Hail Forum.   I bought a Bravo Audio Ocean on eBay. Long story short, it's clipping/distorting at medium volume, and I think it's the weak power adapter causing the problems.   The adapter is only rated for 1.5 amps, that can't nearly be enough for a tube amplifier to run at full-blast...

Alright, so, the stereo amplifier/receiver is just fine. I'm going to hit up Monoprice for a premium Toslink cable, as recommended.  After that, I suppose all that's left is to get my speakers, and their cables, sorted out. Is there anything else I should reconsider, or think about changing up...

Optical? But that's lossy isn't it? 

Alright, sound card upgrade with amplifier it is.   Next, things go to a Sony STR-DE185. It's a stereo AM/FM receiver with a built in amplifier. The headphone jack, which I'm currently using a 1/4 to 3.5mm adapter to connect to my headphones with.    Here's Crutchfield's page on...

Alright, I'll shell out for a new sound card regardless. Would it be wise to pair that with a DAC as well, assuming that I have the sound card's built in amplifier on it's highest volume first?

Would a sound card with a headphone amp be able to even properly drive speakers? 

I use both speakers and headphones. I have the speakers from the Sony CMT-EX1 Executive system. My headphones are JVC's HA-MR55X. 

Howdy forum.    I've come here in the seeking out of your guidance. My current audio situation isn't cutting it for me, and I'm looking for ways to go about uplifting the quality, or rather, completeness of it.    Now, starting from the audio signal's most original sources, onward, here's...

Howdy forum.    I've come here in the seeking out of your guidance. My current audio situation isn't cutting it for me, and I'm looking for ways to go about uplifting the quality, or rather, completeness of it.    Now, starting from the audio signal's most original sources, onward, here's...