Lewinskih01... used pc under 500.00... Thanks

Respectfully, i believe people way over think computer audio. Get a used iMac (2007 model or greater) and burn your music apple lossless connect to a good dac and the results can be stunning! If you want to take the last step to even better fidelity, install Pure Music (I tried them all...and found pm to be best to these ears). Imho...it only gets complicated when people try to do it with a Windows machine).

I never thought I'd embrace computer audio...now I can't imagine going back. (As I write...I have 1300 albums at my finger tips....heaven)

Lewinsky, all due respect, as your response is thoughtful and awesome. But the mere detail and length of it is exactly what freaks people out about computer audio!

It's not that hard unless you try to make a Microsoft product do something you (rather than Microsoft) wants you to do...or pay extra for.

Please don't write me off as an Apple fanboy...because my apple products were purchased specifically as a music server. (This tablet I'm typing on is an android:)

In closing...my digital sounds so good it's shocking...so much so I had nowhere else to go with my audio neurosis so, after 25 years, I'm getting back into vinyl which, so far, has not threatened my digital in the very least!

Hey guys.

Certainly no offense taken. I agree an Apple computer is less quirky in operation, but not necessarily better sounding. Not worse sounding either. It all depends on the implementation around the Mac and around the PC. But the OP specifically asked about a PC, meaning Windows in my book. Maybe I misunderstood his need.

BTW, while I haven't tried very many configurations, several folks over at computeraudiophile.com who were long Mac fanboys have moved on to Windows Server 2012 machines with AudioPhil's Optimizer, which is what I run. So I kind of believe PC is superior as of now. I know I'm starting a debate...je!

Note my replies tend to be simple and short regarding computer audio, but I though this time the OP was looking to understand the scene down the road from going laptop vs desktop now. I hope I didn't scare him off. I'm usually telling people to try computer audio out and see if it fits them.

Oh well. :-)

Actually... when I first read it....I was thinking pc meant "power cord" ; ) Regardless... good info!

Hi Tboooe,

The Xonar S/pdif output sounded much better than the stand alone MOBO S/pdif. I didn’t have the KingRex UD384 & PSU, and Unaimous UART USB Y-cable on hand when I got the Xonar working to try out the MOBO USB output. My guess would be the Xonar sound card should elevate the sound throughout PC playback regardless which connector is used, USB or S/pdif.

Audiophile USB cards, SoTM, and JCat are all excellent suggestions. For now, those peripheral items will need to wait since I do not own a USB-S/pdif converter. My next move will be installing a dual boot using Window Server 2012 Standard with Audiophile’s Optimizer and adding linear power supply to power SSD & HDD and Xonar Sound Card. Both of these additions will automatically elevate the performance to any peripherals that may be added later.

Hi Lewinskih01,

The Audiophilleo & PSU converter are highly sought after pieces. For the next little while I will be placing my resources on installing WS 2012 and slowly migrate some of the switching power rails with linear power supply. I am undecided to add a USB/Spdif converter or retire the ML combo entirely and get a current DAC with built-in USB and IS2 inputs. Both my ML digital pieces are highly modified. As it stands currently, I like the ML combo sound better than the PC + No. 360 DAC. The PC beats the No.37 transport in many areas. The No. 37 has better in tonal texture; the music has more weight, richness with a more natural sound. I am not saying the PC cannot achieve all those things, it just needs more work.

Best regards,
Norm