looking to potentially build a pc, and have it include my audio system.

wondering, what might be preferable:

emu 1212m

or

cheap sound card w/optical out + external dac?

now, obviously the second choice would be more expensive. i've been looking at external dac's in the $300 range like ci audio, aos picolo, etc.
would the second option be enough of a significant increase in sound quality to justify the big price hike? or would it be best to wait till i can afford a $1000 dac like a benchmark? (which won't be soon)

this is to mainly be used in a speaker system, so i will have a stereo speaker amp as well. secondly, in headphone setup from said speaker amp.

my idea of turning my 500mhz ibook into an audio source is going down the drain as i realize how freakin slow it would be to stream music and be on the internet at the same time, even if it's possible

You're post count has really skyrocketed huh.


1. You kinda answerd your own question. Its all about price.

2. I see the only real DAC worth buying over a 1212m is a DAC 1. but i guess you could have a 1212 and then just upgrade to a DAC 1 later and use the sound card for transport.

3. You decide.

save up for a benchmark / apogee, you will be blown away by the improvement you get from emu -> dac.

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yup, lotsa questions cuz gotz lotz of confusion

don't mean to hog the forum. i do appreciate the advice though. hopefully i'll have less questions as i have my cranial capacity for hi fidelity-ism expounded; or something

i'm really starting to figure out exactly what i want to start with. i just like to think things through thouroughly

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500mhz should be more than enough to browse the web while playing music, what leads you to believ it would be so difficult? Bandwidth would not be an issue with streaming since you have a 54mbps wireless G LAN connection with the airport express.

Don't forget the Scott Nixon dacs. The chibi fits your budget and the saru is just a small stretch.

ok. but here's the question. can i stream an internet connection from my neighbor's internet connection, and stream itunes to my airport express at the same time? wouldn't i need to be connected to two networks to do that?

You must be joking.

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Yes, you can if you make them one network. The airport express can be part of the same network. Just set up the airport express with the same network name and password.

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ah, but i'm not

huh huh huh

i've no own internet connection at da moment, using el nextdoor neighbor's

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thanks