PC to 2channel rig link options
GMiller
Posts: 123
I've got a nice 2 channel rig in the computer room which is sourced by a DVD player and an ipod. I'd like to have access on this system to the 10K+ songs on my PC without using the ipod. I usually listen to this system while working on the computer and I'd like to not have to get up to change songs...
The PC is 20 feet away from the stereo. The PC is about 2-3 yrs old and has Windows ME and the standard sound card it came with. (1/8th phono output only).
The 2 channel rig consists of a Proton D1200 amp with 1100 preamp, a 7-8 yr old sony DVD player, and Polk RTA-11t speakers (thx MLS!). No standalone DAC.
The files on the PC are 320kbs/sec MP3's, Apple lossless, or FLAC files for the last 2 years or so. Some lower res files mixed in. GIGO, I know.
Do I?
1. Upgrade the sound card and rely on an onboard DAC, with the inherent chassis noises and dirtier power supply? If so, any suggestions?
2. Use an outboard USB DAC and keep the original sound card? If this option, run a longer USB cable with the USB/DAC at the stereo, or keep USB/DAC at the pc and run a longer run of analog cable? I'm thinking of the High Resolution Technologies Music Streamer as a good budget performer. http://www.amazon.com/High-Resolution-Technologies-Music-Streamer/dp/B002KC52B8
Any other suggestions?
3. Get off my expanding **** and keep using the ipod?
Thanks!
Greg
The PC is 20 feet away from the stereo. The PC is about 2-3 yrs old and has Windows ME and the standard sound card it came with. (1/8th phono output only).
The 2 channel rig consists of a Proton D1200 amp with 1100 preamp, a 7-8 yr old sony DVD player, and Polk RTA-11t speakers (thx MLS!). No standalone DAC.
The files on the PC are 320kbs/sec MP3's, Apple lossless, or FLAC files for the last 2 years or so. Some lower res files mixed in. GIGO, I know.
Do I?
1. Upgrade the sound card and rely on an onboard DAC, with the inherent chassis noises and dirtier power supply? If so, any suggestions?
2. Use an outboard USB DAC and keep the original sound card? If this option, run a longer USB cable with the USB/DAC at the stereo, or keep USB/DAC at the pc and run a longer run of analog cable? I'm thinking of the High Resolution Technologies Music Streamer as a good budget performer. http://www.amazon.com/High-Resolution-Technologies-Music-Streamer/dp/B002KC52B8
Any other suggestions?
3. Get off my expanding **** and keep using the ipod?
Thanks!
Greg
Post edited by GMiller on
Comments
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Forget number one and add a Squeezebox and external DAC as another option."He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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I've thought of a squeezebox, but
I will be using my kids PS3 to sort and grab files off the PC for the main HT system and for now this will be the only other room I'll be accessing the files in.
At 330 bucks plus the cost of an external DAC it adds up quick! -
You might be able to find a used squeezebox and a decent used DAC on audiogon or ebay (or both) and save quite a bit.In fact you just may be able to get both for right around 330.00.SDA-2BTL with custom IC
Adcom 565 monoblocks--Monarchy Audio M-10 preamp
Theta Data Basic Transport--Stello DA100 Signature DAC--Camelot Dragon Pro2 MK III
Harman Kardon T-55c TT
DH Labs Q-10 Signature Speaker Cables With Furez silver plated copper bananas
Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver Reference AES/EBU
Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver i2s digital cable
4 Furutech FP-314Ag with FI-11cu Plugs/FI-11AG IECs--- Power Cords
DH LABS REVELATIONS ICs-amps
Revelation Audio Labs Paradise cryo-silver ICs-Source to pre -
You might be able to find a used squeezebox and a decent used DAC on audiogon or ebay (or both) and save quite a bit.In fact you just may be able to get both for right around 330.00.
I've been looking. Had a line on an older AMC that didn't pan out.
State College, eh? Spent 5 long cold winters there while I was supposed to be in college. I wonder if my record has been expunged and I can go back?
Keep up the suggestions, please! -
might not be the best option:
Can you not run the earphone 1/8 to reg stereo cable to your stereo?
That's how our laptop is hooked up to our 2ch for now. -
If you want cheap and decent quality get this:
http://www.pssl.com/!gRjAGymhaOfbk0inRUTibQ!/Behringer-UCA-202-2-IO-USB-Audio-Interface-s
Burr Brown DACs for $30? Not bad at all. You can definitely do better, but not for $30Main 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 -
If you want cheap and decent quality get this:
http://www.pssl.com/!gRjAGymhaOfbk0inRUTibQ!/Behringer-UCA-202-2-IO-USB-Audio-Interface-s
Burr Brown DACs for $30? Not bad at all. You can definitely do better, but not for $30
Not bad at all! -
I found out they're cheapest at Guitar Center since it's local... $29.99! The higher version is same hardware, just includes some useless software if you're only using it as an outboard DAC.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 -
Windows ME? Would any modern sound card even have driver support?
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Windows ME? Would any modern sound card even have driver support?
What are you talking about?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 -
What are you talking about?
The OP mentioned:
The PC is about 2-3 yrs old and has Windows ME and the standard sound card it came with. (1/8th phono output only).
Do you think Windows ME supports this USB DAC? Do current add in sound cards still come with driver support for a 10 year old operating system? -
To the OP, if you get the DAC from Guitar Center just make sure their return policy will let you return it w/o hassle if it doesn't work with Windows ME.
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To the OP, if you get the DAC from Guitar Center just make sure their return policy will let you return it w/o hassle if it doesn't work with Windows ME.
Oh, right. Missed that
Windows ME? It's gotta be more than 2-3 years old right? Windows XP came out in 2001! It's almost 10 years old now.
I would spend the money you save on the Behringer and buy a new pc or OS... I don't know how you can stand to use windows ME. It's so .....vulnerable.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 -
You don't need drivers for the Behringer unit. Just set in your options for the computer, or whatever media player you're using for the output to be USB.I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.
Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii
Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999
Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3
HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000 -
concealer404 wrote: »You don't need drivers for the Behringer unit. Just set in your options for the computer, or whatever media player you're using for the output to be USB.
Thanks for the confirmation. -
Thanks for the confirmation.
Even if you DID need drivers, ME and XP are much more similar than you would think. I wouldn't be surprised if XP drivers would work just fine. Both operating systems work on the same basic "scaffolding."
But yeah, it won't be an issue.
If you buy one, and you can't get it to work, shoot it my way, i could use it for my girlfriends' Vista laptop.I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.
Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii
Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999
Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3
HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000 -
I only knew about it because someone asked on audiogon and mentioned that unit. I looked it up and was interested. I'll probably buy one and a set of IC's to test out. Looks nice.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 -
concealer404 wrote: »Even if you DID need drivers, ME and XP are much more similar than you would think. I wouldn't be surprised if XP drivers would work just fine. Both operating systems work on the same basic "scaffolding."
But yeah, it won't be an issue.
If you buy one, and you can't get it to work, shoot it my way, i could use it for my girlfriends' Vista laptop.
Windows ME was based on Win98/95, XP is based on NT. I would be surprised if the XP drivers worked with ME or 98SE.
Surprisingly enough if you search for Sound cards at NewEgg a ton of them have driver support for Windows ME. Who woulda thunk it?
That was a horrible OS. -
Windows ME was based on Win98/95, XP is based on NT. I would be surprised if the XP drivers worked with ME or 98SE.
Surprisingly enough if you search for Sound cards at NewEgg a ton of them have driver support for Windows ME. Who woulda thunk it?
That was a horrible OS.
My bad... i was probably thinking Windows 2000. There was two NT based windows i thought?I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.
Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii
Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999
Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3
HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000 -
I've been looking. Had a line on an older AMC that didn't pan out.
State College, eh? Spent 5 long cold winters there while I was supposed to be in college. I wonder if my record has been expunged and I can go back?
Keep up the suggestions, please!
Dont tell me you were involved in those riots in beaver canyon during arts fest.:eek:SDA-2BTL with custom IC
Adcom 565 monoblocks--Monarchy Audio M-10 preamp
Theta Data Basic Transport--Stello DA100 Signature DAC--Camelot Dragon Pro2 MK III
Harman Kardon T-55c TT
DH Labs Q-10 Signature Speaker Cables With Furez silver plated copper bananas
Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver Reference AES/EBU
Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver i2s digital cable
4 Furutech FP-314Ag with FI-11cu Plugs/FI-11AG IECs--- Power Cords
DH LABS REVELATIONS ICs-amps
Revelation Audio Labs Paradise cryo-silver ICs-Source to pre -
concealer404 wrote: »My bad... i was probably thinking Windows 2000. There was two NT based windows i thought?
NT 3, 3.5, 3.51, 4.0, Win2k, XP/Vista, Win7. Win7 brings us to NT 7.0 where 2K was 5.0, XP / Vista 6.0. -
This is a Windows XP, Media Center Edition.
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Dont tell me you were involved in those riots in beaver canyon during arts fest.:eek:
No- I escaped during the summers, working the resorts in the Poconos. I better not reveal the transgressions which I MAY be guilty of.