which components affect SQ most?

[davy374]

If I am going to put together a new desktop, which components most greatly affect SQ? I will probably be using an off-board DAC, be it USB or SPDIF via toslink, etc, so I don't imagine an onboard soundcard would make THAT much of a difference, but I could be wrong. I will also be using a headphone amp, so I do not need power for the sound. Also, if using an SPDIF out, will a different source have different sound quality? i.e., will the digital out of a cheaper sound card be the same as the digital out of a nice sound card? Thanks.

 

[thomaspf]

In my view without any doubt it will be your speakers or headphones

 

[davy374]

I guess i did forget to mention what i will be listening with. I will have UE super.fi 5 pro's and akg k701's, most likely.

 

[Deuterium]

I am by no means an expert on this, but the way I understand it is that if you get the signal out of your computer bit perfect to your external DAC, the computer sound card will not be important. That is the way I have set my system up with the Lavry DAC using Airport Express to move the information bit perfect. I am still in the burn-in phase of the Lavry (I am also using the internal Lavry headphone amp at this time), but I can tell you that the sound out of this system is quite good.

 

[Mr.Sneis]

I've been wondering if I use my e-mu 0404 exclusively for it's optical out to microDAC, can I just eliminate the 0404 and go to x-fi for it's superior gaming ability and use its coaxial digital out to the microDAC without a hit in SQ?

 

[maarek99]

mr. sneis: Yes you can.

 

[Asmo]

Digital tranasports make a difference.

Just because its 'bit perfect' does not mean you will not see any benefits with a soundcard with a better digital output stage. Also, optical is generally considered better for PC.

Try it for yourself.

 

[thomaspf]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asmo Digital tranasports make a difference.

Well I guess that depends on the DAC. With a Chord DAC64 in deep buffering mode I promise your transport will not matter as long as it is bit perfect.

For me a Lavry Black seems efficient enough to shield from the transport so that I worry about other factors.

Cheers

Thomas

 

[Xakepa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by davy374 If I am going to put together a new desktop, which components most greatly affect SQ? I will probably be using an off-board DAC, be it USB or SPDIF via toslink, etc, so I don't imagine an onboard soundcard would make THAT much of a difference, but I could be wrong. I will also be using a headphone amp, so I do not need power for the sound. Also, if using an SPDIF out, will a different source have different sound quality? i.e., will the digital out of a cheaper sound card be the same as the digital out of a nice sound card? Thanks.

Get Chaintech AV-710 for no money, and save for a DAC.

 

[Ypoknons]

It'd be nice to know what amp you're thinking of using as well.

 

[davy374]

right now it is a headroom micro w/desktop module. In the future, who knows.

 

[RedLeader]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asmo Just because its 'bit perfect' does not mean you will not see any benefits with a soundcard with a better digital output stage. Also, optical is generally considered better for PC.

Is it just me, or does bit perfect actually mean bit perfect? A 1 is still a 1 and a 0 is still a 0 delivered by optical or coaxial. And you can't have better QUALITY 1s and 0s, that makes no logical sense.

 

[davy374]

The difference is when those 1's and 0's come, as far as I can tell. It is the problem of jitter. I am aware of the problem, but not aware of how to fix it (i.e. which components affect SQ).

 

[RockinOut]

My 2 cents:

Do it right: Digital source---> DAC ------> Amp ------> Earphones.

It all depends on your budget and needs. Do a search here on head-fi or just start reading up with the formula above.

In a desktop or laptop the internal souncard is the DAC and usual of inferior sound quality than upgraded part like external DAC or DAC of internal soundcards like EMU.

You can get a DAC/amp combo unit like Aria or Headroom Desktop Amp/DAC or Total Bithead $200.

Or you can get separate components like MicroDAC or EMU fed to a separate amp of your choice.

Or MicroStack for $600: http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=179349

You can go cheap or really expensive. For me, MicroStack is the sweet spot for price and flexibility, but there's a lot of choice and products available for all budgets.

I hope this helps a bit in your search.

 

[davy374]

My next DAC will probably be the headroom micro, run from USB from a powerbook G4 or intel iMac or mac mini. I had been using a 2005 total bithead as dac and amp. I just bought a micro amp, and am using the tbh as my source occasionally. I was trying to get information on the quality of various digital sources. It seems like USB-I2S-DAC is the top of the line, with a debate on the merits of USB-SPDIF-DAC vs. straight SPDIF-DAC. Thanks for your help.