Sound Card DAC vs AVR DAC using optical connection?

nhhiep

is it true that if I use an optical connection from my computer to a Denon AVR 3806 to play MP3, the Denon will do the decoding using its DAC and ignore the Sound Card's DAC?

The reason I am asking is because I am trying to get the best possible sound from my computer currently using RealTek sound card with so-so DAC, and I believe the Denon 3806 with Burr Brown DAC is better.

or I can get one of those X-FI cards from Creative if its DAC is better than the Denon AVR, then use RCA connection from PC to AVR

Help please

falconcry72

nhhiep wrote: »

...I am trying to get the best possible sound from my computer..

If the above is true, forget sound cards. Also, forget the Denon's DAC. Get either an asynchronous USB > SPDIF converter and an external DAC, or just get an external DAC that has an asynchronous USB input.

The advantage of running asynchronous USB out of your computer vs. running SPDIF is that it virtually eliminates the jitter that's inherent to the SPDIF platform (especially when coming from a computer's sound card or motherboard), and it lets the device control the clocking instead of the computer.

The advantage of a USB > SPDIF converter is that you can use any number of non-USB external DAC's, which greatly opens up your options on the used market. The advantage to an external DAC that has an asynchronous USB input is that you'll probably save a couple bucks.


For the USB > SPDIF converter, I recommend the Musical Fidelity V-Link:

http://www.musicalfidelity.com/products/V-Series/V-LINK/v-link.asp

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B004PH03GU/ref=sr_1_1_olp?ie=UTF8&qid=1318446210&sr=8-1&condition=new


For non-USB external DAC's, there are a lot of options, so I need to know a budget before making a suggestion.


For an external DAC with an Asynchronous USB input, I recommend the Musical Fidelity V-DAC mkII:

http://www.musicalfidelity.com/products/V-Series/V-DAC/V-DAC.asp

http://www.amazon.com/Musical-Fidelity-V-DAC-II-MKII/dp/B005K8CSZ2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1318446389&sr=8-2

Or the Wyred 4 Sound DAC-2, if you're budget permits. (but if you're feeding it to an AVR, this is a waste):

http://www.wyred4sound.com/webapps/p/74030/117839/457975


Good luck!:biggrin: Having a good PC setup is a lot of fun, and gives you a lot of options.:cool:

falconcry72

nhhiep wrote: »

is it true that if I use an optical connection from my computer to a Denon AVR 3806 to play MP3, the Denon will do the decoding using its DAC and ignore the Sound Card's DAC?

Your computer will still be doing the decoding of the mp3 format, what you're talking about is converting. Using any kind of digital connection from from your computer to the AVR will use the AVR's DAC's. DAC= digital to analog converter. Any device that takes a digital signal and outputs an analog signal is using a DAC.


***Just noticed this***: ... to play MP3:evil:

Dude, if you're worried about sound quality, you have to forget MP3's. There's no DAC in the world that can make a bad MP3 sound good. There are decent MP3's out there, but why settle for decent when it's really easy to have perfect? I would make sure you're playing perfect files before worrying abot DACs'.

my .02

Cheers,


Ben

AsSiMiLaTeD

Wow, if I'd know the V-DAC 2 was coming out this soon I would have waited, now I want one of those as well, but still have my Schiit Bitfrost on the way...

falconcry72

AsSiMiLaTeD wrote: »

...have my Schiit Bitfrost on the way...

Watch your mouth!!!:razz:

I'm interested to hear your impressions of the Bitfrost vs. the V-Link/V-DAC combo.

nhhiep

The thing is that I have so much MP3 files and have no plans to change that. I am just trying to get the best out of it. I also don't plan on buying any external DAC.

I guess my short question is does it matter which sound card I use if the connection is optical between PC=>AVR?

falconcry72

nhhiep wrote: »

I guess my short question is does it matter which sound card I use if the connection is optical between PC=>AVR?

Yes, it matters; however, the V-Link USB > SPDIF converter will sound better than any sound card on the planet and be cheaper, but what do I know.:rolleyes:

You don't have to use an external DAC; you can run the V-Link digitally to your AVR.

I have so much MP3 files and have no plans to change that

No one has plans before they make them, so make them.

tonyb

nhhiep wrote: »

The thing is that I have so much MP3 files and have no plans to change that. I am just trying to get the best out of it. I also don't plan on buying any external DAC.

Thats like trying to take a **** and make it taste better. Do you have your MP3's in Itunes ? Even so, lots of ways to convert it all over to a lossless file....with just a click. Computer music takes alittle more to get good sound from it, yes,certain sound cards can improve the sound slightly, but nowhere near what an outboard dac would do. Even a 200 buck music streamer dac would make a world of difference. Your call though bro, everyones wallet is different. If you don't want to change files to lossless, or buy a dac, your stuck with the sound you have. Don't mean to offend, but thats pretty much the bottom line in my opinion anyway.

falconcry72

tonyb wrote: »

...lots of ways to convert it all over to a lossless file....with just a click.

No. He can't gain an improvement by re-converting them to a lossless format. Once a file is transcoded to a lossy format, information is lost, and it can never be regained. The OP would have to source new files.

The quality of MP3's can vary greatly. I have heard some damn good MP3's, and I have a pretty revealing system (that said, I don't play any). If the OP's MP3's are decent (256kbps or higher, using VBR or similar), he will be able to gain a sonic improvement with an external DAC.