2-Native-24bit-96k-USB-to-SPDIF-I2S-Converter-/261192193645?pt=US_Home_Audio_Amplifiers_Preamps&hash=item3cd044966d#ht_2996wt_1234

Then have a Co-ax or optical into a good DAC, you will be surprised at how much better this is to USB inputs on DACs, not sure why, but it is.