Itunes / Xp laptop / Dac help

Is it a USB dac you are after or does you laptop has SPDIF out?

quote:

Originally posted by garyi:
Is it a USB dac you are after or does you laptop has SPDIF out?

Gary,

Maybe really stupid but how do I know if it has SPDIF ?

Kev

Not sure if this helps:

5-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader for Secure Digital cards, MultiMedia cards, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, or xD Picture cards

3 Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0
1 Headphone out
1 microphone-in
1 VGA (15-pin)
1 TV-Out (S-video)
1 RJ-11 (modem)
1 RJ -45 (LAN)
1 notebook expansion port 3
1 IEEE 1394 Firewire (4-pin)
1 Consumer IR

Kev

I highly recommend buying a Beresford USB DAC from Stan. He will take care of you.

So a recommendation for the Beresford anybody else using anything else?

quote:

Originally posted by pcstockton:
I highly recommend buying a Beresford USB DAC from Stan. He will take care of you.

Anybody else, looks like a Bersford

The Beresford seems very well regarded. Cambridge DAC2 and Russ Andrews does some of the Fubar units. Any of these are a good way of dipping your foot in the water with computer audio. Be warned - once you try it there's no going back

James

Can anybody explain the difference between
SPDIF and USB?

I understand they are different outputs on my laptop, but reading other threads USB appears poor is this the case and how do I know if my laptops supports SPDIF

Cheers

Kev

Kev,

The differences are huge. USB is a way to connect something to a computer. sPDIF is digital coaxial cable typically used to carry audio.

But i am guessing your question is asking about how they sound???

I would guess identical, but most here would say sPDIF is superior. It is nice to have both options...

Listen to both and please let us know your findings!

It is inexpensive to run USB from one room to another if you want your computer far from your kit.

-patrick

Kev

I can't comment on the others but the USB connection on the DAC Magic is absolutely dire...and I mean unlistenable (at least one the one occasion I tried it from my MacBook Pro)

It sounds great via Toslink from a Mac though.

Jim

Ok,

this laptop doesn't have a spdif output is there any other way of trying digital without the expense of buying a new laptop / mac ?

adaptor ?

Kevin

A cheap USB to toslink converter is going to give the same results as USB straight into the DAC. USB if done properly works well but this is basic synchronus USB. You have Firewire and this will give you better options later on if you want to experiment more.

One more DAC, though a bit more expensive is the Devilsound USB DAC.

James

Thanks James, I suppose my question is. Is it worth trying the Usb or do I try another laptop. Where can I go with the Firewall?

Kevin

It's certainly worth trying - for £150 or so and the Beresfords easy to sell on if you want more. There are a few DACS that use Firewire and if you have a computer that will support it then its a very good interface to use. Does Beresford do a trial period ?

James

See if your laptop does a docking station. They often have an SPDIF on them.