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  Help me build a fine PC sound system

I’m looking for current suggestions to a great sounding desktop audio outfit which is pc driven or based completely.
!
Currently I’m using a Creative labs $50 USB sound card, and an Altec Lansing 2.1 desktop speaker system $200..

It really isn’t bad, and loads of fun. It allows me to play back lots of files & CDs I probably would not play too often on my main stereo.

So… I'm looking for recommendations of USB sound cards and a 2.1 speaker setup. Prefferably with both mechanical and software vol control, which will noticeably improve upon the aforementioned gear..

Noticeably.

What are your picks for:

USB sound card
2.1 speakers
2.0 speakers
Subwoofer

…… that will sound better than my above listed stuff? Actually it’s OK, but playing a setup disc it is easy to perceive how many areas of the bandwidth simply aren’t being honestly reproduced… but that’s about the only way to really highlight it’s shortcomings. Otherwise.. it’s well, fun…. And inexpensive.

Mainly the focus is for PC but if it will work with Macs too, that's great!. If it can integrate into a preamp or receiver or DAC too, that would be very nice, but not an absolutely necessary option.

Remember, the idea is a stand alone very, very nice sounding PC sound system first! It should be capable too of replaying file types from 16/44 to 24/192.

Do try to make the rig as inexpensive as is possible, so some reasonable and thoughtful blend of value to performance should be the real guideline.

I’m thinking too, as full range as is possible and likely a sub needs be in the mix… but nothing nutso.

Over achieving and high value items, front and center!

This might be fun…. Wadaya think?

Many thanks!
Blindjim  (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)

05-20-11
  Responses (1-45 of 45)
Click title to read one, or click date to read all below it.

05-20-11   For good sound, you pretty much have to go with an outboard ...   Meiwan

05-20-11   Hi jim, so you don't want to relocate your office rig, and ...   Sandstone

05-20-11   At work, i use a toshiba laptop w/ itunes usb ps audio dl ...   Soulbrass

05-21-11   Thanks so far... to everyone. actually a 'stand alone' syst ...   Blindjim

05-21-11   This might fit your bill, usb in so no need for soundcard! h ...   Arni

05-22-11   Thanks for the thought on the quads! i was wondering when s ...   Blindjim

05-23-11   Jim, i run a pc with firewire going to an maudio firewire t ...   Cerrot

05-24-11: Blindjim

Cerrot

ONce the signal is converted from 1394 or USB, the world is your oyster.

You might want to at some point, try either the Hiface, stick or EVO, or just go on up to the Lynx AES 16, card.

I had various M Audio cards, and a couple converters in here for a time, the Hiface was a slam dunk step above the MAudio stuff... BUT as importantly is the cable you attach to it, either the USB extension cable, or if plugged into the pc instead of a DAC, the RCA or BNC coax cable.

I went with the BNC and an Oyaide silver 1.3M BNC wire and was in hog heaven... until I took the plunge into a better interface for my gear.. the Lynx AES 16E... I'm about sure I can improve upon the Gotham cable that came along in that deal... but as is, all is much better still. In truth, best so far.

I use MC 15 & Fubar... I've about completely weened myself off iTunes now... and doing all in FLAC.

Blindjim  (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)


06-06-11   Hi blindjim, hoping things are better in your world, and rel ...   Sandstone

06-06-11   Sandstone thanks.. doing much better... time... time is th ...   Blindjim

06-06-11   "i believe i"m going to buy dbpower amp" i st ...   Sandstone

06-06-11   sandstone "i've also experienced the dreaded "15 ...   Blindjim

06-07-11   "say what?" not too terrible in the grand scheme ...   Sandstone

06-08-11   sandstone , thanks... i went ahead today and installed th ...   Blindjim

06-09-11   Hi bjim, glad that you had such good results with dbpower. ...   Sandstone

06-09-11   Oh - two more things i have to mention - if you haven't done ...   Sandstone

06-10-11   Wow! hmm.. theater view huh? i never mess with that... cool. ...   Blindjim

06-12-11   Thanks for the heads-up on hdtracks. i got ray's genius and ...   Sandstone

06-26-11   sandstone sorry i’m so late with a follow up here… been r ...   Blindjim

06-27-11   "i’ve tried a few of the converters. usb to spdif or us ...   Audioengr

07-03-11   I just made some sweet changes on my pc rig. i just ordered ...   Cerrot

07-03-11   I know there are people who think usb audio has its limitati ...   Sevendust32000

07-04-11   I am a firm believer that usb sucks and was just never inten ...   Cerrot

07-04-11   I guarantee the offramp4 will floor you when used with a goo ...   Sevendust32000

07-04-11   Cerrot - interesting that you believe the first berkeley usb ...   Audioengr

07-05-11   Steve, usb was neber designed for audio. that's a basic pr ...   Cerrot

07-05-11   Cerrot - your opinion i believe is based on a lot of misinfo ...   Audioengr

07-05-11   Steve, my opinion is not based on misinformation that i hav ...   Cerrot

07-05-11   If usb is so bad, then why would tas reviewer use it as his ...   Audioengr

07-06-11   Steve, i don't know how you can possibly defend usb with an ...   Cerrot

07-06-11   "i don't know how you can possibly defend usb with an a ...   Audioengr

07-06-11   My pc goes via squeezebox into an esoteric upconverter/clock ...   Cerrot

07-06-11   This guy knows usb can be better than vinyl: http://www.aud ...   Audioengr

07-07-11   steve, i’m sorry i misspelled your companies name. just a ...   Blindjim

07-07-11   Jim wrote: "decent converters? so iyo, where do decent ...   Audioengr

07-07-11   From someone who's owned steve's product, along with ridicul ...   Mb9061

07-08-11   Hi steve ... one last q… and a thought or two why do you f ...   Blindjim

07-08-11   Jim wrote: "why do you force a person to choose which w ...   Audioengr

07-09-11   Thanks steve over $3k w/o speakers for a very nice desktop ...   Blindjim

07-25-11   I've just completed my project of installing the esi juli@ i ...   Cerrot

07-25-11   Hi blindjim, i am attaching a thread from headfi.org thi ...   Timlub

07-26-11   Tim, thanks for posting a lead on the musiland. it's good t ...   Sandstone

07-27-11   Jim, "according to what i saw the other day on the dv ...   Sandstone

07-29-11   Always intereesting to listen to people talk about how to th ...   Davide256

07-31-11   "any other pc sound system users out there owning a spe ...   Jiminia


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