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Which DAC also does movies/games?

post #1 of 12
11/16/08 at 12:17pm
Thread Starter 
I want to use a DAC for music on my pc but also watch movies and play games. I don't care about things like 5.1 channel or EAX, 2-channel is good enough. I just want to make sure I'm going to get sound! I heard that the emu0404 isn't a good choice because you have to change settings all the time.

The motherboard I'm using has coaxial/optical out. It's a GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P that uses the Realtek ALC889A sound chip. I'm running XP. I suppose I can just run a coaxial to the DAC? I'll be running the DAC to an old stereo via RCA.

(ed. I'll be using a blu-ray player to watch movies sometimes.)
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post #2 of 12
11/16/08 at 2:12pm
A DAC don't see the source. It only receive a constant data stream, regardless if its music, movie, game, or whatever.
State your budget and you may even get some specific recommendations.
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post #3 of 12
11/16/08 at 7:56pm
Thread Starter 
My budget is around $150. I don't care about the SQ of movies and games, just the music. I'm also not interested in it being too analytical or having a great soundstage etc. I'd rather it just be musical and energetic. If I could get it to sound like fm radio that would be nice.
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post #4 of 12
11/16/08 at 8:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikey001 View Post
I want to use a DAC for music on my pc but also watch movies and play games. I don't care about things like 5.1 channel or EAX, 2-channel is good enough. I just want to make sure I'm going to get sound! I heard that the emu0404 isn't a good choice because you have to change settings all the time.

The motherboard I'm using has coaxial/optical out. It's a GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P that uses the Realtek ALC889A sound chip. I'm running XP. I suppose I can just run a coaxial to the DAC? I'll be running the DAC to an old stereo via RCA.

(ed. I'll be using a blu-ray player to watch movies sometimes.)
Whatever its faults may be, this is not one of them. Once configured and connected via usb or toslink, it is just a sound output device - nothing to change.
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post #5 of 12
11/17/08 at 1:09pm
I have a couple of Headroom Total Bitheads. I connect them to my computers via USB. I use them when gaming, listening to music or podcasts, and watching shows on HULU. Like the others have said, you plug it in and you're done. It installs the driver automatically and becomes your sound device. Truly plug and play.
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post #6 of 12
11/17/08 at 1:39pm
I don't have any DAC suggestion up to $150.

But I like to welcome you to Head-Fi!
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post #7 of 12
11/17/08 at 6:44pm
Thread Starter 
How does the Bithead compare to others like the Fubar or emu0404?

Which is the best bang for the buck?
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post #8 of 12
11/21/08 at 11:04am
I just got the Fubar II and I am liking it. I have some other opamp that I will try switching out when it is burned it.
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post #9 of 12
11/21/08 at 12:27pm
does anyone know one that supports a mac driver?
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post #10 of 12
11/21/08 at 12:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by krmathis View Post
A DAC don't see the source. It only receive a constant data stream, regardless if its music, movie, game, or whatever.
State your budget and you may even get some specific recommendations.
You still need a DAC that can send multi-channel audio, EMU 0404 is purely a 2 channel DAC so is no good if you want surround sound for movies.
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post #11 of 12
11/21/08 at 1:55pm
Ok, fair enough.
The OP clearly said "I don't care about things like 5.1 channel or EAX, 2-channel is good enough" though.
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post #12 of 12
11/21/08 at 2:44pm
Search for the E-MU 0404 from ebay, you can buy one for very little well under your $150 budget.

Since the E-MU 0404 is as good a PC transport as any without spending serious money (thousands of €£$) an external DAC is the obvious upgrade path.
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