[jbirley]

I have been roaming the forums for a while now trying to find a definate answer to my question with no luck, so i decided to just ask. My appologies if you have had to answer it 100 times already.


Okay so what im after is a good budget stereo system simply for my pc nothing else but im a complete novice when it comes to audio. It will be used purley for music, i use headphones when playing games and dont watch movies on my pc.


I have a very cheap soundcard but it does have a s/pdif out(no analogue line out). I was thinking of getting an Onkyo A9155 and a set of mission mx1's. However the Onkyo does not have a s/pdif connection. As i understand it this means i need a DAC? would using a small external DAC like a CYP AU-D3 do the job or would i end up with rubbish sound quaility. Also would the fact i have a cheap sound card have any effect on the quaility if im just using the s/pdif out?


I have a budget of around £350 for the whole system and i understand for this money i wont have anything amazing but im just after something more pleasent than my current multimedia speakers for music listening.

 

[ap1]



Quote:
Originally Posted by jbirley /forum/post/19574159


I have been roaming the forums for a while now trying to find a definate answer to my question with no luck, so i decided to just ask. My appologies if you have had to answer it 100 times already.


Okay so what im after is a good budget stereo system simply for my pc nothing else but im a complete novice when it comes to audio. It will be used purley for music, i use headphones when playing games and dont watch movies on my pc.


I have a very cheap soundcard but it does have a s/pdif out(no analogue line out). I was thinking of getting an Onkyo A9155 and a set of mission mx1's. However the Onkyo does not have a s/pdif connection. As i understand it this means i need a DAC? would using a small external DAC like a CYP AU-D3 do the job or would i end up with rubbish sound quaility. Also would the fact i have a cheap sound card have any effect on the quaility if im just using the s/pdif out?


I have a budget of around £350 for the whole system and i understand for this money i wont have anything amazing but im just after something more pleasent than my current multimedia speakers for music listening.

I do not know prices in UK. But here is an example of what you can get in USA:


Sound card:

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_u...phile2496.html


or

http://www.emu.com/products/product....&product=20022


Active speakers:

http://www.krksys.com/product_rokit.php


or

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_u...X5aDeluxe.html



On-line price for package (card and pair of speakers) is below $500 on this side of Atlantic.

 

[jbirley]

thank you for yor reply. Are active speakers a better choice quaility wise in this senario? also please can someone answer my question about s/pdif, does a cheap sound card matter if you use the s/pdif out or will it just passthrough?

 

[ap1]



Quote:
Originally Posted by jbirley /forum/post/19580215


thank you for yor reply. Are active speakers a better choice quaility wise in this senario? also please can someone answer my question about s/pdif, does a cheap sound card matter if you use the s/pdif out or will it just passthrough?

Active speakers will save space on your table. Also most of them are designed for close range (from 3 feet) listening, which is usually a case for computer based setup.


S/PDIFF is pass-through in most cards. But good sound card with analog output is cheaper than a combination of sound card and external DAC. External DAC is useful only if you are building surrond (5.1, 7.1) system.