Computer output to DAC, which route?

One of the best options for PC is the apogee rosetta 200 with X-firewire card,with its own drivers.

What is the sonic difference between Media Monkey and Foobar2000 media players (for PC's)

The user interface and the library functions for indexing your media look better in media monkey at first glance. Could you use Media Monkey to rip and organize your CD's and have Foobar2000 play the FLAC files from the Media Monkey database?

It seems that one should install an Asio driver but not all media players support this particular driver (Media monkey???).

I have no experience what's so ever with the software or the possible outputs from the PC.

(I have a Sonic Fronteirs DAC (older DAC) and a spare PC.... the simple cheap solution seems to be a hagUSB converter to my exiting coax digital cable.)

Thanks

I use dBpoweramp for ripping and media monkey for playback. With Windows Vista, which I have, or a MAC you have no need for the ASIO driver anymore. That was a kernel mixer workaround for older versions of Windows.

A relatively cheap converter like the Hag or the Trends would turn you're non-USB DAC into a USB DAC so to speak. And theoretically this would be better than a direct coax connection to your computer's internal soundcard. Of course other much more expensive options, such as the above mentioned Apogee, also fit the bill.

Thanks,

So, with Windows XP, I need the Asio driver to avoid the kernel mixer. Off hand, have you tried the Asio driver in Media monkey.

Finally, is the advatage of the dbpoweramp for ripping simply the fidelity and proof reading aforded by that software which seems to reference your rip with some kind of a database

I have a similiar question. Currently, I use Vista/Album Player(Jukebox Software)/coax to a Yamaha receiver to play WAVs ripped via Windows Media Player. This system is listened to while playing pool. The touchscreen jukebox sofware is awesome for this application.

My problem is that I also would like to output the same signal to my distributed/whole house audio system and perhaps my dedicated HT rig via multi-room outputs. The Yamaha has multi-room analog outputs, but will not convert the coax input to an analog output required for this application.

The most cost-effective, best sounding solution to me is a DAC or USB DAC. I think the current set-up sounds pretty good for background/parties and I listen to my dedicated rig for more serious listening.

What would be the most value oriented solution? Coax to DAC or USB to DAC? Which product would you recommend?