sound card with good digital out ?

[s_sachin]

I recently discovered that the onboard digital out on my mobo gigabyte 785usb3 is inferior to a cdp digital out to the same DAC.

Looking for suggestions for a soundcard with good quality digital outs, I will not be using analog from soundcard.

My dac is ca dacmagic

I am aware of the Asus cards. Any other suggestions ? Especially from folks using PC as transport to dac.

Thanks
Sachin

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Motherboard builtins are, of necessity, based on a very low-cost component. If you get a good sound card, you might even find that the analogue out is better than your CD player!

A forum favourite: ESI Julia@ Have not heard it, but have faith in the several good reports I've read of it.

If you don't want an internal soundcard, then you can get devices that simply convert USB to digital, or a fully-fledged audio interface which (like the card) will give you input as well as output.

 

[svenkateshsmart]

I recently discovered that the onboard digital out on my mobo gigabyte 785usb3 is inferior to a cdp digital out to the same DAC.

Doubt that if it will really make much of a difference since both are digital outputs; however, it will make a difference, in case if you're taking the analog output which requires a quality "DAC"

Experts may correct if I am wrong!

Cheers!

p.s.: Have been using Asus Xonar Essence ST for about a year!

 

[spirovious]

For 2 ch digital out,ESI Juli@ is a better choice.
ESI - Juli@

 

[magma]

well the best are the RME hammers and the Lynx
they will cost between 20-50k

on the forum, shanti and myself use the Juli
it is a compromise compared to the above - but we believe it is the next best solution

 

[roseboy24]

try this if comes in your budget ... they have used Wolfson 8741 DAC which used by CAmbridge Audio products and audiphile CDPS and DAcs by ARCAM and Audiolabs
DAPRE 250 WM8741 Stereo Digital-to-Analogue Converter with Preamplifier
DAPRE 250 – WM8741 Stereo Digital-to-Analogue Converter with Preamplifier

 

[BLASTO]

Doubt that if it will really make much of a difference since both are digital outputs; however, it will make a difference, in case if you're taking the analog

I was with the same opinion until I heard his system.
The computer out and CDP was like chalk and cheese with digital output connecteto dacmagic DAC.

 

[s_sachin]

So as a last attempt to salvage my PC transport I am after Juli If anyone has got this recently please PM me details.

 

[jai1611]

I have been experimenting with an E-MU 1212m feeding a Lampizator over the weekend. I feel its better than a cheap CDP like Nad 315/DVD player as transport (have used them earlier in the same system). Comparabale to good quality CD player used as transport although the signature is quite different from my Yamaha CD-S2000 used as transport. The key differences I heard on a first listen:
- less impactful bass
- more spacious soundstage
- darker background

These impressions are after the first setup in a newly built pc without much tweaking and even using different digital cables so I suspect that the conclusions might be a bit different on more careful comparison. The Yamaha when used as a transport is better than most entry level/mid range CDP's but not as good as the Esoteric or comparable CD transports.

PC setup seems to make a big difference. I had tried the same card earlier in my HTPC machine and it didnt sound as good fed into the same DAC. The main difference between the two pcs is:
- the new one as an absolutely first class power supply (Seasonic X560) against Corsair VX550 in the HTPC
- clean windows install with no extra software except for drivers and audio. The HTPC had video software etc and also ms office, an antivirus and browser
- the new one uses an SSD for the boot drive against a conventional HDD in the HTPC

 

[BLASTO]

- less impactful bass
- more spacious soundstage
- darker background

I have noticed the same when we go up in price of CDPs.

- Less impactful and but deeper pronounced bass
- Clear and sharp midrange
- Soundstage : This come into picture only after a price range I guess. For instance, Sachin's HTPC setup severely lacks in soundstage.
- Background seperation/instrument placement : Only visible in good quality english recordings but makes a very good difference to the 'feel' and 'soul' of music. Can't be quantified. To each his own.


So, the end result is the BASS is going to feel weaker atleast initially when you move up the ladder. Exactly same experience when I moved from NAD to Musichall. But what do we know? Exceeding good in the long run. Easy to miss this point during 'lightning' demos.

Iam sure we get all the above with deep+impactful bass with Naims. Which are around 1L CDP+Amp. Never heard them though.

 

[jai1611]

So, the end result is the BASS is going to feel weaker atleast initially when you move up the ladder.

I wouldnt necessarily agree with that - a lot of high end CD players have impactful bass.

I am not yet convinved that the sound card is a superior transport as compared to the Yamaha in my setup - it just has a different presentation. For one thing, the more spacious presentation implies that some details are a bit more recessed (fortunately, not in the midrange). The only thing I can say conclusively after the initial listen is that it is clearly superior to entry level CDPs I've tried to use as transports.

 

[hydra]

I have been experimenting with an E-MU 1212m feeding a Lampizator ...

...
- the new one as an absolutely first class power supply (Seasonic X560) against Corsair VX550 in the HTPC
- clean windows install with no extra software except for drivers and audio. The HTPC had video software etc and also ms office, an antivirus and browser
- the new one uses an SSD for the boot drive against a conventional HDD in the HTPC

That looks like a really nice setup!

I was just reading a review of that PSU. It looks like it is an excellent PSU.

What is the rest of your hardware (in the PC) like, if you don't mind my asking?

 

[jai1611]

That looks like a really nice setup!

I was just reading a review of that PSU. It looks like it is an excellent PSU.

What is the rest of your hardware (in the PC) like, if you don't mind my asking?

Thanks.

The reason I chose that PSU is due to low noise/ripple in the rails.

The motherboard + cpu are both intel (i3 2100 due to low heat/power, H61 chipset to make sure no extra things on the motherboard to interefere, motherboard audio and video drivers not installed). ASUS HD5450 passively cooled video card - to ensure no extra processing strain on CPU. Lancool pc-k56 cabinet (very quite budget cabinet).

 

[hydra]

^^ Yes, the near-zero ripple and the rock stable voltages were what I found attractive too. Also the fact that it works fanless most of the time. And for the times it does switch to the fan, that fan is supposed to be really quiet.

That's a really nice cabinet -- well-built and heavy enough. LianLi do build great cabinets.

Are you using the stock heatsink/fan combo for the processor, or do you have something fancy there too? I just built a machine for office using the same CPU (and an H67 board) and I felt that the the CPU fan is little bit noisy. The i3 2100 indeed runs cool. After being on for 36 hours, the processor in my PC is at just 35 degrees C. Without any special effort/HW for cooling it.

@s_sachin, sorry for derailing the thread. I'd also suggest the ESI Juli@. I use a Xonar STX myself for digital out, but I'm told it could do better.

 

[jai1611]

Are you using the stock heatsink/fan combo for the processor, or do you have something fancy there too?

Stock heatsink and fan. I havent noticed any noise. In fact, I cant hear the pc even when I am standing next to it to adjust the volume on the preamp. The cabinet has solid sides and top - I guess that prevents noise from leaking out. Also, the ventilation from the two 120mm fans helps.

@s_sachin, the E-MU cards are also a decent option if you can find one used. I had picked up mine on the forum.

 

[s_sachin]

Thanks Jai. Good idea..Will create a wanted thread.

No issues Hydra. This is all good

 

[Kevian]

Sachin, try Tech-Enclave forums..you might be lucky

cheers!!
Kevian

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

well the best are the RME hammers and the Lynx
they will cost between 20-50k ...

With a sound card like this, forget the separate DAC

I have been experimenting with an E-MU 1212m feeding a Lampizator over the weekend. I feel its better than a cheap CDP like Nad 315/DVD player as transport (have used them earlier in the same system). Comparabale to good quality CD player used as transport although the signature is quite different from my Yamaha CD-S2000 used as transport.

Theoretical, rather than experience-based, but my understanding is that the advantage of the single-box CD Player is the closely linked transport and DAC which does not allow timing errors. Once you break this relationship, the transport is just a thing that gets bits from an optical drive: a PC can do that just as well, if not better, than a device sold into the hifi market.

 

[svenkateshsmart]

the transport is just a thing that gets bits from an optical drive: a PC can do that just as well, if not better, than a device sold into the hifi market.

+1 to that!

 

[reignofchaos]

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