Building 2.0 system, Where should I invest remaining $?

[david5016]

I am building a 2.0 speaker system from scratch and have about 100 dollars left I am willing to spend for the time being. I got a open box pair of NHT SB2 speakers for $215 and a Cambridge Audio A500 integrated amplifier for $300, and would like to get this system up and running for about $600 total. I was considering using the remaining alotted funds for either audioquest type 2 speaker cables, speaker spikes to reduce room resonance or a M-Audio Transit DAC to replace my soundcards DAC, as I will be using my computer as a source due to the fact that I have over 30 gigs of losslessly compressed music that would be a pain to burn to play on a cd player (not to mention inconvenient). Which of these do you think is most necessary an upgrade for my system in progress?

 

[chillysalsa]

If your existing soundcard is mediocre, DEFINITELY get the M-Audio.

The sound will be crap if the source is not the best you can afford, you can't reproduce the information/music through the other components if it's missing in the first place!

Color me part of the 'source-first camp'.... sorry.

Good luck!

 

[Jasper994]

Why not just get a new soundcard? E-MU 0404 should hand it to the M-Audio Transit pretty handily and will stay in your budget.

 

[david5016]

Replacing the soundcard isnt an option because I am using a laptop with a soldered soundcard.

 

[gsferrari]

There are several external soundcard options.

Bithead
Xitel (www.xitel.com)
M Audio also has several external soundcards which have good reviews.

I use a Bithead and I LOVE it...its not the best around but it does a great job. I dont hear my laptops hard drive and other clicking and buzzing noises anymore...good pure clean sound!!

 

[Budley007]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsferrari There are several external soundcard options. Bithead Xitel (www.xitel.com) M Audio also has several external soundcards which have good reviews. I use a Bithead and I LOVE it...its not the best around but it does a great job. I dont hear my laptops hard drive and other clicking and buzzing noises anymore...good pure clean sound!!

Ditto to the Echo Indigo. It integrates perfectly with my XP system, but it does take up a PCMCIA slot. The USB option might be a better choice. Plainsong has a pretty interesting review of the Bithead on the forums here.

 

[ooheadsoo]

Get that source upgrade...and then splurge for some stands or spikes or some other stabilization method. Just don't go overboard and spend $50 on spikes with your limited budget right now and you won't regret it.

 

[Wodgy]

An improved source is what you need most. Get the M-Audio Transit or the Echo Indigo. (The others that people have recommended, the Xitel and the Bithead, do not offer the same level of sound quality. The Xitel in particular is a joke (I've owned it) and may not be better than your laptop's onboard sound.)

 

[ooheadsoo]

I would like to add that if your speakers are placed on textbooks, it won't really matter what any of your ancillary equipment are.

I would consider a relatively stable platform for your speakers to be mandatory.