Getting the best from PC audio

[Chris OH]

Hello folks,

Its Saturday, it looks like we will get stuffed in the cricket, SWMBO is off in France on a weeks holiday and my thoughts have turned to what to "invest" in next

I am a confirmed audiofool and have only in the last year or so turned my attention to digital music for my main system. For years i resisted the tide and kept myself happy with a constant stream of second hand and new vinyl.

Anyway for one reason or another i am now plunging into the 21st century and want to make the right choices in what seems to be a proverbial mindfield!

I have an HTPC with 750GB of disk space, all the processing power i need for DVD and PC audio and an RME soundcard (9632). This is 3 feet away from my preamp and as such i suppose i do not need a Squeezebox for my main system.

However, i am thinking of buying one for my second system which is two floors down so a couple of questions if i may

1. given hard wiring is not an option, is wireless going to work?

2. Having said i dont think i need a squeezebox for my main system, is there any benefit in terms of sound quality over the DAC in the RME (using EAC and .ape files currently)


All the best

Chris

[ceejay]

Hello folks,

Its Saturday, it looks like we will get stuffed in the cricket, SWMBO is off in France on a weeks holiday and my thoughts have turned to what to "invest" in next

1. given hard wiring is not an option, is wireless going to work?

2. Having said i dont think i need a squeezebox for my main system, is there any benefit in terms of sound quality over the DAC in the RME (using EAC and .ape files currently)



(0) cricket - yes, unless we all do a raindance

(1) wireless - probably, depending on how much concrete the signal has to go through! Many people here successfully using wireless squeezeboxes, I have two and they work very well (better at picking up the wireless signal than my laptop or handheld)

(2) lots of debate in this forum on that one ... nearest thing to a consensus (if such a thing is possible amongst audiophiles) is that the SB2's DAC is pretty good for the money, but if you want to spend lots of dosh it is possible to improve on it.

Regards
ceejay

[Triode]

Re 2 - I doubt you will think SB2 internal dac is better than the RME - I think you will be looking at an external dac to get a significant improvement. SB2 would clearly be an option for this, but the RME also has a good output [it should at the price - you could get a wired and a wireless SB2 for the RME price]

I rather like my RME as it gives me quality sound from my work room, but do serious listening from an external dac connected to SB2 or CD tranport, but only as the RME is in a different room.

You may want to try the foobar secret rabit resampling stuff with the RME mentioned on AA's computer audio asylum [but I see you posted there too!]

Adrian

[Chris OH]

Morning Ceejay,

English cricket didn't get where it is today without some remarkable raindancing, well done that man. Still pretty unsatisfactory result all the same if it rains again tomorrow.

The house is 100 yrs old, semi built in Yorkshire stone with beams / wooden floors so I hope wireless might work, I suppose I should go for a wireless network for my laptop once it is replaced with one with a card in it first.

Hi Triode, I postted over in the assylum at the same time as here as i thought there might be two approaches ie getting the most out of the card itself in my main system and using a SB2 and / or external DAC for a second system.

From your response it seems you are using an external DAC/SB2 in your main system. The question I suppose i still have is whether you would use an external DAC if the card was in close proximity to your main preamp?

This stated for me after reading about the DAC1 people are raving about on a UK forum Pink Fish Media which i lurk in from time to time.

I was also happy with the RME compared to any CD player i have had, largely i suppose because i never spent much on CD replay. That said it is blown into the weeds by my vinyl set up and i think there must be more to get by tweaking or spending a bit more.....

All the best

Chris

[Triode]

I think the RME analogue output will always be limited in comparison with a high end external dac - but you probably want to try whatever you are considering out as you need to get into the region where you are spending reasonable amounts of money on the dac to improve.

I think there were some posts on the http://www6.head-fi.org/ computers as sources forum about modded RMEs and DAC1s - I think the conclusion was that the DAC1 was preferred. [Though I have never heard one myself and would want to before buying]

[Chris OH]

I spent some time looking through the Headfi stuff and found the comparisons you mentioned. Looks like the analogue upgrades to the RME failed but that using digitalout to the Benchmark is up there.

What I need to sort now is whether there is an option for two SP/DIF outputs from the RME, one for DVD and the other for a DAC.

All the best

Chris

[Jetlag]

My own solution is quite similar to what you are considering.

I bought a used Benchmark DAC1 that was purchasd new in April of this year. The seller guaranteed me that it is in "new" condition. It arrives on Wednesday.

I will be running:

server side decoding of my FLAC files via "Slimserver" >> gigabit ethernet >> Squeezebox2 >> a custom single ended digital coax cable >> DAC1 >> analog out into amplifier >> speakers (no Pre, Pro or Receiver!)

The dig-coax connector on the DAC1=BNC and on the SB2=RCA, so I am having a short BNC to RCA cable made so I do not have to use an 'adapter'. *shudder* ;)

I wired my house using all CAT6 components and Belden bonded pair CAT6 cable, so will obviously use this as opposed to WIFI. I did get the wireless version of the SB2, just to have the added flexibility however.

My FLAC files were encoded from lossless WAV (using the EAC ripper and the FLAC encoder). The sound should be stellar as I now have perfect bit-4-bit sound decoded via an awesome DAC, and pumped directly to my speakers via an Anthem amplifier. I will also eventually be getting a tube amp (on loan from a good friend), and will do some thorough listening test once the setup is complete.

[DrNic]

"Slimserver" >> gigabit ethernet >> Squeezebox2 >>


I presume you know - but using gigabit ethernet on the SB2 gives no improved bandwidth as it "only" has the 100Mbps Ethernet interface...
Sorry but I just lurk in the audiofool section now and then (and drool over some of the nice kit bantered around here, and occasionally laugh at the inevitable discussions! :) )

Nic