PC-Audio Happiness - My Journey

Posted by nsxrush@aol.com (A) on August 30, 2011 at 13:16:32

I have been an avid reader of audio-asylum and taken in contributor's advise and learning to build my system. See my system for components, music listened and goals for the system.

IT started after my Carver CD-Player 360 crashed (which beat out Cary's $3000 cd-player in my system)

It started w/ an innocent question to JerryS to reco. a CD player for ~ $1000 (I like his reviews on 10audio.com) He responded w/diff approach of PC-Audio system. WAS VERY KIND TO PROVIDE ME VERY DETAILED INFO OF COMPONENTS/SOFTWARE TO USE AND HOW TO CONFIG THE PC.

After PC was config. I was still not happy with the sound. Tried a bunch of DACs/Prosumer audio-interfaces. A short review of each follows.

Finally decided on TC Electronic TWIN IMPACT.

A VERY BIG IMPROVEMENT CAME from selecting Texas Instruments Firewire Driver (instead of one that comes w/ win 7 or Legacy driver)

The result:-
Sound is very very close to a $100,000 system I listened to once.
Feels like I am in front row at a jazz performance. Some of the very difficult to reproduce sounds are very real..e.g. trumpet, piano, bass guitar, tabla, sitar. Vocals of Diane Krall, Sinatra, Elvis, Dire Straits, Bono, Jimi etc come to life like never before.

Other DACs/Audio-interfaces tried
Echo Audiofire12:- Incredible sound stage and clarity of sound....but did not reproduce sound.
Focusrite Saffire 24:- I set-up my PC just like Focusrite web recos...but just sounded the worst.
RME Babyface:- Not as good as Echo and also did not reproduce sound. Whoever is in market for RME Babyface...should take a hard look at Echo12.
MHDT Havana DAC:- My integrated is Tube and Havana is tube....maybe that is the reason, the bass was very wooly, porridge like (quoting another reviewer)...was very diasppointed...even paid restocking fee.
Music Fidelity M1 DAC:- Burn-in for 2 weeks....very very mediocre sound.
Peachtree Nova (from a friend):- Bright and forward sound. He will be buying Impact Twin

Nsxrush

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Topic - PC-Audio Happiness - My Journey - nsxrush@aol.com 13:16:32 08/30/11 (23)

I have both TC Electronic Konnekt 8 and MHDT Havana ... - cktc 01:38:33 09/06/11 (0)

Where do you download the Texas Instruments Firewire Driver?? - cktc 23:22:16 09/05/11 (1)

RE: Where do you download the Texas Instruments Firewire Driver?? - nsxrush@aol.com 14:06:23 09/12/11 (0)

So these TC Electronic units digitize decently as well?! - jedrider 11:28:47 08/31/11 (1)

RE: So these TC Electronic units digitize decently as well?! - nsxrush@aol.com 12:57:32 08/31/11 (0)

completely in line with my journey - hfavandepas 16:52:14 08/30/11 (6)

The problem lies... - Audio Pharaoh 19:49:20 08/30/11 (5)

So one need too spend $ 100,- too $ 1.200 on a USB-cable too make an USB DAC sound good? - hfavandepas 03:53:30 08/31/11 (4)

Thanks for the input.. - Audio Pharaoh 07:42:11 08/31/11 (3)

I completely agree on the Benchmark. - hfavandepas 10:05:46 08/31/11 (2)

Probably true - AbeCollins 10:51:41 09/03/11 (1)

RE: Probably true - Audio Pharaoh 04:26:45 09/05/11 (0)

That's a mike interface?? - jedrider 14:17:09 08/30/11 (3)

has analog and digital outputs - Old Listener 15:40:26 08/30/11 (2)

Looks way Cool -- bug how do you connect it?? - jedrider 16:23:03 08/30/11 (1)

RE: Looks way Cool -- bug how do you connect it?? - nsxrush@aol.com 19:20:16 08/30/11 (0)

RE: PC-Audio Happiness - My Journey - Presto 13:59:30 08/30/11 (6)

RE: PC-Audio Happiness - My Journey - nsxrush@aol.com 19:36:34 08/30/11 (5)

RE: PC-Audio Happiness - My Journey - Presto 11:00:09 09/01/11 (1)

Doi. I replied again to the same post - aw well, they're different! OOPS! nt - Presto 11:18:29 09/01/11 (0)

RE: PC-Audio Happiness - My Journey - Presto 09:50:49 08/31/11 (2)

RE: PC-Audio Happiness - My Journey - nsxrush@aol.com 10:51:38 08/31/11 (0)

DAC choices - Old Listener 10:17:53 08/31/11 (0)

PC-Audio Happiness - My Journey

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