2. pc-audio
  3. 1141441807

Would like an opinion on hooking up PC to audio

system by using the headphone out on computer to the auxiliary outputs on preamp. I hooked this up today and found the sound wasn't too bad. All I had to buy was a Y adapter line and connect one end to the headphone out on my computer and the other to my preamps aux. line, using the preamp for the volume control. I use my media center to play and rip my cd's. I am planning to go with Empirical Audio's computer devises down the road, but for now I am going to use this setup. I was just wondering if anybody else has done this and how they think it compare with cd players or sqeezebox or other computer setups for listening. Thank you Sandra
smw30yahoocom
studioray
42 posts
 
If you like the way it sounds, then it's fine, enjoy. But the stock outputs on computers are usually somewhat noisy (hum, static) and I am sure that you would notice a 100% improvement in imaging, depth, detail, and timbre if you went with an after market digital to analog converter that was somewhat high end (NOT a Soundblaster).

I noticed that much of a difference just going from a mid-fi DAC to an audiophile one.
ckorody
643 posts
 
Hi Sandra. Your approach obviously works but is not optimum. The problem is that on most computers the headphone out is not a particularly good signal source.

It is preferable to get the data out of the computer using USB, Firewire or Ethernet to an external DAC such as the Empirical Audio devices you mention (fabulous but there are much less expensive ways to go) then take the signal from there to the preamp or integrated amp.

This avoids having audio in the computer environment which is very "noisy" because of all the other electronics which are not shielded.
smw30yahoocom OP
154 posts
 
Yes, Studioray, I played some music today and noticed a noisy hum which had never been there before with CD players. It's also very light on bass and one dimentional after listening some more, sounds like I'm using a really cheap CD player in my system. I think I'll just pass on this setup and go with Empirical when he comes out with the newest whatever he is going to have in a few months. (I'm completely clueless when it comes to computers)
Ckorody, what is the less expensive way to go that you mentioned and is it as good as the Empirical Audio sound? Can an amateur like me set it up? Thanks, Sandra
More to discover