The highest quality ouput ?

[onis_uk]

Im currently building a tripath amp and im going to be using my pc as the main source for music, what would be the best way to get the audio signal to my amp ? obviously without spending millions ! lol

 

[gooki]

That's a pretty broad question, can you narrow it down a bit. Budget? Internal or external solution? Number of output channels required? etc.

 

[onis_uk]

well im thinking external to cut down on noise from inside the pc case, and i only need stereo, maybe 2.1 as i might add a sub at some point ??!!

 

[onis_uk]

im thinking maybe this ...? Creative Labs Online Store (UK) | Sound Blaster | Buy Creative X-Fi Surround 5.1

 

[Glowbug]

USB DAC, maybe something like a Twisted Pear kit if you can afford it.

Just remember to use only uncompressed or lossless compressed files, life's too short for lossy source material

 

[onis_uk]

USB DAC, maybe something like a Twisted Pear kit if you can afford it.

Just remember to use only uncompressed or lossless compressed files, life's too short for lossy source material

yep ive currently been building my lossless collection and even some 96khz 24bit stuff !!!

 

[Pancakes]

Wanted to test this out so I got a Creative SoundBlaster music LX for $60NZD. Just having a separate card outside the PC case made a great difference even with this entry level DAC, motivated me to take this further. Am presently building my next setup. SPDIF optical out from the PC and SPDIF optical > Anologue (sp?) DAC in the power amp. DAC, active XO and 6 ch LM3875 > 2 ch 3 ways. One ground for all electronics in the whole system and total phase coherance, yeah!

 

[onis_uk]

well this all seems a bit silly to me, my signal path will be a follows

PC> SPDIF OUT> USB DAC> PHONO TO AMP> TRIPATH2020 AMP> SPEAKERS

So im going from digital to analogue, to digital to analogue ..........stupid !!!!!

 

[onis_uk]

so im thinking this
NEW Creative X-Fi 70SB109000002 External Sound Box X... on eBay (end time 09-Apr-10 14:03:57 BST)

or this .........?

Item Audio: SuperPro 24 bit DAC

 

[richie00boy]

The tripath amp is not digital.

You only need 2 channels, so don't waste money on a 5.1 Creative box that will install a massive bloated software package. You might be able to pick up an E-MU 0202 USB for not much more. At the budget end try M-Audio Transit USB.

 

[onis_uk]

The tripath amp is not digital.

You only need 2 channels, so don't waste money on a 5.1 Creative box that will install a massive bloated software package. You might be able to pick up an E-MU 0202 USB for not much more. At the budget end try M-Audio Transit USB.

thats what i thought, i dont particularly like creative products ...
the m-audio only has: mobile 24-bit/96kHz USB audio
and the superpro box has: Cirrus Logic's CS-8416 receiver ship and their ultra detailed flagship 24bit 192kHz

seems a better product to me think i'm going for the Super Pro 707
24-bit/192kHz USB DAC !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[richie00boy]

And where can you find 192kHz recordings?

 

[wwenze]

I'm quite sure that the version of CM108 USB receiver chip used in the Super Pro isn't capable of 24/192 though. Maybe only 48kHz. But does it really matter?

 

[onis_uk]

And where can you find 192kHz recordings?

Reference Recordings Complete Audiophile Classical, Music Orchestra and Jazz HDCD Catalog they go up to 24 bit / 176.4kHz master recordings but hey it just makes the system a bit more future proof, the quality of recording will just go up in time !

 

[billyk]

Here are two options for PC sound that will most likely mate nicely with your amp.
1) The Grub DAC This thing sounds swell and is a nice stable design and has the bonus of no output caps. The cost id excellent too being in the $35-45.00 range. I have two and think highly of them. Being based on the USB to I2S of the 2707 chip it is limited to 24/48 tho
2) AMB Labs Gamma 2 This is a bit more sophisticated and can cost about $200.00 It can use USB, Tosilink or coax spdif for inputs depending on the config, also is 24/96 capable. It is a nice musical DAC that I use in my main system with both a PC and a transport.

Heck for $250.00 build them both!!

 

[okkyn]

Some USB DAC vendors tried to confuse customer with "upsampled to 24 bit/96kHz" or "using DAC chip 24bit/192kHz" but basically they are 16/48 USB DAC

I vote for EMU 0202, minimal software and high quality conversion up to 192 kHz

 

[toufu]

I have a squeezebox duet. But all of the squeezeboxes are very good, digital outputs, wifi, easy setup.

 

[onis_uk]

I'm quite sure that the version of CM108 USB receiver chip used in the Super Pro isn't capable of 24/192 though. Maybe only 48kHz. But does it really matter?

the super pro707 uses the CS-4398 D/A chip...
CS4398 - 120 dB, 24-Bit, 192 kHz Stereo D/A Converter with DSD Support and according to the chip mfu site its does indeed do 24/192.

i think for £70 i havent found a DAC yet that is as well spec'ed as the 707 !

 

[wwenze]

Super Pro uses CS4398 DAC and CM108 USB interface to connect that DAC chip to your computer.

The 24/192 is upsampled from the USB input, not a problem if you can live with that.

 

[onis_uk]

Super Pro uses CS4398 DAC and CM108 USB interface to connect that DAC chip to your computer.

The 24/192 is upsampled from the USB input, not a problem if you can live with that.

sorry wrong again !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the newer super pro uses the Cirrus Logic's CS-8416 receiver chip
CS8416 - 192 kHz Digital Audio Receiver
the CS8416 is a 192 kHz Digital Audio Receiver

please read the spec

Upgraded for 2009!!!! SuperPro 707 DAC is built for speed and resolution, featuring Cirrus Logic's CS-8416 receiver chip and their ultra detailed flagship 24bit 192kHz, CS-4398 D/A chip. At half the price of the KingRex DAC, it also represents incredible value.

//www.itemaudio.co.uk/superpro_dac.html