Laptop choice for best sound quality? under $600
Oct 28, 2005 at 11:18 AM Post #2 of 8
I don't think that the actual laptop itself matters, rather the choice of PCMCIA (a small credit card shaped device that slots into the side of the laptop) or USB sound card.
For example, the professional manufacturer EMU produces two models, the 1616 and the 1616M which feature good quality headphone amplifiers, and breakout boxes which have digital outputs on them.

Headroom, one of this forum's sponsors, produce several components that can plug into USB sockets as headphone amplifiers.
 
Oct 28, 2005 at 2:07 PM Post #3 of 8
I also say look into Headrooms MicroAmp/DAC combo or Meier's new Aria amp/usb dac combo. I've heard Headroom's products and they are indeed superb. They also offer more options as far as on the pieces themselves (crossfeed, optical/digital connections, battery powered, etc...) but also being able to upgrade one componant at a time.

On the other hand the Aria combines both amp and dac into one nice little package and cost $200 less the the Microstack. You could then use that money down the road and upgrade to a better dac or whatever source you want and just have the amp.

Either way I don't think you can go wrong. Mostly depends on size requirments, music preference and phone choice.

Good Luck!!
 
Oct 28, 2005 at 2:17 PM Post #4 of 8
Quote:

Originally Posted by gordolindsay
I also say look into Headrooms MicroAmp/DAC combo or Meier's new Aria amp/usb dac combo. I've heard Headroom's products and they are indeed superb. They also offer more options as far as on the pieces themselves (crossfeed, optical/digital connections, battery powered, etc...) but also being able to upgrade one componant at a time.

On the other hand the Aria combines both amp and dac into one nice little package and cost $200 less the the Microstack. You could then use that money down the road and upgrade to a better dac or whatever source you want and just have the amp.

Either way I don't think you can go wrong. Mostly depends on size requirments, music preference and phone choice.

Good Luck!!



Thanks! So u think Emu1616M is enough to achieve good sound quality?
So what about some other fw docks, suck as RME\MOtu?
 
Oct 28, 2005 at 10:26 PM Post #5 of 8
Quote:

Originally Posted by clackman
Thanks! So u think Emu1616M is enough to achieve good sound quality?



Yep, probably the best pcmcia card out right now. But it comes at a hefty cost.
 
Oct 29, 2005 at 4:48 AM Post #6 of 8
I bought the PCMCIA Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook card for my hp pavillion into my corda HAI and W1000's with lossless rips. Previously my main source was the Denon DCP-100 into the corda. Now, the sound was "better," fuller, warmer, more depth, etc. EXCEPT, this annoying pop and fizzle. It drove me nuts. I kept trying to just listen to the music. It was better afterall. But then I'd hear a pop, snap, crackle. Returned it. Now I just pulled the trigger on the dblabs usb dac in the for sale forum. I'm hoping that will get rid of the snapping junk. We'll see. Either way I'm not sure I can rid myself of the "aesthetic" of flipping through my leather cd holder, seeing the cd's, taking out that shiny thing and popping it into my cd player. Foobar, winamp and the other players seem "sterile." There's no tactile sensations and I'm used to SEEING my cd's. Maybe I'm just crazy.
 
Oct 30, 2005 at 12:45 AM Post #7 of 8
Quote:

Originally Posted by gordolindsay
Yep, probably the best pcmcia card out right now. But it comes at a hefty cost.


Thanks,but I think firewire is also accessible by a laptop choice. Is there any firewire choice better than 1616M for best sound quality?
 
Nov 25, 2005 at 5:30 PM Post #8 of 8
Sound quality (perceptual) is very subjective. As for measurements, 1616m is the cream of the crop. I don't know know of any portable sound card that bests it in measurements. Some rack models might, but in portable range it is the best I've seen.
 

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