Running computer audio output to a receiver?

Bonham
Bonham Posts: 87
I've got almost my entire CD collection on my hard drive and was wondering what the best way to run audio out of it to the computer is.

Obviously I could just split the regular out and get some converters for an RCA input... that could result in less quality... but we are talking MP3's anyhow (even though they are not crappy quality ones downloaded off the net in almost all cases). Course, them being MP3's could be a good reason to get a better quality connection.

Anyonw have any experience with doing this?

As shown below, I've got the HK AVR 7300 and it has pretty much every connection available.
Just... Bonham

Hitachi 52" Rear Proj' HDTV: 51XWX20B
Comcast Motorola HD/DVR Cable Box; DCT6214/2005
Sony Prog' Scan DVD; NS752P
Harman Kardon AVR 7300 Receiver
Harmony 659 Universal Remote
Polk Monitor 70 Front Mains
Polk CS2 Center
Polk PSW12 Sub
Polk FXi3 Surrounds
Post edited by Bonham on

Comments

  • sowen010599
    sowen010599 Posts: 343
    edited October 2004
    Get either an M-Audio, or Audigy 2 ZS, sound card. Use the SPDIF/digital output to the digital coax in on the reciever. The M-Audio has an actual RCA digital coax, so all you need is the cable. The Audigy needs an adapter you can get at Rat Shack for $6. If you get the Audigy 2 ZS platinum, it comes with a front panel that includes an optical output.
    Go BIG or go home!
  • bknauss
    bknauss Posts: 1,441
    edited October 2004
    Wouldn't get anything Creative... they're kinda like the Bose of sound cards. They claim they have stuff like 24/96 output, but in reality they downconvert the signal only to upconvert it.
    Brian Knauss
    ex-Electrical Engineer for Polk
  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited October 2004
    I use a Creative Audigy with a Signal Cable Mini-Plug/RCA adapter into a Cambridge Audio integrated. Sounds fantastic, no problems, and I'm not missing anything.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
  • saguppy
    saguppy Posts: 44
    edited October 2004
    Sorry to butt in, but I am about to have this problem as well.

    So, you can buy an adapter to go from the mini-plug to rca in order to run a digital signal from an audio card to the digital coax on the receiver?
  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited October 2004
    I use a Audigy sound card.. with a mini jack to a Monster RCA cable.. that goes in to the left and right channels into the rear of my integrated amp. sounds pretty dang good to me.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
  • goingganzo
    goingganzo Posts: 2,793
    edited October 2004
    install a mo bo with the n-force 2 chipset and you get on bord dd 5.1 with digital audio out
  • Mjr7531
    Mjr7531 Posts: 856
    edited October 2004
    I use a Sound Blaster Live! and it's not so bad, if you use the digital output, I tried using the analog, and it would distort on the cannon shots with the Telarc Recording of the 1812 Overture (A must buy for any of you out there who don't have it; the cannon shots are truly electrifying, along with the bells, brass choir, et cetera...) However, using the digital out, it doesn't distort for me, it makes a marked improvement because you don't have to use a DAC on the card. If you are looking for middle of the road, relatively cheap soundcard for the comp, Creative is fine, very compatible, and has some decent software bundles. If you want to go above and beyond(as we all do), I know Zero and many others here have some great recommendations, good luck,
    Matt
  • malikarshad
    malikarshad Posts: 527
    edited October 2004
    I have two PCS one for gaming and one for Music.
    For gaming you cannot beat the Creative Audigy.
    For music I have Emu 0404 ($99) professional card. The consumer sound card cannot simply beat the quality of professional sound card for music. Though its not very easy to use the professional card unless your are into music recording. I simply use these card for listening purpose and the MP3 sounds so good.
    The other choice is Chaintech AV10 sound card that costs $25. If you sole purpose is directing the digital output from the your PC to your receiver then this is all u need. The drawback is that its has only optical out and there is no coax digital out. I needed coax digital output as my receiver is 25ft away.
    I've also heard good things about M-Audio revo cards but at that price point I would go with professional sound card if you are only going to listen to music.

    Speakers=>Salk Soundscape 8, Soundscape Center,Surrounds-Dali Rubicon LCR, Lsi7
    PreAmp, Amp => Marantz AV8801, ATI 6007 amp, Oppo HA-1 DAC
    Source => Sonore MicroRendu, Oppo BDP-103, Mede8er 600XD, Dune HD Smart D1, Synology DS1813+(16TB)
    Sub - JTR Captivator S2 (Dual 18")
    Power - Furman IT-Ref20i on dedicated 30Amp circuit with Furutech GTX-R outlet
    Screen=> JVC RS-45 projector Da-Lite HP 133" 2.35
  • LittleCar_w/12s
    LittleCar_w/12s Posts: 568
    edited October 2004
    I use an Digidesign AudioMedia III card. It's the cleanest thing I've ever used or ever heard. A friend in the music bussiness gave it to me, I guess he thought it too much trouble. It has R/L+Digital in and out. Trouble is you have to have the Audio-Editing software installed for the driver to work, and windows itself can only use the linear output in a very basic sense. I agree that a Pro card is best, but right now my music PC is a temporary POS with no PCI's left. A more freindly interface would be better, and this card is designed only for the software, and for people that want to run up to 16 of them for editing... big bucks :eek:
    I will look into those cards you mentioned, they cost under $100, mine cost over $400... big disadvantage.

    Also figured I'd mention that a good deal of on-board and some add-on cards actually have a way to by-pass the DAC. They will be little jumpers labeled SPDiF, and an aftermarket thing bolts onto the slot in the case and a cable replaces the pass-through jumpers on the board. There's a good chance you may have this even if there's no digital (coax) mounted on the board. Most of these also allow digital-in through the connector, which is mapped to line_in.

    -Jerry

    edit: and I just found out the man'fr disco'd the PCI card line.. that sucks.. Digidesign has opted for fully external systems now. Ahh well, if I only had the serial code for the software...
    ___________________________
    Total cost of materials: Going up...
    Time spent: Countless Hours...
    Cranking the system, having it quiet outside the car, and sound that takes the rear-view off inside: PRICELESS

    For some things in life, you pay others to do it... For a masterpeice, do it yourself.
  • malikarshad
    malikarshad Posts: 527
    edited October 2004
    I was previously using digital out of onboard Nvidia soundstorm on my Abit NF7-S. The problem was my Mobo had no coax digital out to had to fiddble around the SPDIF jumpers on the mobo to connect to internal add on sound brackets that had a coax digital out. I had also tested M-Audio revo 7.1 but i did not see a noticable difference in SQ compared to Soundstorm. The difference in SQ was not worth spending $90 for M-Audio. Then I research on the net and found that people really raved about E-mu 1212m and M-Audio audiophile prof. cards. I bought E-mu 1212m($200) and wow what a difference in SQ. Then while browsing then net I found E-mu 0404 has the same SQ without a lots of bells and whistles of 1212m that has lots of input/output options with balanced output and 24/192Khz DAC. I did not need all that as I was purely interested in the digital output and anyways I did not need 24/192 DAC for MP3 playback, 24/96 is high enough. So I got E-mu 0404 ($95) from guitarcenter.com and I have been happy since then. When I run my Denon 3803 in pure direct mode (2-channel) for Mp3 from my PC the SQ is amazingly impressive.

    Speakers=>Salk Soundscape 8, Soundscape Center,Surrounds-Dali Rubicon LCR, Lsi7
    PreAmp, Amp => Marantz AV8801, ATI 6007 amp, Oppo HA-1 DAC
    Source => Sonore MicroRendu, Oppo BDP-103, Mede8er 600XD, Dune HD Smart D1, Synology DS1813+(16TB)
    Sub - JTR Captivator S2 (Dual 18")
    Power - Furman IT-Ref20i on dedicated 30Amp circuit with Furutech GTX-R outlet
    Screen=> JVC RS-45 projector Da-Lite HP 133" 2.35
  • hellotheworld
    hellotheworld Posts: 205
    edited October 2004
    great information

    I was planning to use a PC as a source, so a sound card with digital out is must.

    Did you guys try some lossless format such as APE other than MP3 on your PC?