Soundcard or dac or both
Posted by: oxgangs on 30 October 2008
I have a few mp3s (hundreds).When I connect my laptop to my 72 it sounds terible.
Am I best just using an external soundcard (usb type)plugged into the pre amp.
Should I buy a Dac I was thinking one of the £200 costing ones.
Or do I need both to get the best sound.
All help very much appreciated.
Mike
Am I best just using an external soundcard (usb type)plugged into the pre amp.
Should I buy a Dac I was thinking one of the £200 costing ones.
Or do I need both to get the best sound.
All help very much appreciated.
Mike
Hi Mike,
Chris is of course right about the deficiencies of MP3s and if they are files you've ripped then ripping them again in a lossless format would bring massive improvement. However, a lot of computer sound cards do sound dreadful anyway. Within reason low bit rate files can sound good from a decent source, just don't expect miracles! My suggestion would be to look at USB DACs, I know the Beresford DAC is much loved on here, but in my experience USB DACs are very convenient if you are going straight from a computer, and around your budget are pretty good value for money.
One thing to try might be to make use of Russ Andrews 60 day return policy and try one of these.
A Firestone Fubar II USB DAC at £105 I think it is pretty good value, and best of all for us Naimies with our obsession with external power supplies, one is available.
The Supplier at £89. Together the two would fall nicely into your price range.
Another one to consider is the new Cambridge Audio DACMAGIC.
I have yet to hear one, but in their price range I hold Cambridge in high esteem. This also has the advantage of having an optical and a coaxial spdif input in addition to the USB, so if in the future you wanted to add another digital source you wouldn't need another DAC. Richer Sounds is the exclusive distributer of these in the UK, they are not quite up to the standard of most Naim dealers where demonstrations are concerned, but are generally very helpful and will let you try it out properly provided you prompt them! It's not really their fault, most of their customers are there for half price 60" TVs rather than serious Hi-Fi!
I'm sure there are more circa £200 USB DACs, but those two should be a good place to start.
Regards,
Dom
Chris is of course right about the deficiencies of MP3s and if they are files you've ripped then ripping them again in a lossless format would bring massive improvement. However, a lot of computer sound cards do sound dreadful anyway. Within reason low bit rate files can sound good from a decent source, just don't expect miracles! My suggestion would be to look at USB DACs, I know the Beresford DAC is much loved on here, but in my experience USB DACs are very convenient if you are going straight from a computer, and around your budget are pretty good value for money.
One thing to try might be to make use of Russ Andrews 60 day return policy and try one of these.
A Firestone Fubar II USB DAC at £105 I think it is pretty good value, and best of all for us Naimies with our obsession with external power supplies, one is available.
The Supplier at £89. Together the two would fall nicely into your price range.
Another one to consider is the new Cambridge Audio DACMAGIC.
I have yet to hear one, but in their price range I hold Cambridge in high esteem. This also has the advantage of having an optical and a coaxial spdif input in addition to the USB, so if in the future you wanted to add another digital source you wouldn't need another DAC. Richer Sounds is the exclusive distributer of these in the UK, they are not quite up to the standard of most Naim dealers where demonstrations are concerned, but are generally very helpful and will let you try it out properly provided you prompt them! It's not really their fault, most of their customers are there for half price 60" TVs rather than serious Hi-Fi!
I'm sure there are more circa £200 USB DACs, but those two should be a good place to start.
Regards,
Dom