Which DAC or Sound Card



I have a very simple computer based system and I am not at all computer savvy. Windows XP utilizing Windows Media Player hooked up to Audioengine A5's ( self powered ) It occurs to me that a decent DAC or perhaps something other than the OEM sound card could give me considerable improvement in sound quality. Problem is I don't know where to start and I wouldn't want to spend over a couple hundred dollars for either one.
Any suggestions ? Thanks much.
kbamhi
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Hi Kbamhi... if you're going USB, and your DACs need cabling,you might want to think about which USB cable... it makes a big difference! Plain old printer cable won't cut it and will nullify any hardware you're testing/acquiring. I recommend investigating Ridge Street Audio as well as Synergistic Research. By the way... a phone call to Larry Moore at Ultra Fi audio about the iRoc DAC might illuminate many variables for you... after all, this is about enjoying the music... right?

Happy listening,

Ed

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The throughput on USB 1.1 has a 12 Mbps pass through; 2.0 is 480 Mbps. BIG difference. I believe you can install a USB 2.0 card and get the higher throughout (limited by CPU).
I picked up just such a card for 29.95 from my computer guy this afternoon. Now if I could only get my hands on that DAC I ordered.

Thanks much for your help, Cerrot.
Istanbulu,

I've read some favorable reviews of the Iroc DAC, and don't doubt that it is a very good piece of equipment. But Kmamhi didn't want to spend over a couple of hundred dollars. The only price I've seen for the Iroc DAC was around $1400. Are Irocs available for less than $1400?

JPO
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Hi JPO,

iRocs come up on the 'gon every once and awhile and are worth the wait imho! One was for sale early last month and was snapped up right away...don't remember the price.

Rumor has it that Larry Moore (Creator of the iRoc) is creating a killer USB DAC (as yet unnamed... maybe it's iJazz or something like that, one that according to rumor and lust far-outperforms the iRoc (I don't see how that's possible, but, hey, let's have a go...)), so upgraders might be selling their iRocs in the months to come as his new one comes to market.

Just a thought... why spend your money on inferior stuff when you can wait a bit and get something a whole lot better... jmho...

Happy listening,

Ed

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