[daduy]

Dear Head-fi-ers,

I'm currently using my onboard laptop sound card as my source, they're nothing special, 1 headphone and 1 mic out. I have read around and i believe the easiest way to improve them is to bought an external sound card (edirol, m-audio, waveterminal) etc....

is there any other way to improve them? what if i bought a receiver (from what i know receiver is pre-amp/amp/tuner integrated into 1 device) and connect directly from my onboard sound card (can i even connect them directly?), or is it a receiver is just some kind of integrator for lots of audio/video equipment without amp/preamp on them?

Your enlightment is much appreciated

 

[leftnose]

A receiver will generally have an amp but they are really designed for speakers. Their headphone outs are not as good as most any headphone amp.

If I were you, I would get a good DAC. If you want portability, take a look at HeadRoom's Total Bithead or Meier's Porta Corda USB.

You would connect your laptop to one of the above with a USB cable and then connect your headphones to the amp.

 

[feh1325]

i love my bithead
its my most used piece of gear...used probably 5 hours a day

 

[daduy]

wow, thank you for the insight, i didn't realized receiver is build for speakers, i do have a cmoy amp, i guess usb sound card/ DAC is the solution

 

[lumanogin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by feh1325 /img/forum/go_quote.gif i love my bithead its my most used piece of gear...used probably 5 hours a day

I concur. I use this everytime I sit at my laptop.

 

[GreatDane]

Upgrading from your onboard laptop sound using a portable amp/DAC is my vote.

I use one and the difference is huge. I don't know much about the better sound cards but with an amp/DAC combo you get to use it anywhere.

 

[daduy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatDane /img/forum/go_quote.gif Upgrading from your onboard laptop sound using a portable amp/DAC is my vote. I use one and the difference is huge. I don't know much about the better sound cards but with an amp/DAC combo you get to use it anywhere.

thank you, i;m leaning toward m-audio transit/ philips aurilium --> vintage receiver

 

[EnOYiN]

Quote:

Originally Posted by daduy /img/forum/go_quote.gif thank you, i;m leaning toward m-audio transit/ philips aurilium --> vintage receiver

You can try another USB-DAC as well. If you like the headphone output of your receiver you can connect the DAC to your receiver. This is a pretty good solution in my opinion.

 

[Jimbo3b]

I've had my Total Bithead for a year or so with no problems. I'd choose it again.