PC audio

joeparaski
joeparaski Posts: 1,865
edited December 2008 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
I'm in "research" mode towards putting together a music server and ripping my cd's to a hard drive.

The PC will connect to my sound system, soooo, how important is the sound card in such a setup? If the optical out from the sound card goes to the sound systems' dac, how good does the sound card need to be?

Joe
Amplifiers: 1-SAE Mark IV, 4-SAE 2400, 1-SAE 2500, 2-SAE 2600, 1-Buttkicker BKA 1000N w/2-tactile transducers. Sources: Sony BDP CX7000es, Sony CX300/CX400/CX450/CX455, SAE 8000 tuner, Akai 4000D R2R, Technics 1100A TT, Epson 8500UB with Carada 100". Speakers:Polk SDA SRS, 3.1TL, FXi5, FXi3, 2-SVS 20-29, Yamaha, SVS center sub. Power:2-Monster HTS3500, Furman M-8D & RR16 Plus. 2-SAE 4000 X-overs, SAE 5000a noise reduction, MSB Link DAC III, MSB Powerbase, Behringer 2496, Monarchy DIP 24/96.
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Comments

  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited December 2008
    Joe,

    Check into a Squeezebox or similar device to handle the interface. Your soundcard choice isn't too important as long as the external DAC is used. I use the Soundblaster Audigy with success. I also love my Squeezebox V3 Classic.

    http://www.slimdevices.com/pi_duet.html
    http://www.slimdevices.com/pi_squeezebox.html
    http://www.slimdevices.com/pi_transporter.html
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
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  • joeparaski
    joeparaski Posts: 1,865
    edited December 2008
    Dennis, thanks for the link, I've got to read a bit more about this. How does the music get from the pc to the squeezebox? Is there some software to install? I'm a little confused on how this thing operates.

    I'm downloading the user guide now and will do some reading.

    Joe
    Amplifiers: 1-SAE Mark IV, 4-SAE 2400, 1-SAE 2500, 2-SAE 2600, 1-Buttkicker BKA 1000N w/2-tactile transducers. Sources: Sony BDP CX7000es, Sony CX300/CX400/CX450/CX455, SAE 8000 tuner, Akai 4000D R2R, Technics 1100A TT, Epson 8500UB with Carada 100". Speakers:Polk SDA SRS, 3.1TL, FXi5, FXi3, 2-SVS 20-29, Yamaha, SVS center sub. Power:2-Monster HTS3500, Furman M-8D & RR16 Plus. 2-SAE 4000 X-overs, SAE 5000a noise reduction, MSB Link DAC III, MSB Powerbase, Behringer 2496, Monarchy DIP 24/96.
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited December 2008
    It doesn't use the PC at all except as a storage device. It is networked and gets the music off of your hard drive by streaming it to itself, then it passes it on in digital or analog form to your rig. I should have made my post about sound card need clearer. It doesn't use your soundcard, it gets the music over the ethernet or wireless whichever is better for your situation. The Squeezebox could sit in your rack and stream the music to itself wirlelessly from your music server.
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
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  • joeparaski
    joeparaski Posts: 1,865
    edited December 2008
    Documentation talks about music on the pc being "tagged". Which rings a bell because I did something yesterday (transferred something to something) and I got a message about missing tags and it couldn't transfer everything.

    There's also something about "tag editors" in the documentation. Looks like I've got a lot of work ahead of me if I go that route....but it is intriguing I admit.

    Joe
    Amplifiers: 1-SAE Mark IV, 4-SAE 2400, 1-SAE 2500, 2-SAE 2600, 1-Buttkicker BKA 1000N w/2-tactile transducers. Sources: Sony BDP CX7000es, Sony CX300/CX400/CX450/CX455, SAE 8000 tuner, Akai 4000D R2R, Technics 1100A TT, Epson 8500UB with Carada 100". Speakers:Polk SDA SRS, 3.1TL, FXi5, FXi3, 2-SVS 20-29, Yamaha, SVS center sub. Power:2-Monster HTS3500, Furman M-8D & RR16 Plus. 2-SAE 4000 X-overs, SAE 5000a noise reduction, MSB Link DAC III, MSB Powerbase, Behringer 2496, Monarchy DIP 24/96.
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  • Eric W
    Eric W Posts: 556
    edited December 2008
    Depending on the DAC, you may not even need a sound card. Some DACs (or receivers and preamp processors) have USB input. In which case, just hook up.

    Some soundcards may resample the digital material too.
    -Eric
    -Polk Audio
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