Sound Card with External DAC


I'm putting together a high end stereo system that will be connected to my desktop computer. I hope to connect the computer to a high end (separate) audio tube DAC. The computer and its transport will serve as the source component, and the tube DAC as the converter. Any ideas how to best do this.
If I understand correctly, standard sound cards already have a DAC built-in. I don't want to be redundant. Is there a sound card that will allow this? Thanks. Jim
slhijb
You don't want to use the DAC on the sound card... whoooa, no! Junk. Get a soundcard with an external Coaxial (RCA) and/or TOSLINK digital output. These skip the cheapo onboard DAC (only meant to blip and tweep) on the soundcard and will send as good a digital signal as they can out to an offboard unit.

On the cheapo side of things, I have a Soundblaster Live 5.1 ($40-$50) with a Hoontech (Korean) daughterboard for the 5.1 that gives you Coax/TOS digital outs ($40) feeding a Musical Fidelity X-ACT DAC ($100), going into a Jolida 102b (coming next week - replacing a parasound SS setup). For very little dough, a knockout setup. Doesn't take much imagination, just get yourself out of the noisy computer chassis in digital, do the conversion in an outboard DAC, then you know the rest...

Mike
Roland Edirol UA-5 is a nice soundcard with AD/DA on a USB cable. Works quite well. Costs $250.