PinoyDVD: The Pinoy Digital Video & Devices Community
Home Theater => Audio => Setting Up => Topic started by: indie boi on Jan 31, 2012 at 12:25 PM
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I recently decided to spruce up my PC's audio setup. I used a pair of Wharfedale 9.1's that are powered by a T-amp. I have no plans of upgrading my soundcard just yet. But aside from the sound card, is there any other thing I need to maximize the audio quality of my PC? Do I need to get a DAC, or is it just an optional component?
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a 5k vintage int amp may feed the 9.1 better than the t-amp...just an opinion. dac's imo are best used if you have onboard generic soundcards.
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I recently decided to spruce up my PC's audio setup. I used a pair of Wharfedale 9.1's that are powered by a T-amp. I have no plans of upgrading my soundcard just yet. But aside from the sound card, is there any other thing I need to maximize the audio quality of my PC? Do I need to get a DAC, or is it just an optional component?
It would help if you get a DAC. Most PC sound card are not of audiophile quality and a DAC can expand your soundstage. Try to audition and test your setup with a DAC to compare the difference. AVShop offers the NUForce DAC that you can test.
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a 5k vintage int amp may feed the 9.1 better than the t-amp...just an opinion. dac's imo are best used if you have onboard generic soundcards.
Actually, the T-amp is just temporary. I've got a Denon amp waiting in the wings. The plan is to connect the PC as well as a couple of other sources to the Denon so I'll have an audio station where I work.
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It would help if you get a DAC. Most PC sound card are not of audiophile quality and a DAC can expand your soundstage. Try to audition and test your setup with a DAC to compare the difference. AVShop offers the NUForce DAC that you can test.
What should I look for in a DAC? I'm only using an onboard soundchip so I think the DAC is needed. I don't know much about DACs though. Does it get the audio signal from the USB port or from the audio jack?
I also don't want to spend too much on DACs yet. Is the Fiio D5 already good enough to suit my purpose?
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Actually, the T-amp is just temporary. I've got a Denon amp waiting in the wings. The plan is to connect the PC as well as a couple of other sources to the Denon so I'll have an audio station where I work.
then you should be all set. dac's may make a difference but not really much if you already have a good soundcard. but try it if you like. the cheapest dac i've read people use is the fiio d3 (http://www.fiio.com.cn/product/index.aspx?ID=33&MenuID=020302) but it only accepts optical and coax. i think they said it costs 1.3k??? not bad for a wolfson chip.
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also don't want to spend too much on DACs yet. Is the Fiio D5 already good enough to suit my purpose?
d5 has usb and costs almost the same so it will serve its purpose. i read d5 uses c-media (http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/11/fiio-d5-dac.html) which is just a regular brand of dac. i still prefer the e3's wolfson chip if you have spdif and coax out from your pc.
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The capability of the DAC you should look for would also depend on the kind of digital music you are playing. kung mga compressed music lang baka pwede kahit wala ng dedicated DAC since the improvement if any would be minimal imo. but if you will play high resolution digital music, then go get a DAC that can process the hi-res signal. marami na rin na mura na usb 24/96 capable.
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How about this one?
http://www.cdrking.com/index.php?mod=products&type=view&sid=6354&main=91
I actually have it here somewhere. Will using this make any difference? By the way, I am using a generic soundcard -- in fact, just the onboard audio chip.
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the cdrking might also be using the c-media chip. if you already have it lying around then i'd use that. there are times when we need to upgrade to a soundcard or use external dac because of the wear and tear our onboard audio port has been subjected to over the years.
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Ok. I'll try it out. Thanks. The D5 looks interesting but unfortunately my Mobo doesn't have a coax or optical out. I have to rely on the regular audio out port.
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Ok. I'll try it out. Thanks. The D5 looks interesting but unfortunately my Mobo doesn't have a coax or optical out. I have to rely on the regular audio out port.
you mean d3 sir. the d5 will make use of your usb.
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Sorry, D3 pala yung may Wolfson chip. Choices, choices. Would it be a good upgrade path to just get the D3 and then upgrade to a decent sound card that has a coax or optical out?
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^ i don't think that's a practical route. but let me pm you something.
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I use a Behringer UCA202.. available at Intune Stores. I use it on my dedicated 2 channel system with a netbook as a source. its a budget dac but good enough for me
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is intune a local store? how much in pesos bro? srp $29
said it uses burr browns. i might get one.
http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/02/behringer-uca202-review.html (http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/02/behringer-uca202-review.html)
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Around 2600 at INTUNE... yes its a local store. dont ask for a DAC at intune, they will say they dont have one. Ask for the UCA202, they call it by a different name hehehe audio digital device ata tawag nila
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^ layo pala sa dollar conversion ko. lolz. ok will do.
this might be perfect for the OP.
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Saan ang intune?
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Try Mega or MOA
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If I get the Behringer, do I still need to upgrade to a good quality soundcard?
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no need for a sound card.
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Try mo na rin sir Jriver player media center, layo ng tunog sa wmp and winamp.
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If I already have a receiver and use my netbook for playing music, will there be difference in sound quality if I use the Behringer UCA202 as my DAC?
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If I already have a receiver and use my netbook for playing music, will there be difference in sound quality if I use the Behringer UCA202 as my DAC?
yes,most netbooks kasi use low-end/onboard soundcard lang.
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SuperPro 707 usb dac performs very well, per my ears/preferred music genre/associated equipment/room.
YMMV
playback source material: CDs and iTunes lossless
btw, got mine brand new from brother Tamy (PDVD member).
(http://i43.tinypic.com/zmi35.jpg)
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sorry for necro sa thread...just want to know what budget DAC performs best? I have the cdr-king DAC (enma). I'm just wondering how the Behringer UCA 202 performs against it. actually, any other usb DAC against the enma. Thanks!
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sorry for necro sa thread...just want to know what budget DAC performs best? I have the cdr-king DAC (enma). I'm just wondering how the Behringer UCA 202 performs against it. actually, any other usb DAC against the enma. Thanks!
Try mo musiland 01 dac
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thanks man, where nga pala to available locally? around 3k ba?
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thanks man, where nga pala to available locally? around 3k ba?
http://www.pinoydvd.com/index.php/topic,159512.0.html
hth. :D
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Thanks nelson!
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question pa po. so kung PC set-up po, the chain would look like this?
PC > DAC (via USB, wala akong spdif/optical) > amp > speakers
Tama po ba? 2.0 or 2.1 lang po gusto ko since small room lang naman (10 sqm)
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question pa po. so kung PC set-up po, the chain would look like this?
PC > DAC (via USB, wala akong spdif/optical) > amp > speakers
Tama po ba? 2.0 or 2.1 lang po gusto ko since small room lang naman (10 sqm)
Yep that's correct. usb is fine, i believe nga it should be better because it's a faster medium to transfer data.
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thanks sir! what amp naman po ang ok and speakers na din. plan ko sana kumuha sa A Audio ng speakers. sa amp, no idea for speakers, hanggang headphones lang po kabisado ko. ;D
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thanks sir! what amp naman po ang ok and speakers na din. plan ko sana kumuha sa A Audio ng speakers. sa amp, no idea for speakers, hanggang headphones lang po kabisado ko. ;D
subjective kasi sir yung preference sa amp and speakers, best way talaga is to audition. libre naman magaudition at napakabait pa ng mga local retailers natin. i recommend what hifi, avshop and avdi. ;) pati dac meron din silang dala dun.
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maraming salamat sir. check ko po sila. sana may pasok sa budget...nasa 8k to 10k lang sana for speakers and amp.
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maraming salamat sir. check ko po sila. sana may pasok sa budget...nasa 8k to 10k lang sana for speakers and amp.
you can also check our marketplace, there are nice deals out there from time to time ;)
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thanks thanks!
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question po ulit. nakakuha na ko optical cable. now my PC shows na active naman ang /PDIF ko kaso wala naman akong makitang external jack/connection for it. I have the 3.5 colored pink (mic), green (output) and blue (input) and that's it for audio connections. how could I use the S/PDIF function ng PC ko?
Thanks ulit sa tulong.
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question po ulit. nakakuha na ko optical cable. now my PC shows na active naman ang /PDIF ko kaso wala naman akong makitang external jack/connection for it. I have the 3.5 colored pink (mic), green (output) and blue (input) and that's it for audio connections. how could I use the S/PDIF function ng PC ko?
Thanks ulit sa tulong.
Why get an optical Kung wala palang optical out yung pc? USB connection na Lang brother.
PC -> USB cable -> DAC -> RCA -> amp
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thought na isa sa mga jacks doubles as S/PDIF just like yung sa laptop ko (have a 3.5 adaptor for the optical/toslink). and yung DAC ko kasi walang via USB, optical lang. :(
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thought na isa sa mga jacks doubles as S/PDIF just like yung sa laptop ko (have a 3.5 adaptor for the optical/toslink). and yung DAC ko kasi walang via USB, optical lang. :(
Most of such desktops use an internal header for SPDIF, if there is no external SPDIF port. In such a case, something like this may be needed to access this functionality:
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-znu5RfMoRas/TqxhpmdWeLI/AAAAAAAABSM/i_rrQk9Jnow/s1600/spdif_bracket.jpg)
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Most of such desktops use an internal header for SPDIF, if there is no external SPDIF port. In such a case, something like this may be needed to access this functionality:
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-znu5RfMoRas/TqxhpmdWeLI/AAAAAAAABSM/i_rrQk9Jnow/s1600/spdif_bracket.jpg)
Thanks! May pins sa mobo ko na labeled as spdif, I guess dun sya isasalpak, right? will just have to look for that then.
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Thanks! May pins sa mobo ko na labeled as spdif, I guess dun sya isasalpak, right? will just have to look for that then.
Yep, ganun na nga. Mahirap humanap nyan part na yan, before nakakita ako sa Gilmore pero matagal na yun. I have not seen it since.
Mura lang kasi at maliit ang market, kaya siguro hindi nagsastock ang stores.
http://www.amazon.com/SPDIF-RCA-Plate-Cable-Bracket/dp/B0035J9Z7W (http://www.amazon.com/SPDIF-RCA-Plate-Cable-Bracket/dp/B0035J9Z7W)
You can opt to get a USB to SPDIF adapter or a sound card with SPDIF out kung wala ka mahanap nung part. Alternately, pwede din USB DAC kung gusto mong deretso na.
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Mukha ngang easirst way is padaanin na lang sa el cheapo DAC ko for me to use the other DAC. would it still use the DAC chip of the 2nd DAC? link would be like this: PC > USB > DAC 1 > toslink > DAC 2 > amp > headphones/speakers
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Mukha ngang easirst way is padaanin na lang sa el cheapo DAC ko for me to use the other DAC. would it still use the DAC chip of the 2nd DAC? link would be like this: PC > USB > DAC 1 > toslink > DAC 2 > amp > headphones/speakers
Pwede. pero why not get a single DAC na lang to lessen clutter...? May Musiland naman. Hehe!
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you can also DIY..this link will show you how..http://forum.videohelp.com/threads/333711-S-PDIF-connectors-and-making-your-own-MB-S-PDIF-connector
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Pwede. pero why not get a single DAC na lang to lessen clutter...? May Musiland naman. Hehe!
I agree. It will sound fuller pa. :)
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Pwede. pero why not get a single DAC na lang to lessen clutter...? May Musiland naman. Hehe!
tipid mode sir eh. I already have 2 DACs kasi. unfortunately, di na ko satisfied dun sa isang DAC ko na may USB connection. pero I'll consider getting a Musiland pagnakaipon.
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in my case, i have an old pc with coax and optical out, do i still need a dac. Thanks!
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in my case, i have an old pc with coax and optical out, do i still need a dac. Thanks!
if you're going to plug it to a receiver with optical or coax in no need but if your going to plug it to an integrated amp yes you do
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in my case, i have an old pc with coax and optical out, do i still need a dac. Thanks!
May analog output na din yan most likely so may DAC na yan. try to use it muna and see kung type mo yun sound. Kung type mo, tipid ka pa. If not, you can use an outboard DAC either may toslink or coaxial digital input or, USB DAC na lang.
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i have a creative soundcard.... the audigy 2ZS.... do i still to have a DAC?
(http://ask.creative.com/wwimages/general/product_guides/Audigy2_ZS.jpg)
here's the specification....
High Definition Audio Quality for Playback and Recording
24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion during playback with sampling rates of 8, 11.025, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48 and 96kHz in 7.1 mode and up to 192kHz in stereo mode
24-bit Analog-to-Digital conversion during recording in 8, 16 or 24-bit at sampling rates of 8, 11.025, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48 and 96kHz
24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion of digital sources at 96kHz to analog 5.1 speaker output
16-bit recording with sampling rates of 8, 11.025, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1 and 48kHz
SPDIF output up to 24-bit resolution at 48 or 96kHz
ASIO 2.0 drivers for low latency (as low as 2ms) multi-track playback and recording at 16bit/48kHz*
*(Latency performance may vary based on system configuration)
Wave-Table Synthesis and Midi Features
Creative Hardware synthesizer (2x16 channels) with 64-voice polyphony featuring E-MU®'s patented 8-point interpolation technology for accurate sample reproduction
Creative Software synthesizer - multi timbral wave-table (16 channels)
2 MIDI I/O ports (2x16 channels) (gameport adapter required for MIDI I/O 2)
FireWire® (IEEE® 1394) Connectivity
FireWire® (IEEE® 1394) / i-Link® compatible interface with up to 400Mbps transfer rate
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS On-Board Connectors
Line level out (Front / Side / Rear / Center / Subwoofer)
Digital Out for 5.1 support (6-channel SPDIF output to Creative digital speakers
Line in
Microphone in
FireWire® (IEEE® 1394)
Telephone Answering Device in
Analog / Digital CD Audio in
15-pin MIDI / Joystick port extension header
Internal IEEE® 1394 header to Audigy 2 ZS Internal I/O Drive
AD_EXT extension header to Audigy 2 ZS Internal I/O Drive
Works with the Following Standards
Windows® 98SE, 2000, ME and XP
Supports Windows XP SP2
Sound Blaster MIDI and General MIDI
Plug and Play Sound Blaster PCI
EAX, EAX ADVANCED HD*
THX®
Microsoft® DirectSound®, DirectSound 3D & derivatives
Plug and Play Sound Blaster PCI
OpenAL™
PCI 2.2 compliant
AC97 compliant
Dolby Digital® and Dolby Digital EX
DTS Digital Surround® and DTS-ES Extended Surround™
Meridian Lossless Packing
ASIO 2.0
Dolby Digital® and Dolby Digital EX
SoundFont 2.1
DVD-Audio and Advanced Resolution™ DVD-Audio
Windows Media® Audio 9
how about it sir?
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i have a creative soundcard.... the audigy 2ZS.... do i still to have a DAC?
(http://ask.creative.com/wwimages/general/product_guides/Audigy2_ZS.jpg)
here's the specification....
High Definition Audio Quality for Playback and Recording
24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion during playback with sampling rates of 8, 11.025, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48 and 96kHz in 7.1 mode and up to 192kHz in stereo mode
24-bit Analog-to-Digital conversion during recording in 8, 16 or 24-bit at sampling rates of 8, 11.025, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48 and 96kHz
24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion of digital sources at 96kHz to analog 5.1 speaker output
16-bit recording with sampling rates of 8, 11.025, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1 and 48kHz
SPDIF output up to 24-bit resolution at 48 or 96kHz
ASIO 2.0 drivers for low latency (as low as 2ms) multi-track playback and recording at 16bit/48kHz*
*(Latency performance may vary based on system configuration)
Wave-Table Synthesis and Midi Features
Creative Hardware synthesizer (2x16 channels) with 64-voice polyphony featuring E-MU®'s patented 8-point interpolation technology for accurate sample reproduction
Creative Software synthesizer - multi timbral wave-table (16 channels)
2 MIDI I/O ports (2x16 channels) (gameport adapter required for MIDI I/O 2)
FireWire® (IEEE® 1394) Connectivity
FireWire® (IEEE® 1394) / i-Link® compatible interface with up to 400Mbps transfer rate
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS On-Board Connectors
Line level out (Front / Side / Rear / Center / Subwoofer)
Digital Out for 5.1 support (6-channel SPDIF output to Creative digital speakers
Line in
Microphone in
FireWire® (IEEE® 1394)
Telephone Answering Device in
Analog / Digital CD Audio in
15-pin MIDI / Joystick port extension header
Internal IEEE® 1394 header to Audigy 2 ZS Internal I/O Drive
AD_EXT extension header to Audigy 2 ZS Internal I/O Drive
Works with the Following Standards
Windows® 98SE, 2000, ME and XP
Supports Windows XP SP2
Sound Blaster MIDI and General MIDI
Plug and Play Sound Blaster PCI
EAX, EAX ADVANCED HD*
THX®
Microsoft® DirectSound®, DirectSound 3D & derivatives
Plug and Play Sound Blaster PCI
OpenAL™
PCI 2.2 compliant
AC97 compliant
Dolby Digital® and Dolby Digital EX
DTS Digital Surround® and DTS-ES Extended Surround™
Meridian Lossless Packing
ASIO 2.0
Dolby Digital® and Dolby Digital EX
SoundFont 2.1
DVD-Audio and Advanced Resolution™ DVD-Audio
Windows Media® Audio 9
how about it sir?
Like what Nelson de Leon said that is already a DAC (Digital to Analog Converter)
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thanks..... ;D
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I use a Behringer UCA202.. available at Intune Stores. I use it on my dedicated 2 channel system with a netbook as a source. its a budget dac but good enough for me
the unit is noisy though. you will appreciate the sound of silence more with a better DAC. there's audible hiss during low level listening or if there is no music playing.
i tested a fiio unit once it was very silent. as silent as my presonus firestudio project
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yang noise and grain din ang pansin ko sa isa kong dac with usb input. anong fiio yung silent sir? E10?
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Most of such desktops use an internal header for SPDIF, if there is no external SPDIF port. In such a case, something like this may be needed to access this functionality:
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-znu5RfMoRas/TqxhpmdWeLI/AAAAAAAABSM/i_rrQk9Jnow/s1600/spdif_bracket.jpg)
My mb (asrock h77 pro4mvp) only has an hdmi spdif header with gnd and spdifout, there are 5V on other headers. Will it work if I split that way? Alternatively, I have an old audigy 2 zs, could I use its header? Thanks.
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I got lucky with my unit, its dead silent.
the unit is noisy though. you will appreciate the sound of silence more with a better DAC. there's audible hiss during low level listening or if there is no music playing.
i tested a fiio unit once it was very silent. as silent as my presonus firestudio project
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hmmm...does it mean na may quality check issues sa behringer since may units na silent, then merong noisy?
as of now, set-up ko pa lang is PC > Dared MP5 > A-Audio Charisma FS
will be getting a Baby G. now sa DAC naman, naisip ko na kumuha ng FiiO E10 due to budget reasons. yung MP5 kasi direct nakasalpak sa PC since may USB input.
any other suggestion how to improve my audio chain?
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try hrt ms 2.. :)
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thanks! naisip ko din yang HRT MS2. will try that.
as of now, nagagamit ko na yung isang DAC ko na optical lang ang input. pinapadaan ko sa enma muna. for me, mas malinis kasi tumunog yung AT-HA25D.
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+1 ako sa HRT.
Papalit-palit ako ng soundcards and DACs until I stopped with the Musicstreamer. For the price, ok talaga yung MSII. Gusto ko yung sound signature niya. Hindi ko binitawan in spite of the initial clicking issues na na-address naman with regular firmware updates from HRT and switching to 24-bit kernel streaming mode sa Jriver or Event-Mode WASAPI 3.0 sa foobar2000.
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I'm thinking of upgrading my PC setup with a USB DAC..possibly HRT MSII, superpro or musiland....what's the difference po sa tatlo?..in terms of sound quality, meron ba pagkaiba?..is there such thing as a warm sounding DAC or bright sounding DAC?..big difference po ba ang 96/24 compared to 44/16?
My current PC setup: Macbook ==>optical ==> Denon DA 500 ==> Integrated Amp ==> FS speakers..
The DA 500 can only convert 16 bit but can upsample up to 20 bit and only up to 48khz...
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I'm thinking of upgrading my PC setup with a USB DAC..possibly HRT MSII, superpro or musiland....what's the difference po sa tatlo?..in terms of sound quality, meron ba pagkaiba?..is there such thing as a warm sounding DAC or bright sounding DAC?..big difference po ba ang 96/24 compared to 44/16?
My current PC setup: Macbook ==>optical ==> Denon DA 500 ==> Integrated Amp ==> FS speakers..
The DA 500 can only convert 16 bit but can upsample up to 20 bit and only up to 48khz...
Yes sir. There are sonic differences between the 3 DACs. Pero i leave that for others to comment. Just trust your ears.
And yes sir, may difference ang 16 bit vs 24 bit, to some malaki, to others, minor. Foobar can upsample your music file pero hindi ko nagustuhan kaya hindi na ako nag-upsample.
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Yes sir. There are sonic differences between the 3 DACs. Pero i leave that for others to comment. Just trust your ears.
And yes sir, may difference ang 16 bit vs 24 bit, to some malaki, to others, minor. Foobar can upsample your music file pero hindi ko nagustuhan kaya hindi na ako nag-upsample.
ako na magcocomment. i find the musiland 01 warm sounding while 03 is refined. i actually compared this to superpro 707 before. in my own opinion, i wasn't impressed by how the 707 sounded, i felt that the sound became somewhat laid back. i think it's better if you audition both, watt hifi has both dacs plus more. for it's price, the 01 is the best bang for the buck. yun lang if you are using a macbook, be sure to use bootcamp para you can use the full functionality of the musiland dac drivers and software.
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Thank you sir siento bente for the detailed description and comparison between musiland and superpro..do you have an idea on how musiland fares with Htr ms 2? My choice will now be between the 2...