Audiophile level output should I go internal or external?

[DJNUBZ]

So I am trying to design the "ultimate" source for myself. My original idea was a completely passive cooled computer using a modifided xonar st + HDAV h6/a card. This would give me a very high quality output for stereo + 5.1 which is what I am looking for. Now i know this would be a great way to go but it isn't a cheap way to go. Building an all passively cooled computer that can output 1080P + 5.1 is going to cost a bit.

The second option I have come up with is to buy a small passively cooled computer (ie. mac mini, mini itx) that can play 1080P and add an external audio card that is on par or better then the ST + H6/a combo. The problem is that I can't find an external soundcard that fits the bill. I wouldn't mind building a kit if I could find one but there doesn't seem to be any product that fits the bill.

I should add that I already have the ST card and all I have to do is add the h6/a card to get 5.1

So do you guys know of any other options I may have not seen? I am about to just build a computer but if you guys know of an external solution I am all ears.

[DJNUBZ]

Bump

[jcx]

oppo bdp-95?

[OllBoll]

The ST/STX is better than most external sound cards, I have yet to see a 8-channel external sound card with as good audio quality as the ST/STX that doesn't cost atleast three times as much, mostly more.

The easiest solution would be to simply buy an external receiver with spdif input that can handle Dolby or DTS. The ST has a really good spdif output, and can encrypt the signal so that multichannel audio isn't a problem.

Then you can place your PC far far away from the receiver so fan noise isn't such a problem anymore, I for example have my PC in another room behind a fat wall, with a spdif coaxial cable connected to my DAC.

That however is only truly cost efficient if you don't already have power amps for your speakers. If you tell more about your current setup we can give better advice =)

// Olle

[DJNUBZ]

I want to have a system without a receiver. Thanks for the input on the ST. It seems like this is going to be the best way for me to go.

[mb3]

Originally Posted by OllBoll

The easiest solution would be to simply buy an external receiver with spdif input that can handle Dolby or DTS.

Fine for most scenarios, but significant to note that DTS != proper discrete multichannel audio. HDMI would solve this problem.

[OllBoll]

Originally Posted by mb3

Fine for most scenarios, but significant to note that DTS != proper discrete multichannel audio. HDMI would solve this problem.

Hmm, I hadn't realized that they had fixed the S/PDIF compression issue, you learn something new every day

Additional note to above: this requires that the device that outputs HDMI supports 8-channel PCM, which far from every device supports so might be worth checking out beforehand.