[Silenced]

I am getting a really good deal from a friend on Lenovo laptop. Problem is it has no spdif/optical in/optical out. All it has for audio is a headphone jack(not one which supports spdif like apple's). Will this be limiting in my audio journey? Should I care?

 

[Prog Rock Man]

USB is fine for adding on audiophile components like DACs and headphone amp/DACs. I have always used USB.

 

[bixby]

you may be limiting it by having to spend more on external components to get the sound you want.

Most laptop headphone outs are pretty poor for listening with a decent pair of headphones. So that leaves you with USB with all it's inherent issues. That being said there are some really nice USB options popping up to get music out form the laptop and they sound pretty darn good. Examples is the Hiface USB interface to connect to an outboard dac, Centrance Dac port, and others.

More importantly is OS and the choice of player, imho

 

[Prog Rock Man]

You will get better sound using a DAC/amp via USB than straight out of the PCs headphone jack. Have a look at products from iBasso, Firestone Audio, HeadRoom for a start.

 

[Hybrys]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prog Rock Man /img/forum/go_quote.gif You will get better sound using a DAC/amp via USB than straight out of the PCs headphone jack. Have a look at products from iBasso, Firestone Audio, HeadRoom for a start.

You obviously don't understand. Some PC headphone jacks have a little optical transmitter inside, allowing you to also plug in an optical cable, and output SPDIF from a 'headphone jack'.

To the OP; it won't limit you too much. A lot of devices are USB these days, especially if portability is in mind, and to get the best, you'd really need to go around the onboard optical out anyway.

 

[bixby]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hybrys /img/forum/go_quote.gif and to get the best, you'd really need to go around the onboard optical out anyway.

Not if it's a Mac

 

[Hybrys]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bixby /img/forum/go_quote.gif Not if it's a Mac

No, that was including if it's a Mac. And the OP wasn't getting a Mac. And I hate Macs...

 

[himynameis]

Buy any laptop/netbook you want...
M2Tech Hiface (& co...) - better than the greater majority of bulit-in outputs or USB connections to DACs.

What matters is the silence of the fans&hard-disk & how clean is the 5V power output of the USB ports.

 

[Silenced]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hybrys /img/forum/go_quote.gif No, that was including if it's a Mac. And the OP wasn't getting a Mac. And I hate Macs...

Was considering a mac, but the lackluster recent updates and ridiculous pricing schemes scared me away.

 

[bixby]

Quote:

Originally Posted by himynameis /img/forum/go_quote.gif Buy any laptop/netbook you want... M2Tech Hiface (& co...) - better than the greater majority of bulit-in outputs or USB connections to DACs. What matters is the silence of the fans&hard-disk & how clean is the 5V power output of the USB ports.

Correct and yes everything matters

 

[bixby]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silenced /img/forum/go_quote.gif Was considering a mac, but the lackluster recent updates and ridiculous pricing schemes scared me away.

yes they are pricey, but they do audio well and simply. Of course you could go used, but if you like a little less simplicity then definitely grab a MS O/S and have some fun

 

[Hybrys]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bixby /img/forum/go_quote.gif yes they are pricey, but they do audio well and simply. Of course you could go used, but if you like a little less simplicity then definitely grab a MS O/S and have some fun

Even used they are RIDICULOUSLY priced. I like the Mac OS, just not the hardware. Besides, my crappy netbook runs OSX better than a Macbook Air.

Hail to the Hackintosh.

 

[Prog Rock Man]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prog Rock Man /img/forum/go_quote.gif You will get better sound using a DAC/amp via USB than straight out of the PCs headphone jack. Have a look at products from iBasso, Firestone Audio, HeadRoom for a start.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hybrys /img/forum/go_quote.gif You obviously don't understand. Some PC headphone jacks have a little optical transmitter inside, allowing you to also plug in an optical cable, and output SPDIF from a 'headphone jack'. To the OP; it won't limit you too much. A lot of devices are USB these days, especially if portability is in mind, and to get the best, you'd really need to go around the onboard optical out anyway.

Just to clarify, I meant using headphones out of the headphone jack on a PC as opposed to out of a dedicated amp/DAC.

 

[haloxt]

USB to SPDIF converters seem viable for high end audio. New designs are popping up at a fast rate, so if you can delay buying one patience will likely pay off.

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f7/usb...hiface-449885/

 

[ROBSCIX]

I was going to suggest a Hiface as they have been getting great marks from users around here.