2 ch Computer setup for music questions
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?
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
Comments
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No need to post the same thing in multiple places. People generally don't like it.
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 -
falconcry72 wrote: »No need to post the same thing in multiple places. People generally don't like it.
Well I had 2 questions about Speakers (this section) and sound card/avr (other section) -
Digital is NOT digital. A better DAC and clock can make any digital sound better. I am running with an Auzentech sound card with swappable op amps. That's just for the computer sound. For my PC to two channel sound I use foobar 2000 or J River Media server output through a little program called Airfoil which sends the signal from my computer via CAT-5 cable (or wifi) to an airport express which then is hooked to a DAC which outputs to my Eico integrated tube amp. The sound is superb. There are many ways to do what you are wanting to accomplish. Some research is in order. Wecome to Club Polk!SDA-1C (full mods)
Carver TFM-55
NAD 1130 Pre-amp
Rega Planar 3 TT/Shelter 501 MkII
The Clamp
Revox A77 Mk IV Dolby reel to reel
Thorens TD160/Mission 774 arm/Stanton 881S Shibata
Nakamichi CR7 Cassette Deck
Rotel RCD-855 with modified tube output stage
Cambridge Audio DACmagic Plus
ADC Soundshaper 3 EQ
Ben's IC's
Nitty Gritty 1.5FI RCM -
Digital is NOT digital. A better DAC and clock can make any digital sound better. I am running with an Auzentech sound card with swappable op amps. That's just for the computer sound. For my PC to two channel sound I use foobar 2000 or J River Media server output through a little program called Airfoil which sends the signal from my computer via CAT-5 cable (or wifi) to an airport express which then is hooked to a DAC which outputs to my Eico integrated tube amp. The sound is superb. There are many ways to do what you are wanting to accomplish. Some research is in order. Wecome to Club Polk!
would a relatively cheap DAC to my kenwood vr-410 improve sound by a great deal? I know there are tons of things I could do, I just don't want to spend money :P Currently I'm running my creative soundblaster xtreme audio sound cards toslink output into my vr-410 receiver which is powering my 2 m10's. If you could upgrade 1 part of this setup (sound card, receiver, speakers) what would you do? Should I get a USB Dac instead of a sound card? Any relatively cheap DACs that you recommend?
