comp needs/focus -w- DAC

jabrax

Just puchased the MH 25.3 DAC (few days) to my enhance my 5 dsk cd player and seriously looking at playing hardrive music and streaming through it.

I currently stream using a PS3 and assume a PC would do much better if configured well for audio playback.

Questions
Where is a good starting point for configuring a laptop (will build or purchase) for running the PC through a DAC? (i.e , Memory, Souncard, Software) I read about needing a high quality soundard, but I recall several comments that the soundcard is bypassed through USB.


Starting to get my read on, but this is making my head spin. I thought you just plug something in the back, pullup window media player and BAM!!! Start processing those 1's and 0's. Finding out that even the playback software matters :redface:

One recommendation i will try is to download the J Media software and start identifying diffences in the other playback software that I have on my desktop... windows, real, and itunes.

Thanks in for any information or sites to explore for information

SCompRacer

Sorry I can't help you with the laptop question, but congrats on the Music Hall 25.3 DAC. I have one in my system (with a NOS Mullard tube) fed by a Squeezebox Touch from a large hard drive in a PC. It is a great sounding DAC!

EndersShadow

jabrax wrote: »

Just puchased the MH 25.3 DAC (few days) to my enhance my 5 dsk cd player and seriously looking at playing hardrive music and streaming through it.

I currently stream using a PS3 and assume a PC would do much better if configured well for audio playback.

Questions
Where is a good starting point for configuring a laptop (will build or purchase) for running the PC through a DAC? (i.e , Memory, Souncard, Software) I read about needing a high quality soundard, but I recall several comments that the soundcard is bypassed through USB.


Starting to get my read on, but this is making my head spin. I thought you just plug something in the back, pullup window media player and BAM!!! Start processing those 1's and 0's. Finding out that even the playback software matters :redface:

One recommendation i will try is to download the J Media software and start identifying diffences in the other playback software that I have on my desktop... windows, real, and itunes.

Thanks in for any information or sites to explore for information

Suggest reading my thread here on my foray into this. I will break it down to this, get all your CD's together, burn them to FLAC using dbpoweramps free trial period (30 days), purchase it, and then download and install MediaMonkey to play all your newely created FLAC files.

Bam your done.

But read the thread anyway lol....

strider

If using USB to output the signal to the DAC then yes, the computers soundcard is bypassed. Most of the setup optimization steps I've read or tried have been based on the operating system the computer uses.

J River is nice and can handle all of your media: pictures, videos, movies, as well as music. There is a free trial available, after it was up I opted to stick with what I'd been using, Foobar. Why not give the free ones a whirl and go from there?

Here's Foobar2000's forum: http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?act=SF&s=&f=28

Computer Audiophile has some good information.

AudioCircle's Discless Circle has some informed posters as well.

Ben

jabrax

Thanks for the links!!!! Has me thinking about something else now. I knew this would happen...Damn

Started out getting a DAC because my lazy azz loves multi disc CD changers, and figured using a laptop to stream online stations and playing mp3's i use for my mp3 player. Radio sucks in the philly area.

Now the whole ripping and music server concept may debunk my need for the cd player if I am convinced the sound quality is a good as the CDs.

The journal begins, thanks alot *sigh*

jabrax

Scomp - never even knew what a squeezebox was really. Definately need to dig deeper, looks like something i could even get the lady to use

eeagle

+1 on the Logitech Squeezebox line. It implements lossless streaming in a way you will have little need for a CD player or any other input device....oh and provides album art and artist info too. I'm listening to mine right now via Sennheiser wireless headphones (Kleer Digital) which lets me have private music throughout my whole home.

The Touch is currently the best choice IMHO.

Many Audiophiles choose the Logitech Transporter, but if you own a favorite DAC it would not be necessary.

SCompRacer

jabrax wrote: »

Scomp - never even knew what a squeezebox was really. Definately need to dig deeper, looks like something i could even get the lady to use

Before the SB Touch was added to my system, my wife rarely fired up the two channel to listen on her own. I added a Squeezebox Controller so we don't have to look across the room at the Touch using the supplied remote to make choices; I just look down at my hand now. If you have an iphone, you can get an app to use it as a controller.

All my music is ripped to flac. I use dBpoweramp to rip, Media Monkey to organize and tag music. With MM I can also export direct to her Ipod in mp3. I'm hooked on the convenience and the Music Hall 25.3 DAC provides excellent sound. I also have my music backed up to an external drive in the event my music drive dies.