I have a weird question. It seems to me like a USB connected DAC would have at least the advantage that the source hadn't passed through a name brand sound card of any kind, while an optical output would possibly have been I don't know, colored or treated in some way by what maybe subpar on...

I can't help but feel like you're assuming because the Sansui is old, it's bad. I'm not sure how well you know vintage solid state, but you can't imagine how much better it sounds than the Yamaha, it's beautiful. A top shelf stereo in its time that still sounds amazing today, it's not as if it's...

Don't quote me on this, but I'm pretty sure you need a single 3.5mm from the orange to a single RCA to the white in.

I've got to tell you the Sansui is not the limiting factor, that it hasn't nearly hit the roof on what it can do with a good signal. So I feel strongly the latter stands to improve, if only I can understand the best approach. I know I'm going to put my money one direction or other, but I'd hate...

Well I actually go back to surround sound, and do watch movies and game, but that is really 1% of the time. I may or may not go down stereo for a while.   I am super happy with the Sansui :)   So for just $150 you feel the HTF Music Streamer may best the afore mentioned op-amp upgraded...

I'm having this question too, and it's surprisingly difficult to pin down an answer. I have a Prelude and wonder what I'd be gaining and losing in terms of stereo sound quality with the Xonar Essence. Including upgrade-wise, where it's clear the Auzen will accept OPA 627SM's and not quite clear...

Sound quality, in stereo, usable by the Sansui, more than anything else. I really do appreciate the featureset of the Auzen, but could always fall back to it on an as-needed basis. I think it's a great sounding card, but it's time to either enhance it or move on. I just have no idea...

I must confess I've never wanted to think about DACs. I don't really "get" them and as soon as I run into a lot of audiophiles talking about thousands of dollars in equipment I try sneaking out the back way, which is what DACs always made me think of. When I saw how much it could cost to further...

Quote: Originally Posted by triggerc I love how the website that did the review was called "generationmp3". You know, since all of those players have great FLAC support and the like. By the way, does the Zune 80 differ in SQ?

Someone recently suggested something like using a portable usb hard drive with an iAudio 7. Is that even possible with some players? It would make a huge difference in owning some of these 16< GB flash based players. How about pairing one up with a Samsung P2, Sony NWZ-A810, or iriver clix...

And then there's that rumored-to-be-underrated Onkyo I'd had my eye on. The only high end (if that's appropriate) cards I'm really feeling are the Auzentechs and the Onkyo. It seems like beyond those are the Lynx Two and some other studio-esque cards, and by then you might as well start...

The general consensus is that the Prelude excels at games and the X-Meridian, at music, but I have yet to hear that from someone who owns both. I realize the X-Meridian's (I own one) opamps for all channels make it seem a little more serious, but there's got to be more, whether it's an argument...

But could you elaborate? Like, surely a $10 soundcard's s/pdif output wouldn't compare to an Auzentech, right? Where's the difference come in, and other than by ear, how can it be observed?

I had once read that the Auzentech X-Fi Prelude did not enjoy as high quality an output as the X-Meridian did. Speaking strictly in terms of analog stereo with both cards having the same opamp, has anyone been able to detect a loss of quality either by ear or with synthetic testing? My...

Nothing you do with opamps will alter the s/pdif output, right?