[mitchell_bb]

Before i begin the question i pose to the forum, as this is my first post to Head-Fi, let me tell you all a little bit about myself.

I have been interested in pursuing the best sound possible from all music sources for a little over a year, and it has certainly been an enjoyable one. I am yet to truly adapt my computer source to one which is satisfactory and instead i have been focussed on other sources. I have a very small collection of records (about 100) which i play regularly over my Pro-Ject Debut Mk 3. turntable and CDs over an NAD C525BEE. These two sources along with my computer are hooked up to a Sansui AU-555A (1971 Jap Amp) and output to some stereo 3-Way Teac Speakers. Also i will on occasion pull out a pair of Grado SR-80s. For a newly turned 18 year old, in a small bedroom, this a proven to be more than sufficient (no point starting right at the top

). However i have come to realise that though i have spent ample on records and CDs the source i use the most is my computer and simply outputing to RCA from the headphone socket no longer cuts it. So i have begun a search for an appropriate mechanism to transport music from the computer to my amplifier. This has proven to be a difficult search with so many options currently available. This is why i turn to everyone here for assistance and guidance, i have read many posts for recommendations for similar questions and the following options are the ones i have found:

(prices are given in US Dollars and include shipping to Australia)

Option A: PCI Souncard

(1) Onkyo Wavio SE-200 - $190
(2) M-Audio Audiophile 2496 - $101
(3) ESI Juli@ - $162

Option B: USB DAC

(1) Firestone Fubar II - $166
(2) EMU 0202 USB - $167

In terms of price i think the Onkyo ($190) is just pushing the limit, but i am willing to stretch this far, but no more (which means the 0404 is not an option sadly). I have noticed that many posts recommend a DAC over a soundcard (hopefully i have not misunderstood) and im just interested to know how something like the Fubar with a 16bit/48KHz DAC would compare to say a Juli@ with a 24bit/192KHz DAC. Any other suggestions which fall in this price range are also welcomed. I will be using this setup in the majority for music (say 95% of the time - and in stereo only) and the rest just for movies and games (but both of those are rarities. My musical interests extend into many genres, from Classic Rock (clapton, the who, led zepplin) to Progressive (yes, genesis) Jazz (Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Madeleine Peyroux) and even some classical. Hopefully that should be enough to go by

.

Any help will be very greatly appreciated.

- Many Thanks, Mitchell

 

[TheVinylRipper]

You are remarkably well written for an eighteen year old.

I got an Audiophile 2496 from the auction site that may not be named for under $60 shipped. It suits my needs very well playing into my Yamaha RX500U driving my Infinity "bookshelf" speakers.

I also have a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz and can't really tell a great deal of difference between it and the 2496.

I can turn both of them up all the way on my amp and not hear any noise from the speakers or my headphones although a younger person might be able to.

The Nyquist limit for a 96 kHz DAC is 48 kHz which is well up into bat sonar territory.

With PCM encoding each bit = 6 dB

24 * 6 = 144 dB dynamic range for a 24 bit DAC.

So with 24 bits and 96 kHz we have a frequency response out to bat sonar territory and a dynamic range of 144 dB.

Would you think that was enough?

 

[mitchell_bb]

Thanks for the advice and quick reply VinylRipper

, i will certainly take it into consideration. the M-Audio does seem like a very plausible option. Does anyone else have a different opinion / suggestion to make?

-Mitchell

 

[kamal007]

emu 0404 usb is only $150+tax aftr $50 rebate from guitarcenter

 

[poo]

I also live in Australia. I think you will find PCI solutions at far better prices than those you have listed. I am eagerly awaiting an EMU 1212 soundcard that I purchased from a member here two days ago, and bought it well within the budget you mention. In fact there are quite a number of 1212's for sale ATM that are cheaper than the one I opted for.

Considering your setup and what you are trying to achieve I would recommend researching a PCI solution a little more.

 

[poo]

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=250273

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=251014

Both look like amazing deals to me...

 

[Jay B]

You may want to go for a USB solution opposed to PCI. Since PCI is inside the computer it picks up noise from the other components. USB doesn't suffer from this.

The M-Audio Audiophile USB has been recommended by many. You should be able to find it much cheaper than the list price, such as here for $119. It has RCA outputs, coax digital out for if you ever get a newer amp or DAC, and a headphone jack.

 

[Silentscope]

If your interested in a PCI soundcard. The Auzentech X-Meridian is a brilliant card. You can change out the op-amps as well but this thing is awesome out the box. They will soon be releasing the Prelude as well.

 

[TGGoos]

Time to give this tread a bumb.

I'm having the same hard time desiding between a new pci soundcard or an usb dac. And I can find verry little information about the difference between them.
I just need a analog output so function whise there is no difference for me.

Just like Mitchell i find myself using my computer as a source more then my cd player (cyrus dad3).
I have a Corda Headamp-1 with Sennheiser hd600, but also use my normal amp and speakers from time to time.

Choice for me would be between the following:

1. Fubar usb dac
2. Emu 1212M
3. Esi Juli@

I can get de Emu and the Fubar for more or less the same price here in the NL, juli@ a bit cheaper.

Mitchell what did you diside to get and how is it working out for you?

Any of you have any experience or opinion about the sound quality between the options?

 

[redwires]

If you're still looking, you might want to take a look at the KECES PCM2702 DAC as discussed in this thread: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=263319

 

[TGGoos]

Looks good.
Don't now enough about it all to be able to tell if this is better then the Fubar II.

I see it uses the same dac, but some other parts. I like the internal power supley, makes it a bit cleaner.
RMAA test looks better, but not sure what it all means.