2. pc-audio
  3. 1139784453

Bit perfect digital output from pc

I'm hoping someone can help me grasp the difficulty in getting a 44.1KHz signal from my pc to dac. I'm putting together my first 2 channel HT/audio pc.

Reading this forum, I gather you firstly need a sound card that will output 44.1KHz without first resampling to 48KHz. Any recommendations?

Secondly, it appears Windows will not in fact allow a 44.1KHz output. Can someone explain why this is? Is this something that will be corrected in Vista? Are Macs similarly handicapped?

Thirdly, there seems to be some very complicated ways of bypassing whatever it is in Windows that prevents the 44.1KHz signal using ASIO or kernel streaming. Can someone please explain what these are and how to use them?

Lastly, it seems you need a software player capable of a 44.1KHz signal - I see Winamp mentioned a lot. Will Windows Media Player not do the job? Any other software recommendations?

Thanks for your help. I just want my computer to output a standard cd signal and I really don't understand why it should be this complicated.
baileyincanberra
gigi
20 posts
 
Airport Express from Apple will stream (wire or wireless) 44.1KHz signal from your pc to dac but you have to used iTunes as your media player.
baileyincanberra OP
34 posts
 
Thanks for the replies. I'm thinking I may go the Mac route. It seems much simpler all round and a lot easier than putting together my own pc!
ckorody
643 posts
 
Bailey - the Mac is a very easy way to go. Reason being that iTunes does a really nice job integrating the ripping with the library management functions. And while a few very expert people may argue the point, you get this ease of use with absolutely no loss of quality. It is vastly to get great results from the Mac then from EAC, Foobar and all the rest...

The Mac is also very open - you have all the standard ways to get the data out of the Mac - USB, Squeezebox via Ethernet or WiFi and Airport Express to name the three most common. And iTunes will also support your iPod.

FWIW Apple sold 14 million iPods in Q4 2005. iTunes is a robust format that is well supported with continuous development (albeit mostly to drive sales for the iTunes store). IMHO a lot of people are going to be targeting this market with software and hardware offerings that extend the usefulness of the base product.

If you don't want to mess with it, this is the way to go
baileyincanberra OP
34 posts
 
I actually already have an iPod, which again is making me lean towards a Mac. As you mention, it sounds just far simpler. EAC, Foobar, ASIO drivers etc to me is less seamless than what a Mac offers.
planckscale
60 posts
 
Guys,

Not to start a MAC vs PC war, but iTunes and iPods to me are in the realm of MP3, and as an audiophile, I find no interest in them.

However, I may be ignorant, because it seems to me people around here are increasingly comfortable in talking about iPods, MP3, and the likes. Am I missing something?

Regards,
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