needs a newbie setup 101

Hello everyone, this will be my first post for this area. I'm getting audio stuff from my dad on monday. im just curious how to make a full good sounding setup. ill mostly use it for listening or movies sometimes. for now, if its good enough, ill be using my ipod or desktop with stock realtek hd, as a sound source, here are the things im getting "theyre old so i dont know if theyre any good": Infinity reference either 2000.1 or 2000.2 L and R, i think its a CC-1 and a vintage pioneer sx. thats about it... ill get more clear on monday about their exact model names... i jsut need help to make them sound complete, for example: do i need other sources for music, DAC? etc etc... =) thanks! i hope anyone has any opinions!

*Final EDIT:*

Here are the exact model names:

>2 bookshelf speakers- Infinity reference 2000.2

>1 center speaker - Infinity CC-1

>StereoReceiver- pioneer SX-780

>Graphic Equalizer- Sony SEQ-430

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Max 

Forget Realtek, use your ipod instead (preferably the line-out if it has one).

 

If you can grab an external DAC, that would be even better.

ohh cool is there a specific DAC you would prefer?

thanks for replying sir :)

Edit: will the fiio e7 do any good?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Max 

Realtek is meh, I'd prefer my DVD player or iPod classic over it, but an external DAC would be best.  Depends on your budget, however. 

 

I recommend looking into the Audio-gd Sparrow/FUN, NFB-11, and NFB-12.  I use the FUN's predecessor, the Compass.

ohh so i can just connect my pc to the dac then the receiver then to the speakers?

those look neat!

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRG1990 

The E9/E7 combo ,would be good its cheap and sounds good with plently of power, it also has a rca lineout so you can connect it to your receiver.

oh does the receiver receiver have an amp too? so the amp of e7/e9 wont interfere with the amp of receiver in case it has one?

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRG1990 

Yes the receiver should have an amp if it's for driving passive bookshelf speakers, the rca out on the e9 is a fixed line-out it isn't amped it bypasses the amp.

oh okie that sounds cool so i need and e9 just for the rca out and ill use the e7 just to be a plain DAC?lol am i getting it?

okie thanks sir! it helped me a lot! so pc>e7"dac"/e9"rca out that bypasses its amp">reciever? ^^ ill try to get them now theyre meant for headphones and/or 2 front speakers only right or can i get a good surround depending on my receiver?

ohh yea its clear now thanks for the information.. ohh i wat just asking if it do good surround sound cuz im planning to setup a 3.1 tonight ^^2-front 1 center and prolly a sub and ill be connecting them to the receiver but i guess its going to work so yeah thanks again

Edit: is a preamp similar to DAC just wondering

ohh cool cool great thanks