shuttleboi
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2005
- Posts
- 344
- Likes
- 45
What is the general consensus (if any) on using the motherboard's S/PDIF digital outputs to feed a DAC and amp, as opposed to a soundcard's digital outputs?
(I've read that USB is inferior to digital outputs with respect to connecting to a DAC, so I am not considering that here.)
I have a new Asus P6T motherboard with Realtek ALC1200 chipset. I listen to mostly FLAC. I also have about $500 to spend on the source, which gives me two options with respect to a DAC:
1. Use the motherboard's digital outputs and buy a nice $500 DAC.
2. Buy a $200 sound card and a $300 DAC like the DAC Magic (or some numerical combination adding up to $500).
I don't have an amp at the moment, but I'm planning to get something decent immediately afterwards. I figure the source is more important than the amp. I also plan to upgrade my Senn 595 to the 650 in the summer.
(I've read that USB is inferior to digital outputs with respect to connecting to a DAC, so I am not considering that here.)
I have a new Asus P6T motherboard with Realtek ALC1200 chipset. I listen to mostly FLAC. I also have about $500 to spend on the source, which gives me two options with respect to a DAC:
1. Use the motherboard's digital outputs and buy a nice $500 DAC.
2. Buy a $200 sound card and a $300 DAC like the DAC Magic (or some numerical combination adding up to $500).
I don't have an amp at the moment, but I'm planning to get something decent immediately afterwards. I figure the source is more important than the amp. I also plan to upgrade my Senn 595 to the 650 in the summer.