Sound Card with External DAC

I use a SB Audigy II, which has 3.5mm s/pdif digital out, with an adapter (3.5mm mono to mono RCA), run to a Theta DSPro Basic DAC.

It sounds very nice. Much, much better than the analog outs from the sound card.

Many sound cards use this 3.5mm s/pdif out.

I would recommend, when the oportunity presents itself, that you add a dedicated transport. Any CDP should be much better than an internal CD-ROM drive in a computer.

I may upgrade to an M Audio brand card soon, I have heard they are very nice for the money. Will probably still use an outboard DAC though.

While I am not familiar with Resolution audio or their setup, I am familiar with the run-of-the-mill $20.00 CD-ROM drive found in most OTC computers.

1) CD-ROMS are designed for data, NOT audio. Inspect the audio outs on any CD-ROM drive, certainly not adequate by my standards.

2) The signal path inside most Computers is data oriented. i.e. Horrific for audio, low quality jumpers here and there, poor quality connectors, poor quality cables, indiotic routing, etc.

The original poster requested information on how to best setup an outboard DAC with his Computer, I gave an informed opinion on how to best achieve this. Along with this information I included a basic observation. In mine, and every other system that I have heard, using a CDP as a transport is FAR FAR superior to the internal CD drive. Outboard DACS or analog from the Comp, either way, a dedictated transport was superior.

I have not listened to some of the very high end sound cards, however, if memeory serves me, the original poster didnt make mention of a high end music server/workstation.

So, I still believe even a "snobbish" JVC or brand-X CDP from say, Kmart, will outperform most (read: NOT ALL) internal CD-ROM drives, since, obviously they are designed with audio in mind.

Boogie, maybe you should take it over to the "cables" forum and explain to all the nice Audiphiles that their ears are all wrong.

They, for some reason, think that digital cables sound different. 1s are 1s and 0s are 0s, data is data, by your own admission.

And thats just the cable issue you didnt address the "transport" at all. I guess all those audiophiles who think they make a difference must be wrong as well.

"It is an insult to a computer engineer to say that the computer does not maintain data integrity." Who said that. Let me read my post again. Umm nope.

Well since we are drawing conclusions....

It is an insult to an Audiophile to conclude that all his hard earned money and time are misguided on useless CD transports and high dollar Digital cables.

I guess dejittering is a waste of time/money as well?

Jposs, I said "should" sound better. Definately not absolutely will. Should isnt absolute by any stretch of the imagination.

Jposs, I figured we were on the same page, I just wanted anyone reading our stuff to garner good usable information. That, and the snobbery thing sorta lit a fire under my butt, but its all in good fun, without tort and retort life would be too boring. =)

Boogie, I think we are from different schools on this issue. Some, feel data is data, others, such as myself, believe there is something more, shall I say, ethereal.

I will acknowledge that it stands to reason that the data should be just that, data, but too many times a simple change, such as a transport drive or digital cable change, made a difference in the sound. Sometimes a very large difference.

I feel that by default musics 3 demensionality is more than simple data, it conveys both Time and Space.

I would like to be clear that, simply because I said most computers and their CD-ROM drives probably arent the best medium for garnering musical data, doesnt mean that they(computers) somehow dont have data integrity. They are marvelous machines, in fact after audio gear, they are my second hobby, and probably command more of my time than the audio stuff. I have and maintain several. I do not questions the computers data integrity. As a matter of fact they are designed for just that. However, data integrity, while critical, is not synonimous with high quality audio, IMO.

I think I am going to start a thread, in the digital forum, to gather some opinions on this matter. I think it will be enlightening and fun.

If I may make an analogy Boogie, if that were the case, symphonies would only hire Musicians who can read music well and would care less about the ability to actually play the instruments.

"Reading" the Data is merely the tip of the iceberg.

Well yes Onhwy61, but he did say, "this computer and its TRANSPORT will serve as the source...." although I agree with you, a harddrive based playback system probably would be better. It truly is an interesting topic. I am curious where the integration of HD technology with digital audio playback will take us.