2 ch Computer setup for music questions

WagBoss
WagBoss Posts: 108
edited January 2012 in 2 Channel Audio
Not sure if this is the right section,

I am trying to figure out the best bang for my buck for my 2 ch computer setup for music.

1. Sound card or Receiver? Is it better to just use the digital out (24 bit/41khz) on my motherboard into my receiver (Kenwood VR-410) or to get a soundcard and use the analog or digital output into my receiver.

2. Speakers. I have a pair of polk audio M10s hooked up to my kenwood, and I have a pair of M-audio av30's that can plug directly into my computer. I currently have a pci-e creative soundblaster xtreme audio, but the drivers will not install, so I just have the default windows drivers running it.

What do you guys recommend I do? Is there any way to increase sound quality by a large margin without paying a lot? How do sound cards compare to receivers? I'm figuring my receiver would destroy any sound card, but not sure.

Also, I've always been told digital is digital, doesn't matter what you have. But does anyone have experience with improved sound out of a better sound card with a digital output?

Thanks

tldr;
m-audio av30 off bad soundcard,
m-audio av30 off good soundcard
polk audio m10 off bad soundcard digital into kenwood vr-410
polk audio m10 off good soundcard digital into kenwood vr-410
polk audio m10 off bad soundcard analog into kenwood vr-410
polk audio m10 off good soundcard analog into kenwood vr-410
or other?
Post edited by WagBoss on
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Comments

  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited January 2012
    There are a lot of extensive, in depth threads on this forum about this subject. Search!

    I'd give you better answers, but I just spent time in two other active threads answering almost the exact same thing.
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • nguyendot
    nguyendot Posts: 3,594
    edited January 2012
    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?128288-Toslink-out-from-computer-Onboard-vs-X-Fi-Titanium-HD-or-Asus-Xonar-Essence
    Main Surround -
    Epson 8350 Projector/ Elite Screens 120" / Pioneer Elite SC-35 / Sunfire Signature / Focal Chorus 716s / Focal Chorus CC / Polk MC80 / Polk PSW150 sub

    Bedroom - Sharp Aquos 70" 650 / Pioneer SC-1222k / Polk RT-55 / Polk CS-250

    Den - Rotel RSP-1068 / Threshold CAS-2 / Boston VR-M60 / BDP-05FD
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  • Mike Kozak
    Mike Kozak Posts: 931
    edited January 2012
    I have the Klipsch system, sub and two speakers, it really rocks!!!
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  • WagBoss
    WagBoss Posts: 108
    edited January 2012
    nguyendot wrote: »
    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?128288-Toslink-out-from-computer-Onboard-vs-X-Fi-Titanium-HD-or-Asus-Xonar-Essence

    Yeah I've read this. I've also read that OP's older thread that lead him to make that post. People were saying something about a lot of toslink signals are "uncompressed" and sent out as a L R signal, instead of as compressed. So there was software messing with the digital signal. I had an auzentech bravura 7.1 for 3 days before I decided to return it, but I swear it sounded much better then the creative SB im using now from the toslink. Could just be me hearing things, but I want to know if anyone has any detailed info on the output of digital signals.
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,375
    edited January 2012
    I have heard good things about the Asus sound cards. They even have sockets on the Op Amps so you can upgrade.
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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  • WagBoss
    WagBoss Posts: 108
    edited January 2012
    skrol wrote: »
    I have heard good things about the Asus sound cards. They even have sockets on the Op Amps so you can upgrade.

    I bought an asus sound card a couple months ago, it seemed to install fine, but NONE of the software would work and my PC would not recognize the sound card. So i returned it :(
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