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