How to get great sound from Laptop

[theobservatory.]

Ohh yes that's the most beautiful compact DIY solution I've seen for my needs = ) Kugino how much would a builder charge to build something like this? PINT boards aren't available yeah so say a PIMETA might do the trick?

 

[facelvega]

cheapest option would be a USB sound controller, which though limited would most likely noticeably beat onboard sound card quality. The best known one is Turtle Beach's TBAAM (Audio Advantage Micro) for about $30, though evidently similar generic ones go for as little as $10-- and at this level, I doubt the difference matters much.

 

[lipidicman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatDane

So, does the USB supply power, or must you use a 9v all the time?

 

[theobservatory.]

By the way kugino, awesome pictures there. True to life colours. Using a Canon DSLR?

 

[jjhatfield]

I went with the Echo Indigo DJ, which not only offers up a quality line-out, but also a pretty decent headphone out, certainly better then what your current laptop offers. Having said that, I use the line out from my Echo Indigo DJ (which I paid 150USD for, kind of high but I was impatient) to my Headfive, and I am very happy with the result, namely a totally black background and great sound from foobar using ASIO.

Go spend a few days browsing around the Computer-As-Source forums, you'll learn a lot about PC based audio, and a lot about how one can stretch their wallet. Sorry about that btw.

 

[Question]

Echo Indigo DJ, or Echo Indigo IO

 

 

[lipidicman]

With an SPDIF that thing would be perfect!

 

[Question]

You're right

 

 

[Davesrose]

I notice that card doesn't have digital out. If I were to get a dedicated DAC, is there an Echo card that has digital out for it? Been looking at Creative's PCMCIA card for that (you can get it at New Egg for $80). Have been wondering if the Creative DAC would be bypassed if I used the digital signal to a DAC.

 

[tkam]

Squeezebox + dac would be a good option as well

 

[Question]

I remember some articles about loss in digital to digital converters.

 

[jjhatfield]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davesrose I notice that card doesn't have digital out. If I were to get a dedicated DAC, is there an Echo card that has digital out for it? Been looking at Creative's PCMCIA card for that (you can get it at New Egg for $80). Have been wondering if the Creative DAC would be bypassed if I used the digital signal to a DAC.

This is the unfortunate thing about the Echo Indigo, it doesn't give you the option of adding an external DAC. So that must be taken into consideration when purchasing it. I don't have a great deal of experience in this hobby of ours, but I have been quite pleased with the DJ's onboard DAC, and the fact that it is non-USB is a huge plus for my setup, since I already have so many USB devices (external HD, iPod dock, mouse, microphone, laptop cooler).

Of course it all comes down to what works for you.

EDIT: I have read that M-Audio makes great USB based products with top-notch SPDIF outs for use with an external DAC. Do a search for the "Transit" or "Audiophile" to learn more.

 

[Question]

"dac to dac" ?

 

[lipidicman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjhatfield I have been quite pleased with the DJ's onboard DAC

I hear you on the neatness of PCMCIA when you have lots of USB cables
I love the idea of having my phones hooked up directly and my HIFI and XCAN on the lineout when I need it.

Good to hear the DAC is good, but have you compared it to say $1k's worth of CD player? (I have CD63KI into XCANv2). I find it hard to get a comparison around here as people are either CD or PC!

 

[Davesrose]

Actually, I've noticed they use different DACs....the Creative one at least uses a Cirus Logic D/A converter. But it would be great if you could just find a SPDIF option that doesn't need to use a soundcard (I guess that's impossible, since the computer needs a sound driver). I'm more in a quandry about this for using my laptop with mp3s and cds.....my current laptop's soundcard actually clips my Headroom MicroAmp. Have heard that external DACs are a step up in sound.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Question Creative.. mmm I prefer Echo for pro audio. I'm not experienced in digital to digital converters (like a PCMCIA card for SPDIF output) but I even have seen some articles about loss in digital to digital converters. If the cost is an issue one may prefer the cheapest device for SPDIF out since most of them use the same chip (one or an other) for SPDIF.