Newbie Question

[rafc1968]

Hi All

I have recently set up a surround sound system in my computer room with the intention of listening to my

computer based mp3 collection through it.

Now having played around numerous times to get the sound right, quite a few songs just sound horrible.

ie: They seem to fluctuate in volume so one minute they sound loud the next minute quiet.

I have a Sounblaster Z S/Card connected to my Sony 1020 AV Amp via a Toslink Cable.

I have been told that a DAC might help?

Anyway any advice greatly appreciated.

 

[vacdac]

Whats your budget Fella?

Have you tried plain vanilla stereo? Presumably these are all 2ch stereo recordings. Surround sound matrixed from this by your receiver may sound a bit of a mess compared to stereo. Also if these mp3's are predominantly lower bitrate files expecting excellent SQ may be a stretch. If they're 320kbps they should be difficult to tell apart from 'Full Fat' FLAC/WAV/ALAC.

TBH the on board DAC on your Sony AVR may already be doing a fair job & if your files are predominantly low bit rate MP3 then a better DAC may be a case of a 'Pig in Lipstick.

For improving SQ a better route is likely to be upgrading your main stereo speaks &/or listening in stereo.

Another option to consider would be a small form factor DAC/Pre amp with a set of Active monitors speakers, I use a set of ADAM F5's + an Audio-gd NFB 12.1 DAC/Pre/Can Amp for my second system & it sounds brilliant with my library of full fat FLAC files ripped from ceedee or recorded from vinyl @ 24bit/48khz.

Mebbe fill in your user profile with your kit list. If this is a second system outline it more fully here & we'll have more to go on. :^

ATB

Chris