Picked up some Monitor 70's
Habanero Monk
Posts: 715
Thanks to all in the other thread I posted in. While my goal is still for a pair of LSi 9's or some such, I managed a pair of open box Monitor 70's for $280.
These will hopefully tide me over and I can always sell them when I move on up.
From what I read the LSi 9's will do better with an amp. So that is next on my list. Trying to keep it simple and on a budget. For now I have an old receiver that I will use. I have a laptop to use as a source for now. No remote :frown:
These will hopefully tide me over and I can always sell them when I move on up.
From what I read the LSi 9's will do better with an amp. So that is next on my list. Trying to keep it simple and on a budget. For now I have an old receiver that I will use. I have a laptop to use as a source for now. No remote :frown:
Post edited by Habanero Monk on
Comments
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If you have Windows Vista/7 you could use the Microsoft MCE remote with Media Center. $15.
Make sure your audio is ripped loss less or full bit rate. Storage is cheap.
Sounds like you are doing it right for 2.0. That is Source->Amp(receiver in your case)->Speakers. There is something to be said for distilling the listening setup to it's most base components, the KISS theory. -
One day lood at getting a quality source, its makes a huge difference over a machine not primarily designed to play music.
We all have budgets so hey, having music is better than not having it no matter how you get it.
RT1 -
If your computer has TOSLink then that opens a whole range of possibilities for external DACs.
DAC's take digital output from a source (computer in this case) and convert it to analog (think RCA's to the amp/receiver).
Stuff from $100 to $5000 (easy). -
Thanks for the tips.
So going digital out of the computer and into an external DAC, are both considered sources or is the computer or is the DAC?
Thumbs up on the remote! $15 is awesome. I am running Windows Vista so I have media center. -
Habanero Monk wrote: »Thanks for the tips.
So going digital out of the computer and into an external DAC, are both considered sources or is the computer or is the DAC?
Thumbs up on the remote! $15 is awesome. I am running Windows Vista so I have media center.
The DAC would be considered the source. The computer is just feeding the DAC a digital stream. Barring excessive jitter (not very likely on modern computer hardware) the DAC will be the strongest or weakest link.
What computer do you have? -
Thanks Jin.
Got it. So as long as whatever is feeding the DAC is digital the quality of sound is on the DAC (?). I think I have that right.
BTW I have the remote ordered
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Some computers can output a digital (bit streamed) signal over their audio out. You would use a mini toslink or s/pdif cable at that point to feed an external DAC. The HP site doesn't say for your computer.
The other way is to use a DAC that has a USB port on it. More and more modern DAC's are sporting USB so it's not critical to have optical / toslink.
If your receiver has HDMI you can feed it that way also (most DAC's won't have HDMI).
As an example of a low cost DAC with USB I use the Tascam US-144mkII for Microphone duty. It was a $120 and is powered off the USB cable. Has both S/PDIF out/in and analog (RCA out). Has a headphone out and even instrument in (like electric guitar).
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Habanero Monk wrote: »Thanks Jin.
Got it. So as long as whatever is feeding the DAC is digital the quality of sound is on the DAC (?). I think I have that right.
BTW I have the remote ordered
no, that is not right. There are many factors that go into your source. I would suggest doing some some research, the reason to use a dac is because your source cannot adequeatly convert the disc information from digital to analog, the more wires you have the worse, any connection cannot improve the original signal it can only degrade it.
So if you want to use the dac with your computer, yes it will work and it is fun to play around it, budget and so on, but just know their are ways to get better sound. You might begin with a review of the Esoteric Audio brand gear and their rather unique and industry leading disc clamping transport utilized in their machines to get an idea of what is out there.
have fun.
RT1 -
Funny that we both mentioned products that are owned by TEAC.
This is where we will have a disagreement. In this very forum there are people that have absolutely dumped their traditional CDP for something like the Squeeze Box Touch by feeding an external DAC. It's because the sonic signature is the DAC.
I looked at the Esoteric and it looks like they are trying to design a transport that makes up for all the shortcomings of said transport instead of just throwing out antiquated technology.
I would take a computer with SSD drive, digital out to an external DAC vs the Esoteric. I'm so done with handling physical media other than to rip it full to my HD. SSD's and HD's are so much more a precision piece of hardware than a CD transport it isn't funny. It's also something I believe to be in the OP's price range:biggrin: -
reeltrouble1 wrote: »no, that is not right. There are many factors that go into your source. I would suggest doing some some research, the reason to use a dac is because your source cannot adequeatly convert the disc information from digital to analog, the more wires you have the worse, any connection cannot improve the original signal it can only degrade it.
So far the connections I am speaking of are in the digital domain. We are only talking about switching an analog cable (from computer) to a USB cable, so that is a 1 to 1 switch. Nothings changed besides sacrificing analog.
We aren't using the computer's DAC, we are talking an external DAC. So again the change is simply a swap out (1 to 1).
We are talking about feeding the receiver with analog outs from external DAC so that hasn't changed in parts/complexity. Not much if anything has been added/subtracted from the equation. Just a reformulation. -
Here is a good link to a discussion on the Logitech SBT and external DAC at Polk Forums.
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I do not believe that just because it is digital to digital there is no information compromised. USB transfer is poor, even toslink, firewire holds the most potential, still any connection will degrade the signal never improve it.
Teac is a solid company and an example of why engineers should be allowed to go for money no object gear, I have found the trickle down through their lines is quite signifcant. BAT is another. Of course Pass lest our good friend H9 be left out. The W4S gear is a player as well in the ICE arena and I heard some good things out of an NHT piece as well.
Habanero there are many levels of audio, enjoy each of them. Trust your own ears they will tell you what you like or not and when you want to step things up a bit the core membership at CP will help you spend all your dough.....and then so.
All said though the best sound comes from tubed gear....at least most find the harmonics pleasing. There are some very good pieces out there for little dough....keep an eye for a deal on a musical fidelity v-series piece to fit your need....audiogon.com, ebay, etc....I have no problem with used gear letting richie rich take the initial retail hit...most build their rigs over time based on the path they find interesting at the moment...which for you includes your computer...I would pm FACE he is one of the best we have for help in this area and he is a very good guy.
RT1 -
agree with RT1.
Esoteric is an amazing player that easily won over my ears when listening. Before that I did have an external DAC and ran via USB. The Esoteric is an easy win hands down, as well as there are some that you can even run it via USB as it also can serve as a DAC. Yes they are expensive but worth it IMO as SQ does improve over other players.
At first have fun, see what fits your budget. If you decide to move up there are tons of things out there to try, just do some homework, and it can be a great hobby. -
reeltrouble1 wrote: »I do not believe that just because it is digital to digital there is no information compromised. USB transfer is poor, even toslink, firewire holds the most potential, still any connection will degrade the signal never improve it.
I think USB as a transport is more than adequate especially if the only thing on the usb bus that is a high data rate item is an external DAC (which is basically and external sound card).
There is enough bandwidth there IMO.
You're going to have fun. If you can lay hands on tube gear go for it. Whacked out DAC or pre if you think you can have fun with it and enjoy it for what it is, go for it.
You can always sell it
