Help me build a fine PC sound system



I’m looking for current suggestions to a great sounding desktop audio outfit which is pc driven or based completely.
!
Currently I’m using a Creative labs $50 USB sound card, and an Altec Lansing 2.1 desktop speaker system $200..

It really isn’t bad, and loads of fun. It allows me to play back lots of files & CDs I probably would not play too often on my main stereo.

So… I'm looking for recommendations of USB sound cards and a 2.1 speaker setup. Prefferably with both mechanical and software vol control, which will noticeably improve upon the aforementioned gear..

Noticeably.

What are your picks for:

USB sound card
2.1 speakers
2.0 speakers
Subwoofer

…… that will sound better than my above listed stuff? Actually it’s OK, but playing a setup disc it is easy to perceive how many areas of the bandwidth simply aren’t being honestly reproduced… but that’s about the only way to really highlight it’s shortcomings. Otherwise.. it’s well, fun…. And inexpensive.

Mainly the focus is for PC but if it will work with Macs too, that's great!. If it can integrate into a preamp or receiver or DAC too, that would be very nice, but not an absolutely necessary option.

Remember, the idea is a stand alone very, very nice sounding PC sound system first! It should be capable too of replaying file types from 16/44 to 24/192.

Do try to make the rig as inexpensive as is possible, so some reasonable and thoughtful blend of value to performance should be the real guideline.

I’m thinking too, as full range as is possible and likely a sub needs be in the mix… but nothing nutso.

Over achieving and high value items, front and center!

This might be fun…. Wadaya think?

Many thanks!
blindjim
Thanks Steve

Over $3K w/o speakers for a very nice desktop pc audio system well, that suggestion demonstrates the divide between your perspective and my own with regard to terms like decent… very good, excellent, etc., and the costs for same.

Many of my comments were made on my last familiarization and talks with you on what was being offered thru your company. I did go look again, as usual briefly, yesterday?

It appears I’m confused by all the various products, their configurations, their update/upgrade paths, etc., and how to choose from amongst them which suits my preffs or system needs merely by reading their particular notes.

It is always cool and beneficial to the buyer a process or program of keeping up to date is offered. You are not alone in this capacity. Bel Canto does this… BAT has an update/upgrade policy… AR does similar things… and the list goes on I’m sure, though it is not all inclusive. To every maker, brand, or model.

Whether it’s due to manufacturing changes or technology changes. Your own product line echoes the fact no moss is growing on your offerings. Digital audio is stepping very rapidly ahead.

Keeping up is the costly affair. With some makers, it is still more costly to keep up than with others. There will always then too, be the subjective arguments about who sounds better and those debates continue to fuel this hobby.

I wasn’t aware you offer now, in home demos of your equipment. That’s very interesting. I’ll keep that in mind if/when I seek another change somewhere in the digital change.

Thanks for all the input on the desktop sound system. I appreciate it.

Any other pc sound system users out there owning a special configuration that yields a really nice sound?

Please… let me know.

Thanks.
I've just completed my project of installing the ESI Juli@ in my PC and running J River 16 via a 10 meter aopgee spdif cable into Esoteric clock/upsampler into Berkeley dac direct into amps. Very easy to hear the new set up totally trounce the SB Touch. The soundstage is wider and deeper, with more detail and much better resolution. And much more transparent. This is with reqular 44.1/a6 files. The 192/24 bit (and other hi res) sounds absolutely incredible. I will be uninstalling the Touch soon.
Hi Blindjim,
I am attaching a thread from Headfi.org This soundcard/dac had a thread there that ran about 2 years. It is the Musiland Monitor 02US. It is a pain to set up because of all it takes to get it right, but when you get there, I have found it to be an incredible value... If you need a USB DAC, I believe you would have to break $500. to beat this. Its about $130. You will read through all the pains & struggles with drivers and firmware updates, operating systems, cables and the whole gammet, but in the end, after some improvements and 2 years of updates and figuring it out, its a great little soundcard/DAC. It is Asyncronous and will accept inputs from 16/44 all the way through 24/192 through all inputs, spdif, toslink and USB, yes, it does 24/192 USB and shows which format is playing.
Needs a windows computer, really needs to be running Windows 7, needs a good server program, Foobar 2000(free) and JRivers paid versions are both very good. You'll need to set either for wasapi output and you'll need to download the latest drivers. Yes, I've heard better and plan to upgrade, but I've heard alot, Others may have, but I've never heard anything touch this when used as laid out above touch it for its price range.
You will read several on the HeadFi site say this is the best buy they have ever made in audio... it is certainly one of my best also and you will read some comparisons with some very well known DAC's. I hope this helps,
Tim
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/443786/musiland-monitor-02-us
Tim,
Thanks for posting a lead on the Musiland. It's good to see yet another bit of gear that might again disprove the notion by some that major bucks are always needed for good quality computer audio.

Although already owning a couple of great DACs, I'll likely give this one a go on another system.
Jim,

"According to what I saw the other day on the DVD Extractor web site… a Blu Ray version is upcoming."

Were you ever able to check out DVD Extractor?

Cerrot,
"I had predicted about about 5 years ago that within 10 years, ethernet would be the standard. I do believe we will see it."

Guess you can always hope, but not likely. Instead, it will soon be USB 3.0 (& subseq.) and Thunderbolt, i.e. Light Peak.