2. pc-audio
  3. 1016168237

Dell purchase

Hi folks,

I am considering buying a Dell computer. I don't have a strong desire to *play* music through my computer, but I would like to be able to copy CDs, and especially record my LPs to CD. I'd want to experiment and see the quality.

Dell offers a CD/CDR/CDW device with their machines. No brand name listed! (Just "Dell"). Any sense of the quality for these purposes?

Also they offer a choice of two "premium" sound cards. I understand sound card quality is important when recording from analog sources. Choices are: the Sound Blaster "Live" (this is a step down from the top-of-the-line soundblaster) and the "Turtle Beach Santa Cruz". Any thoughts on these two sound cards?

Or are these parts too low-quality, such that I should just buy a "bare" box and add better quality parts?

Thanks for any thoughts!
ehart
jmslaw
95 posts
 
Dude, yer' gettin' a Dell!
gboren
143 posts
 
I use a dell and I have been doing quite a bit of vinyl recording, with great results. (Of course, I still prefer to listen to the vinyl!)

It has always been my contention that the cdr burner is of little importance. Either it will work correctly or it won't, and the Dell works correctly. An incorrectly working burner will produce a music cd with a lot of crackle and pop in it. A correctly working one will produce a cd with no added crackle and pop.

However, the sound card is a different matter. It is the sound card that converts from analog to digital and how it does it does matter. Also, because the sound card resides inside a computer box, it is bathed in RF and EM noise.

The cards you mention will only digitize an analog signal at 44kHz (or maybe 48). I'm not sure whether they do 24 bit. Shortly after I got my machine, I installed a Soundblaster Audigy, which I was not happy with. I then got a Digital Audio Card Deluxe, which is great. It does 24/96 and it is very quiet, especially for an internal unit.

good luck!
kthomas
911 posts
 
Gboren's advice is spot-on. For CD copying, it will work flawlessly - I've copied many hundreds of my CDs to load into changers. You get the occassional fault (which is immediately identified and you throw the blank away), but in general you get a perfect copy 99% of the time. For recording from vinyl, you'll want to buy a much better sound card. Buying the Dell and adding a high-end soundcard will get you exactly what you want. -Kirk
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