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Hello,
I am considering using Windows Media Center(in my old PIII 750 PC as a music server) and a USB to SPDIF converter to my external tube dac(Musical Fidelity DM25).The only problem is some of these converters say that they are only supported by Windows XP or Pro versions.So I am not sure if some of these converters will work with Windows Media center and which is a very good converter to purchase.
I guess I am leaning towards Windows Media Center because you can organise play lists plus get album cover art etc.
Any help or comments would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Follow Ups:
If you dont care about audio quality and only functionality, the WMC should be fine. Most converters will work with it. It does not bypass Kmixer and generally sounds bad compared to Foobar or Winamp or Jriver etc.. The best sounding converters have:1) external power - not powered from PC
2) custom drivers - not using Windows drivers
3) method to bypass KMIXER, such as ASIO or Kernel Streaming
How should an external power supply have influence on sound quality when no analog conversion but SPDF is used?
So would I just keep Windows XP Pro on my PIII PC and use Foobar or Winamp as the player to rip and organise my files.I was hoping to use uncompressed Wave files or Flac files for playback,plus have album art and information to an attached small LCD.
Yes sound quality is #1,and convenience #2.
Which would be a good USB to SPDIF converter with outboard power?I was originally thinking Waveterminal U24(usb powered) and or M-Audio Audiophile USB Audio or M-Audio FireWire 410.
This would then feed my dac.(sorry I am new at this)
Thanks!
Best sound quality on a PC will be with Foobar or Jriver, using ASIO and SRC upsampler. Ripping should be done with EAC. Using MAC, it is iTunes and no upsampling.
Thank you for your help,as I am new to all this.
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