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
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That's a pretty broad question, can you narrow it down a bit. Budget? Internal or external solution? Number of output channels required? etc.
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 ??!!
im thinking maybe this ...? Creative Labs Online Store (UK) | Sound Blaster | Buy Creative X-Fi Surround 5.1
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 😉
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 !!!😱
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!
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 !!!!!
PC> SPDIF OUT> USB DAC> PHONO TO AMP> TRIPATH2020 AMP> SPEAKERS
So im going from digital to analogue, to digital to analogue ..........stupid !!!!!
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
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
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.
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 !!!!!!!!!!!! 😀
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?
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 !
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!!
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!!
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 😎
I vote for EMU 0202, minimal software and high quality conversion up to 192 kHz 😎
I have a squeezebox duet. But all of the squeezeboxes are very good, digital outputs, wifi, easy setup.
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 !
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.
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 😱
//www.itemaudio.co.uk/superpro_dac.html
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