2. pc-audio
  3. 1019684067

How do you get Good Sound from a PC ?

Currently one of my computers has an older soundblaster live card w/44khz digital input/output. Another has a 44hkz digital output on the motherboard (Asus A7N266-E). I have the soundblaster connected to a phillips cdr-880 which I use as a 44khz D/A and A/D unit. Sound quality is so-so.

I would like to integrate a digital recording system into my main audio system so that I can record and playback music from my lp's and from mp3's.

What would give me the best sound in the 200-1000 price range ? Also where can you buy the items below cheaply ?

My current considerations for hardare upgrades are
- the audiophile 2496 soundcard,
- the 96khz Apogee Rosetta ($1000!),
- an alesis 9600 hard disk recorder($1000+!),
- or the ART DIO with some hot-rod modifications.

My main audio system has an SCD-1, a tuner & a record player.
john_l
lazarus28
339 posts
 
instead of reposting my suggestions, just read this thread, it should help.

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?htech&1017678271&read&3&4&

good luck
njonker
107 posts
 
I use a Mark Of The Unicorn 828 hooked up to the computer through FireWire. It has 8 channels of balanced / unbalanced I/O and built-in D/A and A/D converters and works nicely. It also supports LightPipe I/O which allows you to use an External A/D/A box, and has SP/DIF I/O. The 828 is a separate chassis sitting outside of the PC, so no noise from within the computer to deal with. It works very well. Reasonably priced under $1K.
jhaddad5407
5 posts
 
I use the Stereolink 1200 (www.stereolink.com) which connects to the USB port on my laptop. It costs $150. The DAC's are pretty decent. I don't have much to compare to, but it sure beats the stock soundcards that come in PC's these days.

I actually learned about this on audiogon a couple of years ago.
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