PC For Music listening

[thevortex]

Sorry, missed your reply earlier. Thanks.

thevortex, thanks for your reply too.

Yes... At this point in time I would like to reuse as much as possible, and my current CPU is an Intel Core 2 Duo E4600 (according to CPU-Z).

Although I have a USB mouse, I'd like to stick to my PS2 keyboard too.

I have 2 Gb of DDR2 memory. I would be prepared to upgrade to DDR3.

All my disks and optical drives are SATA, and I want to use SATA drivers.

I want a generous allocation of USB ports, and firewire.

If not onboard, then I need a basically competent video card. Prefer to stay awy from anything that adds another fan to the machine's mechanical noise. Never play games; very occasional movie watching.

I intend to stick with XP --- even if it means buying a copy of W7 and utilising the downgrade option. (I've a couple of genuine XP CDs, but both OEM).

Budget. Hmmm... Rs.8,000 to Rs16,000 inclusive.

I am sure you would get good choices in that range. I have just not gotten myself clued up on the Intel motherboard scene. I am sure somebody else would have an idea. If not here, then browsing through the techenclave forum would be a sure shot idea for getting good options.

My suggestion would be to skip the video card and go for a good onboard video solution. Especially considering you are mostly going to use your PC for music and not for video or gaming.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

This is a nightmare. I can't believe that, when I was working, I purchased dozens of PCs for the company over the years, but it was never (especially given a preferred supplier) particularly hard to choose. You can tell, I never was a PC builder.

At least Intel divides their motherboard offerings into market segments, which helps. Then I look at Asus, a respected name --- and find that I am supposed to choose my preferred chip set. There seem to be dozens. Despite the technical professional background, I was neither knowledgeable nor interested in the component level of PCs; where the hell does anyone start?

:sad:

 

[thevortex]

This is a nightmare. I can't believe that, when I was working, I purchased dozens of PCs for the company over the years, but it was never (especially given a preferred supplier) particularly hard to choose. You can tell, I never was a PC builder.

At least Intel divides their motherboard offerings into market segments, which helps. Then I look at Asus, a respected name --- and find that I am supposed to choose my preferred chip set. There seem to be dozens. Despite the technical professional background, I was neither knowledgeable nor interested in the component level of PCs; where the hell does anyone start?

:sad:

Thad - if I were dabbling with the Intel chipsets in the last couple of years, I would tell you what I know immediately. But such is not the case. Why dont you open a new thread here to see what people can suggest for you? I am sure it will be a fruitful act.

Failing which you could always put that same question on Techenclave where I am sure you can get good recommendations.

 

[iaudio]

Thad - if I were dabbling with the Intel chipsets in the last couple of years, I would tell you what I know immediately. But such is not the case. Why dont you open a new thread here to see what people can suggest for you? I am sure it will be a fruitful act.

Failing which you could always put that same question on Techenclave where I am sure you can get good recommendations.

Thad, From my personal experience, go for the Asus MObos with AXN index rather than AXV(the former are nforce based chipset while the latter are Via based chipset). The Via based are very cheap but you only get what you pay for!

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Thanks!

(By the way, I have a Cowon A2, although it really only comes out for trips

 

[iaudio]

Thanks!

(By the way, I have a Cowon A2, although it really only comes out for trips

Anytime, Thad, hope the info helps. What boards are you looking at btw?
A2 eh? What cans do you use with it?

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

AXN? Couldn't find!

I have Sony MDR-EX70 that I have had for many years. Anything else but in-ear falls out of my ears, and even they do after a while.

 

[spirovious]

Did anyone try DFX for WMP?
I used in past for movies.Just was listening & found lot of options like
1.Fidelity
2.Ambience
3. 3D surr
4.dynamic boost
5.Hyperbass

I found fidelity & dynamic boost helpful.
Anyone used?

http://www.fxsound.com/dfx/pages/forms/download_ask_email.php

 

[iaudio]

Did anyone try DFX for WMP?
I used in past for movies.Just was listening & found lot of options like
1.Fidelity
2.Ambience
3. 3D surr
4.dynamic boost
5.Hyperbass

I found fidelity & dynamic boost helpful.
Anyone used?

DFX for Windows Media Player Download - FXsound.com

I have used it a while back, DFx did make a good improvement to wmp sound, but ditched wmp altogether, so dont use it anymore. Also it does exaggerate a lil bit.

 

[thevortex]

Did anyone try DFX for WMP?
I used in past for movies.Just was listening & found lot of options like
1.Fidelity
2.Ambience
3. 3D surr
4.dynamic boost
5.Hyperbass

I found fidelity & dynamic boost helpful.
Anyone used?

DFX for Windows Media Player Download - FXsound.com

Honestly, spirovious, I find little use for these kind of utilities. Once your system is setup to be revealing and neutral, all that these sorts of controls do is hamper the original recording.

 

[spirovious]

Thanks,

I found DFX is making lot improvement in clearity & instrument seperation.
Treble is open & clean.I am using fidelity ,Dynamic option with rest off.

 

[spirovious]

Just DL foobar 1.0 & used with asio,SOX resam as 192 & thats it.
Sound is little more detailed,cleaner than 9.6.0 ,even wide soundstage too.

Can try foobar 1.0.

 

[spirovious]

Well as per R&D,
I just found, Foobar with Xonar D2X output (rather asio out) sounds more musical.Its adding more warmth?The slight Harshness in treble goes off.

Is D2X output(not asus asio) is really better than ASIO?

 

[spirovious]

I compared foobar portable & standard setup in Win7 & found that portable sounds marginally better in mids(vocals)& cleaner.
Standard setup sounded a bi vocal straining.

 

[devstation18]

Hi Ihave also got the same problem I have got PC but I want it to connect it with and external Amp and stereo speakers.
For Amp I have shortlisted norge 2060
for speakers wharfdale 9.1
But my question is how to connect it with the PC

 

[grubyhalo]

You will need a 'mini stereo to RCA' cable to connect the line-out from your soundcard to the line-in of your amp.

Mini Stereo to RCA Cable - Cables N Mor, Inc

 

[Kittu]

You will need a 'mini stereo to RCA' cable to connect the line-out from your soundcard to the line-in of your amp.

Mini Stereo to RCA Cable - Cables N Mor, Inc

Can this cable be connected to headfone out of a laptop ?

 

[grubyhalo]

Can this cable be connected to headfone out of a laptop ?

Yes .

 

[devstation18]

You will need a 'mini stereo to RCA' cable to connect the line-out from your soundcard to the line-in of your amp.

Mini Stereo to RCA Cable - Cables N Mor, Inc

Thanks a lot grabyhalo

 

[spirovious]

new foobar 1.1 beta sounds more open & fuller than 1.01(portable version).
I feel its SQ is in between old foobar & cplay.