1. Home
  2. pc-audio
  3. 1305888478

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
blindjim OP
2,837 posts
 

Sandstone , Thanks...

I went ahead today and installed the trial version of Dbpower. Cool! Loads of functionality! Too bad it's multi components. Seems to me anyone who wants in on any part of that ripping process will likely want in on burning, or conversion. ripping is about all I'm into actually.

No real need to convert. JR or Fubar play all I own now anyhow. And why convert?

Will Db not compile a CD if the tracks to be burned aren't all the same extension/kind? Now, for an app like this, that will suck a lot.

I'm a sticking with FLAC, and so far both CDs I ripped this A.M. into FLAC '0' rating... were both approved for accurip offset config, and sound better than the rips of them I did with JR MC 15 using the exact same drive (s). A Concord release of Ray Charles "Genius-A collection of hits", and a Tribute to June Carter CD called Anchored in Love w/various artists.

that JC Tribute CD gave me fits using JR MC 15! It placed the singer and track info together. It also creates a "Various Artists" folder, which is superior to a dozen artists folders from only one CD. Dbpower did the same Various Artists folder, yet separated all of the tags better... as it shows up in JRMC15 spot on now... and again... sounds noticeably improved upon... Gotta give that Delete key some action now, and dbpower much gratitude!

If you re-read the Stereophile article on that sound card/DAC run off, lemme know which ones were the top 3, please.

PS... did you download the DSP plug in too? Shheeeesh, is that loaded or what!?

I'm thinking I'm gonna dig this software a lot... but hate going back and re-ripping CDs though! Oil well.
sandstone
201 posts
 
Hi BJim,
Glad that you had such good results with DbPower. It looks like almost all features are available for a one-time price of $38, including conversions, so likely will go this route.
Why convert? hmmmm... maybe if I have .wav files that I need to relocate on a different server, I would need to convertfirst in order to retain metadata. or if I download from a site that doesn't support flac, I might convert after the download. Or, maybe to rip cd's as you mentioned. No big deal, just another arrow in the quiver.

Thanks for the two album tips, just added them to my "get" list.

I had a similar experience with tag management using JRiver vs. dBPowerAmp.

Thanks for mentioning the the DSP functions that I had overlooked. Yes it looks powerful. I have some HDCD's and for me, that ripping applet in DSP alone makes it worth uploading.

Oops! The soundcard comparo is in TAS, not Stereophile! I don't subscribe, but they were handing out free advance copies at THE Show last Saturday.
The article ends up raving about the ESI Julia (esi-audio.com), as the "first computer component to forsake computer artifacts" And it is priced at only $200. Other than the M-audio (m-audio.com, $200),, all of the other sound cards reviewed are priced at $400 - $700.
Hope this helps, let me know if I can dig out more for you.

Keep on ripping!
sandstone
201 posts
 
Oh - Two more things I have to mention - If you haven't done so, be sure to check out:

- In JRiver, run Theater View/Audio/Playing Now, and watch the software glean a slideshow of images from the internet that are related to the album, genre, artist, and composer.
All while you're listening to the audio.

- Google logo for Wed, June 8, commemorating Les Paul.
blindjim OP
2,837 posts
 
Wow! Hmm.. Theater view huh? I never mess with that... cool... I'll try.

Saw the Les Paul bit a few times now.

I'm using a Lynx AES 16 PCI Expresss card and it's native ASIO setup on my XP SP 3 box to feed my Bel Canto DAC 3 with... ohhh, and via a Gotham captured cable 1.5M AES. No OEM Lynx break out cables. the Gotham connects right onto the A bank of pins.

According to Lynx use of an outboard clock is well, let's say it this way, 'not for me'. They said there was one clock in the neighborhood of a couple grand that could improve on their OEM clock.. but hey, $2G's? Sheeessshhh.

Perhaps, changing out that Gotham wire might add somthing to the mix... but in all, I'll be fine as is.

I've done the M Audio route already. Hiface too. Lynx is well ahead of them both... and should be too given it's price point... even preowned as is how I got mine.

HD Tracks

You might wanna slow down on those concord CD re-issues... and some older classic rock as well coming out of Concord Records. HD tracks it seems is fairly quickly covering those same Albums in High Res downloads. Sure, more money, but if it's not a redundant buy? mebbe it'd work for ya. HD Tracks just put out Ray Sings, Basie Swings.. in 24/88... and on hte Concord CD release, it sounds great!

I'm a big Ray fan. Of any CDs, Ray and a handful of others are the only ones I'd be redundant with... Depending on the cuts being rolled out. I'm nobody's groupie... so I am still picky.
sandstone
201 posts
 
Thanks for the heads-up on HDTracks. I got Ray's Genius and it sounds mighty good at 16/44, so can only imagine what the Hi res would be like.

Two of the Lynxes are included in the TAS review. Your less costly AES 16 was cited as having the better SQ.

But since you're feeding into a Bel Canto DAC 3, I'm wondering how your PC Board > AES/EBU > DAC 3 pathway compares to using one of the now ubiquitous USB converters, such as Bel Canto USBLink, M2Tech, etc.
More to discover