[Ace o' Spades]

Hey everyone,
 
I'm looking to improve the audio out of my computer since the stock line out is absolute garbage.
 
I have a fairly nice PIMETA amp, so all I am really looking for is a good, clean line out for my computer. My budget is around $50.
 
Also, I was thinking of building a switchbox, so that I could have a single line out from the computer, but be able to switch between my speakers and my PIMETA without having to unplug anything. What do you guys think about this setup? Will it get me significantly better sound than the crappy line out that my computer already has?

 

[Ace o' Spades]

I just found that Grub DAC so I think I'm gonna go the DIY route and make a DAC/Switchbox in one.

 

[Snag1e]

I have an Entech number cruncher 203.2 that sounds pretty nice for what it is...wayyy better than my computer line out....I think these can be had used on ebay for around ~ $50. It's not usb though, if you need it to be.
 
There are also quite a few cheep chinese dacs on ebay, I haven't used any of these...but they look decent for the price... below are links to 2 of many......
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/HI-FI-DIR9001-4X-TDA1543-parallel-connection-NOS-DAC-/190513558682?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c5b7e349a#ht_6367wt_1139
 
or for a bit more, this
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/AUNE-Hifi-Mini-USB-SPDIF-DAC-Sound-Audio-Card-PCM2707-/260725525642?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cb473cc8a#ht_7977wt_1139
 
whatever you get will probably be a reasonable improvement over integrated computer audio. =]

 

[Snag1e]

Do it. I actually thought about building the grub dac too. have fun with that =D

 

[Ace o' Spades]

Hmm, I didn't consider trying optical DAC. My comp has both a COAX and Optical output. I'll have to check that out.

 

[Ace o' Spades]

Sorry for double posting all up in this topic, but how will this do:
 
Optical out -> Something like this -> PIMETA -> Cans
 
Then my regular line-out can go to my crap speakers.

 

[Snag1e]

That would work.=] I have no idea how it would sound though.

 

[Ace o' Spades]

Well for a similar price I'm between the Grub and Behringer. Leaning towards the Grub though so I can get some SMD soldering under my belt and make it so I have a DAC with a switch between the PIMETA and speakers all in one unit. It might end up being a bit more expensive but I think I can live with that.

 

[Ace o' Spades]

Sorry for the bump but I have an update for this thread. I ended up springing for the Fiio e7 and got it yesterday. So far very impressed, the difference is like night and day compared to my sound card. I even thought the iPod's headphone out was pretty decent until I plugged in the e7, it just sounds so much more airy and clear. Not a huge fan of the bass boost so far but the TF10s I am using are already pretty bassy.