Audio source for a Audio setup – PC or CD player? Which is the best option?

[greenhorn]

no issues with ultra on my Semron LE 1100 (its the cheapest AMD proccy money can buy ) , and my X2 4000. cpu utilization attatched, both at ultra mode .The sempron was a bit sluggish, but not very I'm using the sempron @96k normal mode almost the whole time

the sempron is resampling to 96 khz ( output is audigy 96/24 ASIO)

the athlon is resampling to 48k ( output is KS realtek ALC 883 )

 

[superczar]

all my theoretical grabrage about PCI cards apart, i'd really love to see how an equivalent USB and PCI DAC will fare in an ABX test

We had a hard time distinguishing between a flac and mp3(256) despite the fact that the effects of compression should be far higher than the issues we are discussing here

 

[bottle]

Flacs are overated.there might be a difference in few songs if at all. I do my ripping in mp3 and i hardly ever see the br go over 200.i rather worry about the source where it was ripped from

 

[SunnyBoi]

Well i kinda agree and disagree. For songs like nightwish, the shouting kinda songs, i hardly hear any differnce b/w 256 and FLACs.

For songs like clapton, ie., much more vocal, FLACs make a huge difference. Even with a MX5021 paired with a laptop audio.

 

[bottle]

Dunno will have to try. Have you tried ripping from the same source (cd) to flac and mp3 and seen a difference?

 

[Kumar]

For PCI soundcard, howabout Asus xonar D2?

EDIT: For PPHS @ 96k and ultra mode, even a basic dualcore would do. See my X2 3600+ for example:

 

[cranky]

Dunno will have to try. Have you tried ripping from the same source (cd) to flac and mp3 and seen a difference?

Well i kinda agree and disagree. For songs like nightwish, the shouting kinda songs, i hardly hear any differnce b/w 256 and FLACs.

For songs like clapton, ie., much more vocal, FLACs make a huge difference. Even with a MX5021 paired with a laptop audio.

Flacs are overated.there might be a difference in few songs if at all. I do my ripping in mp3 and i hardly ever see the br go over 200.i rather worry about the source where it was ripped from

all my theoretical grabrage about PCI cards apart, i'd really love to see how an equivalent USB and PCI DAC will fare in an ABX test

We had a hard time distinguishing between a flac and mp3(256) despite the fact that the effects of compression should be far higher than the issues we are discussing here

Depends on song, speakers and ears as well. I can tell 192mp3 and wav apart on my MX5021. Anything higher and I have to switch to my main rig to check for differences. I can reliably do MP3@320 and wave for jazz or vocal music. Rock is much tougher, since anyway the quality of rock recordings are lower (with a few exceptions). Maybe 256. Don't use FLAC, but I guess I'd be hard-pressed to spot differences from wav as they don't really exist.

None of that matters for 99% of listeners anyway. Most of the time I'm listening on a pair of MXs running 192kbps Ogg files anyway, the main rig is only for more serious listening, to entertain visitors and annoy neighbors.

 

[greenhorn]

I noticed some pretty noticeable issues when ripping noisy sources ( tape for ex- Recorded at 96k and resampled) VBR especially added a very noticeable tone. Good sources shouldnt make a difference i guess.

Noise screwing up compression isn't limited to audio It seems . I've run into the same issues when compressing TV capture vids and cam phone pics

 

[gmano]

Thank you everyone for giving your valuable adice.

I have decided to Assemble a PC as my audio source. Later on I can use the same as my video source also. (HTPC).

I have ordered E-MU Systems - 1212M PCI - PCI Digital Audio System From US. (Thanks bottle and Chaos for your help )
Now I need to decide on the Mother Board, processoor, PSU and a good looking HTPC cabinet. Guys I need your advice on it.

 

[gmano]

So far system decided is

sound card - EMU 1212
Mother Board - Jetway ATI690g
Processor - AMD X2 4000+
RAM - 1 GB 800 Mhz
DVD Writer - Sony G170S
cabinet - still searching
Powersuppy - ??

anything needs to changed? any good HTPC cabinets ?

 

[SunnyBoi]

better stick with the PSU that comes with the htpc case. you prolly cant fit normal PSUs in there.

 

[superczar]

Mother Board - Jetway ATI690g
Processor - AMD X2 4000+

Ther's a new Jetway board (LGA775) with the nF7100 chipset
You can take a look at that + a E2160/E4500 also

 

[greenhorn]

if you want cheap and easily available, get the iball baby 306. Check the moviemachine in my rig gallery for more pics. cost 1.8k

minuses? 1 optical drive and HDD slot only

how about the sony AD7190 series. they're Liteon 20A3 rebadges

 

[gmano]

if you want cheap and easily available, get the iball baby 306. Check the moviemachine in my rig gallery for more pics. cost 1.8k

minuses? 1 optical drive and HDD slot only

how about the sony AD7190 series. they're Liteon 20A3 rebadges

I am looking for a better looking HTPC casing

Is Sony AD7190 better than the one I have in list?

 

[greenhorn]

its 20x, but better check with the optical drive geeks

 

[cranky]

Pick a case which allows you some flexibility in the power supply. Trust me on this - if the power supply injects noise into the system and it uses a proprietary form factor, you're SOL.

The Antec Minuet is a good case. What's you're budget?

 

[gmano]

Pick a case which allows you some flexibility in the power supply. Trust me on this - if the power supply injects noise into the system and it uses a proprietary form factor, you're SOL.

The Antec Minuet is a good case. What's you're budget?

Antec Minuet can not take the PCI cards, hight is a problme I suppose. It can only take half hight cards. So I droped the idea of getting it.

My budget for casing is around 3k.

Edit: I found in the EMU site that EMU 1212 is a short PCI card, will this card fit into the Antec Minuet? Case Dimensions : 3.8"(H) x 16.8"(D) x 12.75"(W)

 

[Chaos]

Well let me add my 2 paise. We did an ABX between the analog outs of my modded Citypulse DAC, EMU 0404 analog, a Bluenote Stibbert CD player and another DIY DAC built upon PCM1704. We also checked the SPDIF out of the CD Player and the EMU 0404. Speakers were my Jamo E855, Power Amp was the McCormack DNA125, Preamp was lyrita audio valve pre. Cables were all Audioquest Jaguar CV4 with active shielding.

The DIY DAC had a noisy PSU and was ultra bright. It was dumped at the outset. Between the rest, the EMU analog outs clearly lacked in detail and body of either the DAC or the CDP and was quite easy to identify every time. Coming to the CDP and the DAC, it was much much harder. The DAC seemed to have a slightly accentuated bass and the CD Player seemed to have more correct bass. However the midrange of the DAC was liquidy smooth. The CD player seemed to have a slightly harsher midrange but a more correct overall sound. However we had a hard time identifying either on extended listens and results were inconclusive. I guess the limiting factor were the speakers themselves.

One thing was for sure... the DAC sounded worse with the EMU as the digital source than when using the CD player as the digital source, with both using TOSLink. Changing the PSU on the main rig between a 1200W TT and a 460W FSP seemed to have no effect on either the analog or digital output of the EMU 0404.

So at the absolute high end I'd prefer a single box CD player. However comparing entry lvl cd players to one of these chinese DACs is ridiculous. The latter are way way way better. Infact I'd go on to say they are better than any of the off the shelf sound cards. Not surer about the modded ones though.

 

[gmano]

Chaos, say like I am spending a 20k on the sound card and system, what would be your choice in my case? a PC or a CD Player in that Price range?
(My speakers are just entry level, 1/10th the price of your setup )

 

[Crazy_Eddy]

^ Get a PC with a cheap bit-perfect soundcard like the Chaintech AV-710 (cross-flashed to Prodigy firmware) and hook it up to a DAC? :lol:

Edit: I found in the EMU site that EMU 1212 is a short PCI card, will this card fit into the Antec Minuet? Case Dimensions : 3.8"(H) x 16.8"(D) x 12.75"(W)

Short PCI card refers to the length (rather the depth) of the PCI card.

Half height PCI cards refer to the height of the card/rear bracket which is attached onto the case.

They're both different

One thing was for sure... the DAC sounded worse with the EMU as the digital source than when using the CD player as the digital source, with both using TOSLink.

Jitter?