Using pc as source for Dummies

[django1]

Could someone point me to a primer for Dummies on using my computer as a source instead of my cd player? I can easily get a wire from my pc to my pre amp...

[InfernoSTi]

I have a Mac so it is a bit different, but not so much so. I have on off-board DAC that I like very much (see my signature for make/model). I run my Toslink (fiber) connection to it and set the system configuration to play audio through that connection. Pretty simple and the sound quality is so much better. You can get a USB or a digital coax connection, too (depending on your computer). I highly recommend using a DAC to accomplish this rather than the on-board computer DAC. The computer isn't intended for audio quality sound no mater what they say.

You will want to make sure you use lossless format to convert your CDs...this is not the default with iTunes but it makes a huge difference.

Not much of a tutorial but more of an encouragement to give it a try. The other thing you can do is get the Logitech Touch like has recently been posted.

http://www.chasehometheater.com/foru...?t=3548&page=2

That is a nice alternative that gives you great flexibility around the house. Just a thought as it cost about the same as a DAC. I recommend the Touch as it plays higher resolution files than the Duet but the Duet is supposed to be outstanding if you intend to stay with CD quality files.

John

[nwboater]

Could someone point me to a primer for Dummies on using my computer as a source instead of my cd player? I can easily get a wire from my pc to my pre amp...

In it's simplest form you need a Player (the software) such as Windows Media Center, Jriver Media Center (my favorite) or Itunes if you are in the Mac World. You also need a DAC (digital to analog converter) which takes the digital bits from the computer and converts it to analog so you can send it to your receiver. The DACs that come with computer motherboards are typically very low quality so you need a different one if you are interested in decent SQ. The DAC can either be on an internal sound card, or an external device often connected via USB.

Some basic information from you might help those that want to help you further.

1. PC or Mac?
2. 2.0, 2.1 or a surround format?
3. The quality of the rest of your system? In other words you wouldn't want to put a $5,000 DAC on a system with $100 speakers, and vice versa.
4. Are you interested in playing the music in just one room, or many?

That might get the ball rolling a bit.

Also computeraudiophile.com and their forum is a good source of information although they tend to be somewhat Mac centric, high end and don't cover any home theater stuff.

Have fun.

Rod

[dvenardos]

The first thing you need is an external DAC, otherwise with a stock sound card it is going to sound like C$%P.
Once you have that it will be simple.

[HAL]

A very good music player for the Windows OS is Foobar2000. It will do bit perfect with Windows XP or Windows 7.

Exact Audio Copy is a very good program for ripping bit perfect to WAV or FLAC.

[fitzwaddle]

Many newer consumer audio / video devices (such as blu ray players) also have the ability to connect to your network to pull your media files across, and then the playback happens in the device (HDMI output, or digital audio output into the receiver). So that's another alternative to having the PC itself do it. Same applies to gaming devices - if you already have a PS3 or XBOX 360 hooked up, you can use that to stream media from your PC storage (or NAS device) and play it back.

[django1]

Thanks guys!

1. PC or Mac?
2. 2.0, 2.1 or a surround format?
3. The quality of the rest of your system? In other words you wouldn't want to put a $5,000 DAC on a system with $100 speakers, and vice versa.
4. Are you interested in playing the music in just one room, or many?

1. Recent PC running Windows 7 with a 500 gig hd.
2. 2.1
3. Pretty decent (I don't like spending too much): GR Research N3s and open baffle sub, Sure amp and tube pre courtesy of Billnchristy with some help from Dweekie. The amp might change if I like the Virtue dvenardos is sending me:cool:.
4. Maybe, depending on cost and complexity. Mostly I think I just don't want to spend money on a cd player that is just going to die on me.

So what is a decent external dac? They connect via usb?

And what is "bit perfect"?

[django1]

Many newer consumer audio / video devices (such as blu ray players) also have the ability to connect to your network to pull your media files across, and then the playback happens in the device (HDMI output, or digital audio output into the receiver). So that's another alternative to having the PC itself do it. Same applies to gaming devices - if you already have a PS3 or XBOX 360 hooked up, you can use that to stream media from your PC storage (or NAS device) and play it back.

Interesting but I don't have any of those things except an HT receiver which I positively dislike for music. I'll sooner or later get a blu ray player.

[django1]

That is a nice alternative that gives you great flexibility around the house. Just a thought as it cost about the same as a DAC. I recommend the Touch as it plays higher resolution files than the Duet but the Duet is supposed to be outstanding if you intend to stay with CD quality files.

John

Why wouldn't I want CD quality files? Because of storage? What is the best format to convert to to keep good quality without swamping the HD?

[R300]

Why wouldn't I want CD quality files? Because of storage? What is the best format to convert to to keep good quality without swamping the HD?

Yeah I don't get what InfernoSTi is talking about either........ CD quality to me when converting is any lossless format .flac or the Apple Lossless....... or in other words no compression.

My CD rips are in the 500-700MB range........ bugger all for size on a 12 TB storage server......

[InfernoSTi]

Why wouldn't I want CD quality files? Because of storage? What is the best format to convert to to keep good quality without swamping the HD?

django,

I was implying that the MINIMUM you would want is CD quality (AKA Redbook) or 16 bit/44.1K sample rate. Once you start down the two channel path, you may wish to improve to 24 bit/96K or greater sample rates. They sound better in the same way Blu-ray looks better than standard video.

My DAC is listed in my signature and I'm happy with it. Think Nuforce has an inexpensive USB DAC that would be fine for you, too. Each DAC will have its own signature sound and, like amps, your taste will be part of the equation. I would keep it simple to begin with, however.

The Logitech Touch is both a DAC and a wireless music server head unit. It is pretty nice and a good way to go digital without a lot of complication. It runs a server on your computer and manages the data stream. You can connect to your amp via RCA cables. It also has a remote, which is a nice thing to have sometimes. It costs about the same as a DAC. It lets you add units around your house/garage/patio if you want.

I am hooked on digital through a DAC and what I have learned is that the mastering and digital process varies CD to CD and the better your equipment, the greater you can tell the difference. This is why folks go to the high resolution 24 bit files found places like HDTracks.

John

[InfernoSTi]

Yeah I don't get what InfernoSTi is talking about either........ CD quality to me when converting is any lossless format .flac or the Apple Lossless....... or in other words no compression.

My CD rips are in the 500-700MB range........ bugger all for size on a 12 TB storage server......

CD quality is a MINIMUM quality to use. Lossless from a CD is 16 bit/44.1K sample rate. Higher resolution files are so much better if you have the equipment to play them.



If you think about an analog sine wave, it is a smooth curve. If you take a series of samples of that curve, you get a series of jagged edges that are the audio equivalent of a low resolution video that you can see pixels. The greater the sample rate, the more data points and the smoother the jagged curve will be. So the higher the sample rate, the smoother the curve. If you add bit rates, that is the number of points you sample at each sample. 16 points gets you a limited number of unique sound points possible. 16x44.1K = 705,600 or so possible sounds (kind of). 24 points is a lot more, especially when you multiply that times the greater sample rate: 24x96K = 2,304,000 possible sounds (kind of). If this was video, you would want the picture with 2.3 million pixels, not 700K pixels because it would look more lifelike. The same is true for digital files. This is why people who like audio, like FLAC files over iTunes or MP3 files. It is like Blu-ray over standard video.

John

[django1]

Someone had mentionned the HRT streamer, I am very tempted to get the HRT2. Any opinions?

[InfernoSTi]

The HRT II looks like the real deal, although I've not researched it in depth.

The Burr Brown 1793 chip is a good audiophile quality DAC chip. The resolution appears to go to 24/96 (although the chip is capable of going to 24/192). I couldn't find info on the HRT II+ but it is supposed to be a higher quality still, so that might be worth pursuing.

I believe the price on the HRT II is only about $150...if so, that is a true bargain and well worth trying out. I would say go for it...

John

Someone had mentionned the HRT streamer, I am very tempted to get the HRT2. Any opinions?

[django1]

Thanks for your input John!

Which is the lesser of these two evils: a long USB cable or long RCA cables? I am thinking a long USB cable ( I probably need 12 or 16 feet)...