Highest quality options for computer playback

[commando]

Quote:

Originally posted by Iron_Dreamer Then you need an Echo Indigo.

That looks great for laptops! If I listened to work at home i'd probably get one, but as it is I need USB. Like you said on the other thread, the Total Bithead will do for now... it's a good start. If I decide I "need" better later I can always sell it. Whatever I get has to be better than the onboard AC-97 audio I have at work

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Quote:

Originally posted by commando If I decide I "need" better later I can always sell it. Whatever I get has to be better than the onboard AC-97 audio I have at work

You got that straight!

 

[commando]

Well you can expect a thread probably in the not-too-distant future that asks for the absolute best in PC audio performance - probably much like this one. Hopefully the new setup will keep me happy for a while.

What you have to do is listen to a poor quality setup once in a while, to keep you happy with your system. I listened to expensive Boss headphones running out of a PCDP today, and I was shocked at how bad it was. I offered my mate the chance to listen to the same thing thru a total bithead and the AKG271s and Beyer 250s once they arrive, but he declined, saying that if he did that he'd probably want to upgrade, and he's happy enough as it is

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

FYI, my version of "ultimate computer sound" would be LYNX L22 via Glass Toslink to Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista DAC w/VD Master Power Cable. Not cheap, but boy would that kick ass, with upsampling to 192 or 176.4

 

[commando]

That card's about $675!!! It's a fully featured musical recording card with way more features than you need to listen to music. Is there anything cheaper that would do just as good a job when all you want to do is listen to music?

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Well you asked for the ultimate, so that's what I gave you. That DAC costs over $2000, and the power cable over $1000. I chose that card becuase it can do 192kHz and has among (if not the) lowest jitter of all cards on the market.

 

[cadobhuk]

Ive read a comparison somewhere where author prefered the sound of RME to Lynx 2,I dont know what is Lynx L22 though

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

The L22 is just a Lynx 2 with only two-channel sound, and a lower price. The review you're talking about was the AVSforum review, which helped push me to get the RME. I would get the RME for analog output, the L22 for digital output.

 

[momerath]

Here is a table of the combinations I'm considering and their total price. Hopefully it will be helpful to others, and perhaps I can get some feedback like, "that combo is stupid cuz it costs more than the other one and sounds worse"

First, the list of components and the rough prices I've asigned them- please correct me if I'm significantly off. Obviously, in some cases there are options that change the price a lot. I cant spend ALL day on this though

fixed sources:
rme - $300 (probably cheaper, but since there are also more expensive options and mods, $300 seems fair)
any computer - $0 (anything with a usb port that is)
extigy (or other existing card w/ spdif) - $0

portable sources:
ihp-120 - $300
terapin mine - $150 (may not serve- requires hacking)
used, small notebook w/ usb and decent battery life - $400

DACs (or usb sound cards with good DACs):
total bithead - $300 (refered to as bithead)
piccolo - $200 (-$40 without machined faceplates)
dack - $500
ppa w/ dac - $750
sostenuto1 - $400 (-$100 with a little DIY)
cosecant - $3500

portable amps:
total bithead - $300 (refered to as bithead)
total airhead - $200 (refered to as airhead)
xin superdual - $150?
ppa w/ dac - $750
sostenuto1 - $400
ppa - $500


Ok- on to the combos. The totals are rough (like the prices)- I'll edit in any corrections provided or noticed by me. Not everything is covered- just the ones I'm considering at all:

total price - fixed source-/-portable source->DAC->amp
$400 - any computer-/-terapin->bithead
$600 - extigy-/-ihp->piccolo->xin superdual
$700 - any computer-/-cheap small notebook->bithead
$700 - extigy-/-ihp->piccolo->airhead
$700 - extigy-/-ihp->sotenuto
$800 - extigy-/-any pc-/-ihp->piccolo(opt)->bithead
$900 - rme-/-ihp->piccolo->xin superdual
$1000 - rme-/-ihp->piccolo->airhead
$1000 - rme-/-ihp->sotenuto
$1050 - extigy-/-ihp->ppa/dac
$1100 - rme-/-ihp->piccolo->airhead
$1300 - extigy-/-ihp->dack->ppa
$1600 - rme-/-ihp->dack->ppa
$4000 - any computer-/-cheap small notebook->cosecant(portable?)->ppa

Pending info on the terapin mine, I'm leaning towards getting a xin superdual, then a piccolo, then an ihp-120/140 and finally (hehe) an rme pad.

 

[Edwood]

What about the "Word Clock" modules for the RME digi96/8 PAD?

Does that reduce jitter, ir is it for some pro recording feature we'll never use for playback?

-Ed

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

It is the latter, Ed, word clock is used to sych between multiple recording devices, e.g. the RME and a mixer.

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

$1600 - rme-/-ihp->dack->ppa

would be the best for sound quality for both portable and home.

 

[momerath]

Quote:

Originally posted by Iron_Dreamer $1600 - rme-/-ihp->dack->ppa would be the best for sound quality for both portable and home.

Hrmm. Looks like the dack doesnt have optical in. What would you do about the ihp->dack connection?

Whats the first thing you'd replace out of the combo I'm leaning towards?:
rme/ihp->piccollo->superdual

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Well, I've not heard the piccollo, but the superdual looks pretty good, so the piccollo might be the weak point.

 

[Edwood]

Quote:

Originally posted by Iron_Dreamer The L22 is just a Lynx 2 with only two-channel sound, and a lower price. The review you're talking about was the AVSforum review, which helped push me to get the RME. I would get the RME for analog output, the L22 for digital output.

Does that mean that the RME has a better analog output than the L22?

-Ed