[shriramosu]

Hi

I am a newbie to improving my sound on my computer (listen at work on headphones) SR 60.

My specs are my computer at work is a IBM T42 and right now use WMP 11, ripped my CD's on WMA format with little compression and listen through WMP 11. Also have itunes loaded.

My questions are what are the steps from easy to hard, and free to $$$ that I can take to improve my SQ.

Assume step 1 is re-rip CD's using FLAC (don't think can use .WAV as need some compression, hard drive is only 30 GB) though maybe can get an external hard drive, then play through Foobar, and using the ASIO plug in.

Is that step 1, ? and what would be good steps 2-5. (Know ideal is probably for me go to Stax headphones and Stax amps, have Acoustats at home and love detail/transparency in music).

Thanks

Shriram

 

[GreatDane]

I'm no computer guy so I bought a portable amp/DAC combo for use with my laptop as a quick upgrade. Very easy to use, just plug & play. Prices start at around $150 I think. The SQ shot up 500% from what the onboard crap delivered.

 

[Elephas]

Hi, welcome to Head-Fi.

Using a T42's headphone output, there probably isn't much you can do to improve sound quality. I don't think foobar ASIO would help.

You can try using the inexpensive Turtle Beach USB sound card. I used one with a T42 with good results. The headphone out was OK, line out to an amp was better, and optical out to a DAC and then amp was best. I recall using ASIO4ALL improved the sound.

I also had good results using an Echo Indigo DJ PCMCIA card with the T42. The Indigo DJ is compact and has a headphone port with volume knob. It also has a line out for use with an amp. I recall it sounded best with foobar ASIO.

Other options are USB DAC/amps such as the HeadRoom Total Bithead and Meier Corda Move, or various separate USB DAC+amp combinations.

If your budget allows, I recommend trying a used Indigo DJ with your T42. I bought one used in the FS forum for a great price.