huzzahhuzzah
New Head-Fier
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- Nov 21, 2005
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I am setting up a computer-driven home audio system, and am looking for some advice. I am not a gamer, but take music seriously. I have ~100Gb of mostly high-bitrate mp3s and maybe 600 CDs I have yet to digitize. My mp3s are on a server in my office in the back of my apartment. My main stereo, however, is in the living room. I have a basic CD/DVD player, an Aragon preamp, a hand-made tube amp, and two Vandersteen 2Ce speakers. This is 2-channel stereo and I have no intention of spending the $$$ it would take to improve the system.
I am looking for a good way to listen to my digital mp3s (on my server in back) on my nice audio system (in front). Right now I plug my iPod into my preamp, but this is annoying and sounds flat. I also play guitar, and would love to be able to record my incredibly amateur efforts periodically.
The best option for the money, it seems to me, is to use a spare laptop as a controller, to connect the laptop to my server via wifi, use iTunes to play my music, and then connect my laptop to my preamp with a good external soundcard. (Another thought is to build a desktop media center, but this is a bigger investment than I want to make these days).
First, I would love any thoughts on why this approach might suck, be great, whatever. Second, and more specifically, I am looking for advice on external soundcards.
My ideal soundcard would have a USB or firewire connection, RCA outputs (not just a headphone jack), a digital output, would sounds great, and would cost ~$150. There seems to be some dispute as to whether the unit should have its own AC power source.
I have been poring over these forums (and many others) for discussion of good soundcards. Many seem to be PCI-only. E-Mu does not appear to make external cards, and the Soundblaster X-Fi Extreme Music (the only X-Fi in my price range) also appears to be only internal (and may have a low-quality DAC?). From my understand of Creative cards, the Extigy must suck. So my choices appear pretty slim:
1. M-Audio Audiophile USB
2. M-Audio Audiophile Firewire
Is there a card that I am missing?
Is my disdain for the Extigy rightly placed?
Is there a difference in sound quality between the Audiophile USB and Firewire? (The firewire is a little more expensive and appears to be more capable for recording, but my recording needs are fairly limited. The firewire is also newer, but newer is not always better.)
Should I wait?
Your thoughts are much appreciated.
HH
I am looking for a good way to listen to my digital mp3s (on my server in back) on my nice audio system (in front). Right now I plug my iPod into my preamp, but this is annoying and sounds flat. I also play guitar, and would love to be able to record my incredibly amateur efforts periodically.
The best option for the money, it seems to me, is to use a spare laptop as a controller, to connect the laptop to my server via wifi, use iTunes to play my music, and then connect my laptop to my preamp with a good external soundcard. (Another thought is to build a desktop media center, but this is a bigger investment than I want to make these days).
First, I would love any thoughts on why this approach might suck, be great, whatever. Second, and more specifically, I am looking for advice on external soundcards.
My ideal soundcard would have a USB or firewire connection, RCA outputs (not just a headphone jack), a digital output, would sounds great, and would cost ~$150. There seems to be some dispute as to whether the unit should have its own AC power source.
I have been poring over these forums (and many others) for discussion of good soundcards. Many seem to be PCI-only. E-Mu does not appear to make external cards, and the Soundblaster X-Fi Extreme Music (the only X-Fi in my price range) also appears to be only internal (and may have a low-quality DAC?). From my understand of Creative cards, the Extigy must suck. So my choices appear pretty slim:
1. M-Audio Audiophile USB
2. M-Audio Audiophile Firewire
Is there a card that I am missing?
Is my disdain for the Extigy rightly placed?
Is there a difference in sound quality between the Audiophile USB and Firewire? (The firewire is a little more expensive and appears to be more capable for recording, but my recording needs are fairly limited. The firewire is also newer, but newer is not always better.)
Should I wait?
Your thoughts are much appreciated.
HH