[corvuslunar]

Ok I am new here and this might not be a high end question but I want to get the best sound I can from what I have.
 
PC mobo Audio out - 1/8th to RCA Cable into the CD/Line 2 - Yorkville SOK Mixer Amp- 1/4 to 1/8th connector - Senn HD201s
 
before I had my Pc connected to the amp with a 1/8 to 1/4  plugged into the EXT/FX port on my amp but it made my headphones sound gutless and I couldn't adjust anything on the amp...now I can.

 

[davidsh]

Don't understand why you need to pass the signal to your cd player?? Want to buy something new, what you need help with?

 

[BillsonChang007]

Don't understand why you need to pass the signal to your cd player?? Want to buy something new, what you need help with?

I was questioning that as well...

 

[corvuslunar]

not passing the signal to my cd player...the  port on my amp where my RCA cables plug into is labeled CD/Line . I am asking is this the best way to have it my PC connected to my amp.

 

[davebucklin]

Seems to me that the weak point in that chain would be the PC motherboard. Even if the DAC in there is good, there are lots of opportunities to introduce noise into the chain inside a PC. You may also be, effectively, double amping the signal (once in the PC, and again in the Yorkville). From a signal quality perspective, your best move may be to introduce an outboard DAC that will convert the digital signal from your PC and provide a line-level out to the Yorkville. One example of this is the Schiit Modi which can be had for about $100. I'm assuming that you're happy with the sound coming out of the Yorkville and your headphones. 
 
One potential weakness I haven't really discussed is your source. If you're listening to MP3s encoded at 128, you might not notice much of a difference with an outboard DAC. In fact, it might accentuate some of the harsher elements in the sound. In such a case, you would do better by upgrading your source.
 
These are just my ideas. Someone else may have other, equally valid suggestions.

 

[corvuslunar]

Headphones are fine when driven by the Amp....mainly i listen to cd's or something ripped to my Itunes..not sure how good of a source that is tho .  Main issue I have is i can pick up compression . Like I said just trying to make sure my pc is connected to my amp the right way mainly.

 

[davebucklin]

What you described sounds fine to me, but I must admit that I'm not an expert on that Yorkville mixer. If your motherboard has a line out, that might be ideal, otherwise I'm sure it's fine as-is.

 

[Makiah S]

Honestly you should buy something like a Fiio E07, it's a USB dac. Run your Dac into your amp, Mobo audio out is very bad always 

 

[davidsh]

Would recommend the Hifimediy DAC.

 

[corvuslunar]

Is running my audio 1/8th plug out from mobo to RCA In at amp better then running 1/8th out at mobo to 1/4 in on amp?

 

[Makiah S]

Quote:

Is running my audio 1/8th plug out from mobo to RCA In at amp better then running 1/8th out at mobo to 1/4 in on amp?

The size of the interconnector makes no differeance, 3.5mm and 6mm jacks are sonically the same. You really need a better sound card or an external Dac, that would give you an IMMEDIATE imcrease in sound quality! 

 

[corvuslunar]

Ok thank You what am I looking at for a decent ( under $100 ) DAC or sound card? Win XP os here

 

[davidsh]

Look at some of the highly regarded budget solutions out there... Like the hifimediy for example

 

[Makiah S]

Quote:

Ok thank You what am I looking at for a decent ( under $100 ) DAC or sound card? Win XP os here

Oh nice lol, good ole XP
 
Still I would think something like the Schiit Modi should still work 

 

[davidsh]

Considering what he owns now, a 100$ DAC might be overkill unless he is planning to upgrade. Ideally, I wouldn't spend more than some 50$ in his place. I don't suppose the Yorkville has a particularly good headphone amp anyway.