If you have a computer you can dedicate to audio

Posted by mr.bear (A) on February 18, 2012 at 09:13:09

In Reply to: Better to buy new lower-end, or older higher-end? posted by K-wey on February 13, 2012 at 07:56:49:

...you might best spend that budget on a contemporary USB DAC, rip your CD's to WAV or losslessly compressed files, and play them back that way. My experience is that you don't want to be using the "stereo" computer for a lot of other chores, just music and it can sound really good- as good as a very decent CD player. It also gives you all the options and modern conveniences of computer audio. If you already have the computer it can be a cost-effective solution. Read the review of the Schiit Bifrost DAC below, it seems like a good one and is in your budget range. Also, bone up on the topic through the "Well Tempered Computer" website and the PC Audio section of AA (but be ready to sort some wheat from some chaff, bro.)

There's no good answer to your OP question- its impossible to generalize that broadly. (For example, I now use a USB to S/PDIF convereter into a vintage Madrigal digital preamp/processor. I like it, but there's better ways if you're starting anew, like you are.) Good luck.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Better to buy new lower-end, or older higher-end? - K-wey 07:56:49 02/13/12 (14)

RE: Better to buy new lower-end, or older higher-end? - K-wey 17:49:43 03/09/12 (0)

RE: Better to buy new lower-end, or older higher-end? - K-wey 14:10:37 02/22/12 (1)

Update - Better to buy new lower-end, or older higher-end? - K-wey 12:07:50 03/06/12 (0)

RE: Better to buy new lower-end, or older higher-end? - knewton 14:12:40 02/20/12 (0)

If you have a computer you can dedicate to audio - mr.bear 09:13:09 02/18/12 (0)

Neither - nickwh 14:54:37 02/17/12 (0)

RE: Better to buy new lower-end, or older higher-end? - tmsorosk 04:57:42 02/17/12 (0)

RE: Better to buy new lower-end, or older higher-end? - Bromo33333 11:59:53 02/16/12 (0)

RE: Better to buy new lower-end, or older higher-end? - lancelot 08:28:21 02/15/12 (0)

Have you given computer audio any thoughts? nT - Vic D 07:41:13 02/15/12 (2)

.....great idea.. That $350-400 would be better put toward a DAC. /nt - bwb 10:15:54 02/15/12 (1)

RE: .....great idea.. That $350-400 would be better put toward a DAC. /nt - Bromo33333 11:29:51 02/20/12 (0)

" Am I viewing this sensibly?" - Kal Rubinson 18:19:21 02/14/12 (0)

RE: Better to buy new lower-end, or older higher-end? - KnobSpinner 11:47:22 02/14/12 (0)

Follow Ups

If you have a computer you can dedicate to audio - mr.bear 09:13:09 02/18/12 (0)

If you have a computer you can dedicate to audio

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