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What single upgrade would make the biggest impact on your rig...

post #1 of 37
2/10/10 at 4:36pm
Thread Starter 
A thread where you can post your rig specs, end to end and ask for advice... what one upgrade would make the most difference. either ask for a wide open answer, or be more specific: for example.. ask for advice for an upgrade that costs less than x amount of $$
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post #2 of 37
2/10/10 at 4:41pm
Thread Starter 
Here is mine..

self built computer Win 7 64 bit. HD sound card integrated into motherboard with available 1/8 out, spdif out, or what looks like a single rca out.. not sure what it is... im using the 1/8 out... foobar with wasapi no DSP, alac files, cheap radio shack 1/8-1/8 cable running into a decware zen head amp. Denon ah d2000's

id love some advice for under $300 im guessing either better cabling, a dac, or a sound card upgrade would be the best.. probably one of those usb dac/sound cards...
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post #3 of 37
2/10/10 at 4:46pm
Who gives a damn about cabling, especially when you're running integrated audio. Not to mention you don't need $300 for a decent DAC.


http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f46/al...pt-2-a-325941/


Oh, and that RCA is likely coaxial S/PDIF digital out.
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post #4 of 37
2/10/10 at 4:49pm
Thread Starter 
please be gentle, im new to this scene... anyway... im guessing what youre saying is that integrated audio sucks and makes new cables pointless? well than maybe non integrated audio is what you are suggesting? if so... any suggestions.. whats would be more impactful - non integrated audio or a dac? Thanks for the reply and the advice too...
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post #5 of 37
2/10/10 at 5:15pm
I think the most noticeable change I made was switching from poor quality MP3s to FLAC.
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post #6 of 37
2/10/10 at 5:19pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sasahara View Post
I think the most noticeable change I made was switching from poor quality MP3s to FLAC.
Thanks, but in this thread im looking for people to make specific suggestions for people who post their rigs..
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post #7 of 37
2/10/10 at 5:37pm
I was in the same position you were running integrated audio out, I first upgraded to a HotAudio Bit perfect and felt that was better than where I was. After awhile though I got bit by upgardeitis and ended up getting a MHDT labs Constantine + which gives me the option of running out of USB/COAX/Optical. I also have a AV123 X-head. I feel of all of my purchases thus far the biggest upgrade for me was moving up to the constantine. I know its not really fair to compare a more expensive DAC to a less expensive amp, but they were both gotten for under 300. I previously had a cheaper amp and while the upgrade was noticeable it was not as noticeable as switching from the Hot Audio to the Constantine, or from switching from integrated to the Hot Audio.
edit: TL/DR: Upgrade your source. I like NOS dacs, you may not.
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post #8 of 37
2/10/10 at 5:59pm
Bad idea for a thread.. a single thread with lots of posts asking specific unique questions?
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post #9 of 37
2/10/10 at 6:00pm
Better room to set it all up
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post #10 of 37
2/10/10 at 6:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Br777 View Post
Thanks, but in this thread im looking for people to make specific suggestions for people who post their rigs..
Oops sorry, have a bad fever and the Nyquil I took is getting me kinda loopy.
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post #11 of 37
2/10/10 at 6:28pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shark50521 View Post
I was in the same position you were running integrated audio out, I first upgraded to a HotAudio Bit perfect and felt that was better than where I was. After awhile though I got bit by upgardeitis and ended up getting a MHDT labs Constantine + which gives me the option of running out of USB/COAX/Optical. I also have a AV123 X-head. I feel of all of my purchases thus far the biggest upgrade for me was moving up to the constantine. I know its not really fair to compare a more expensive DAC to a less expensive amp, but they were both gotten for under 300. I previously had a cheaper amp and while the upgrade was noticeable it was not as noticeable as switching from the Hot Audio to the Constantine, or from switching from integrated to the Hot Audio.
edit: TL/DR: Upgrade your source. I like NOS dacs, you may not.
thanks for the reply.. again im new, and im a bit confused, so i have a few questions.

both the hot audio and the constantine are dacs right? the hot audio looks like it ran form usb so i could see how that took the sound card out of the loop. is this what these types of dacs do? they just go around the sound card via usb and create their own audio outs making a sound card unnecessary? im confused, do dont know if im even asking the right question.

also what does "TL/DR: Upgrade your source." mean particularly TL/DR

thanks for bearing with me...
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post #12 of 37
2/10/10 at 6:31pm
I would suggest a DAC, perhaps the HeadRoom Micro DAC. I used it for about a year with awesome results. It takes in USB, optical, or coaxial and will even accept hi-rez files. If I were you, this is what I would do, and you can still use your mini-mini cable until you decide its worth getting a better one, perhaps from TheCablePro, Kimber, ALO, or many others.

Good choice with the D2000s and the ZenHead! Enjoy
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post #13 of 37
2/10/10 at 6:33pm
Yes, DACs bypass whatever is in your computer and converts the digital signal it pulls off into analogue. This you would feed to your amp.
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post #14 of 37
2/10/10 at 6:39pm
I'm pretty sure a FTL drive core might make a huge difference on my rig.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Br777 View Post
also what does "TL/DR: Upgrade your source." mean particularly TL/DR

thanks for bearing with me...
tl;dr = too long, didn't read.

It was originally a rude remark that your post is far too long and basically rubbish but these days people post it as some kind of summary.
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post #15 of 37
2/10/10 at 7:10pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MomijiTMO View Post
I'm pretty sure a FTL drive core might make a huge difference on my rig.
i dunno... breaking the sound barrier might do a number on your drivers.. not to mention your ear drums. Although technically it may turn your rig into something more portable ;-)
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