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  Computer output to DAC, which route?
I have disbanded my main system because I am using my computer system more and more. I am going to purchase an outboard DAC for my computer, but I want to know something:
My computer comes equipped with COAX and TOSLINK outputs on the motherboard. Should I use one of those or use a DAC with a USB connection? WHat are the pluses and minuses of each way if any? I am using typical Altec Lansing speakers (good for what they are) but will probably move up to active Dynaudio monitors in the future. All music is sourced from itunes in either AAC or apple lossless formats.

Thanks in advance!
Phoenix469  (Threads | Answers | This Thread)

10-20-07
  Responses (1-65 of 65)
Click title to read one, or click date to read all below it.

10-20-07   audio asylum computer audio forum   Herman

10-21-07   Toslink if you favor the upper freq. and coax if you favor t ...   Slikric3000

10-21-07   If you are sticking with itunes then you have a couple of ch ...   Audioengr

10-21-07   Ok, thanks for the input. i am limited to using a pc, not a ...   Phoenix469

10-22-07   Use vista and usb. should be better than onboard digital ou ...   Eandylee

10-23-07   Eandylee - itunes should not be used with usb on a pc. resu ...   Audioengr

10-25-07   Well, he's saying "i am limited to using a pc" th ...   Eandylee

10-25-07   Besides, i heard that the kmix problem is fixed in vista?   Eandylee

10-27-07   Sooo, if i stick with windows xp , digital out would be ok, ...   Phoenix469

10-27-07   If you are using windows xp, then dont use itunes, unless wi ...   Audioengr

10-27-07   What would you reccomend other than itunes? windows media p ...   Phoenix469

10-27-07   No, not wmp. with a pc, either use foobar2000 0.8.3 or jriv ...   Audioengr

11-03-07   Phoenix469, i am never one to argue with steve he is very k ...   Artizen65

11-07-07   Artizen65, i'd just like to share my experience with you. ...   Thesauce

01-26-08   I agree that you should avoid the digital outputs on your co ...   Rdb001

01-29-08   Ben (thesauce), what power supply upgrade do use with your ...   Thomasedison

02-24-08   Is ethernet rj45 better than usb conversion to optical or xl ...   Hamburg

02-25-08   One of the best options for pc is the apogee rosetta 200 wit ...   Ajahu

02-25-08   What is the sonic difference between media monkey and foobar ...   Tcatman

02-26-08   I use dbpoweramp for ripping and media monkey for playback. ...   Musicman07

02-26-08   Thanks, so, with windows xp, i need the asio driver to avoi ...   Tcatman

03-02-08   I have a similiar question. currently, i use vista/album pl ...   Wahoo_envy

03-13-08   Thanks for that input thesauce! i am just now looking at th ...   Puerto

04-04-08   Puerto, no need for the usb 2.0. usb 1 has more than enoug ...   Thesauce

04-04-08   Thesauce - usb 1.1 supports streaming audio, but most usb 1. ...   Audioengr

05-27-08: Inwanw
Ok, going to place the question here. MacMini has no outputs except the mini RCA jacks it looks like. Have not bought one was thinking this might be one way to go. Was thinking of using a Mac Mini with itunes. But will I get decent sound out of the Mac/
Inwanw  (Threads | Answers | This Thread)


05-28-08   Inwanw - why not use the usb outputs for audio? with a conv ...   Audioengr

05-28-08   Audioengr, thank you, i think that i am seeing how this come ...   Inwanw

06-25-08   Check out the soundblaster lineup of outboard soundcards/dac ...   Mmarvin19

07-11-08   I actually own an external $50 soundblaster x-fi surround 5. ...   Androxylo

07-30-08   In my humble opinion going usb dac is the only quality way. ...   Istanbulu

07-30-08   If you really want to hear pc audio at it's best, go firewir ...   Cerrot

07-31-08   . cerrot, several usb dacs have their own independent powe ...   Istanbulu

08-24-08   I tend to agree with the external usb dac as the route to qu ...   Patrickp

09-25-08   Depends on the budget, depends on your ear/brain, if it like ...   Juanpablocuervo

12-11-08   Go usb with quality usb dac. my personal opinion prefer nos ...   Milen007

03-08-10   Milen007 - there is no difference in the actual data between ...   Jeenam

04-05-10   If you are using toslink/spdif out of the computer into a pr ...   Amitora

05-18-10   Hey audioengr. so if you're using mac and itune. use the u ...   Gmahler2u

06-05-10   Use a firewire device. firewire is the best connection proto ...   Mikal21

06-28-10   Grace design m902b headphone amp and asus xonar hdav 1.3 sou ...   Dnewhous

07-24-10   The one box solution: i have been a pretty hardcore analog ...   Mbhintz

02-26-11   I have a question. i have a rega dac and a macbook. i would ...   Sabocat59

02-26-11   I'm in a similar situation... i have a new macbook pro and t ...   Pdreher

04-22-11   Is the halide bridge asynchoronous ? in the same shoes and l ...   Nolitan

04-24-11   Nolitan - according to the review on computer audiophile, ye ...   Pdreher

05-15-11   I see you are recom..wav files thru your mac mini..i just go ...   Zugisland

08-26-11   I had to re rip everything into aiff for my new mac mini.... ...   Naggots

09-29-11   Try usb output to audophilleo converter leaving in spdif to ...   Devilboy

01-11-12   Wow! just about everything you've posted matches my own situ ...   Blindjim

01-14-12   I, too, have found that the best sounding interface (for me, ...   Cerrot

02-01-12   Q: coax or toslink from mobo? a: neither why: using either ...   Sevende

02-22-12   Greetings, the on board digital outputs on the pc can playb ...   Moonlightaudio

02-22-12   Gmahler wrote: "quite hard concepts to swallow" w ...   Audioengr

02-22-12   Neal - nice advertisement. maybe i should do one too. bett ...   Audioengr

10-24-12   I have a custom desktop pc with a very good motherboard. i'v ...   Tortugaranger

10-24-12   The explanation is lower jitter. the more you spend on the ...   Audioengr

10-25-12   Tortugaranger: what $20 converter did you get?   Devilboy

12-08-12   Unless your computer is in the same room with your stereo (w ...   Lupinthe3rd

12-08-12   Also, if you insist on using your computer directly as an au ...   Lupinthe3rd

12-09-12   Lupin - async usb works great, and furthermore beats firewir ...   Audioengr

12-09-12   i know that you have the expertise, steve, but i own both ...   Richardfinegold

12-10-12   Richard - the firewire that is available is outperformed by ...   Audioengr

12-20-12   It is difficult to compare usb to firewire since firewire is ...   Kijanki

03-22-13   I am just starting to look into this. my constraints are a ...   Samuelfigueroa


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