One of the reasons people streaming from their computer use an external DAC is to get rid of the noise inherent with using things like analogue audio out on your desktop pc, or things connected trough USB. "Inherent" although I'm not sure how big of a problem it is.
I'm using an optical out to my Onkyo TX-NR535, so my digital signal gets converted by the Onkyo DAC. Now I'm not saying this is some hifi DAC, but this probably eliminates any possibility of PC noise to get into the signal. Is this correct?
I'm not chasing some superclean signal BTW, my source is often youtube. So are there any serious (and yet affordable) gains by buying a seperate DAC and going analogue to my amp? Or not really?
Thanks
VIncent
I'm using an optical out to my Onkyo TX-NR535, so my digital signal gets converted by the Onkyo DAC. Now I'm not saying this is some hifi DAC, but this probably eliminates any possibility of PC noise to get into the signal. Is this correct?
I'm not chasing some superclean signal BTW, my source is often youtube. So are there any serious (and yet affordable) gains by buying a seperate DAC and going analogue to my amp? Or not really?
Thanks
VIncent
Optical breaks ground loops. 99% of the PC "noise" I encounter comes through audio ground loops etc.
If I use an analog connection, I can hear the computer whine when I move the mouse... On my oldest machine, I used to be able to hear the HDD spindle motor through the Sound Blaster card...
Optical sorted that, and the ground loop caused by connecting a TV through HDMI that's on another branch circuit.
If I use an analog connection, I can hear the computer whine when I move the mouse... On my oldest machine, I used to be able to hear the HDD spindle motor through the Sound Blaster card...
Optical sorted that, and the ground loop caused by connecting a TV through HDMI that's on another branch circuit.
Computers are horribly noisy things, electrically speaking. Any means of moving the analog decoding away will be of benefit.
As for a standalone DAC for your PC's optical signal, it depends on the usage scenario. The DAC in your Onkyo is totally good enough for day-to-day stuff like YouTube, Spotify, etc.
As for a standalone DAC for your PC's optical signal, it depends on the usage scenario. The DAC in your Onkyo is totally good enough for day-to-day stuff like YouTube, Spotify, etc.
Ok thanks, I'm gonna stick with my Onkyo DAC. I just had a case of improovitis and my target of the day was DAC.
Please, do not use onboard sound. No matter which version, which chip, and how they advertise it, it's crap. Point.
As it was said before, a PC is not an easy thing for music reproduction. 3 things which make life better when hearing music over the PC:
A high quality, low noise PSU. Same quality intern or extern Soundcard (a used Xonar D2X is about 25-30$). Lossless audio files.
As it was said before, a PC is not an easy thing for music reproduction. 3 things which make life better when hearing music over the PC:
A high quality, low noise PSU. Same quality intern or extern Soundcard (a used Xonar D2X is about 25-30$). Lossless audio files.
Attachments
That might be true if you buy a total POS computer, but these days, most good motherboards have high quality audio. And even a total POS can output optical.
My rig is using a Startech PEXSOUND7CH internal PCI-e sound card because it had optical INPUT as well as output. I connect that to my AD/DA to listen or record.
It's only difficult to get analog output from a computer without good quality components. Digital is cheap.
My rig is using a Startech PEXSOUND7CH internal PCI-e sound card because it had optical INPUT as well as output. I connect that to my AD/DA to listen or record.
It's only difficult to get analog output from a computer without good quality components. Digital is cheap.
" ... TOSLINK does not have the bandwidth to carry the lossless versions of Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, or more than two channels of PCM audio."
TOSLINK does 24/96 fine, and I don't use Dolby or DTS crap. My system is two channels.
Also:
Myth: TOSLINK Fiber Optic Connections Don't Support 24-bit 192khz Audio
Also:
Myth: TOSLINK Fiber Optic Connections Don't Support 24-bit 192khz Audio