[jtpryan]

I'm putting all of my CD's (~800) on a PC that currently has onboard
sound. I want to come out of this to my receiver and use the PC as a
music server. However, it seems to me that the quality would be
better with a dedicated sound card. Now, all I'm gonna do is listen
to music on this, no fancy mixing or anything. Would something like
the Audigy SE do it? Or should I find a solution with optical out?
Is it worth it?

-Jim

[Arny Krueger]

"jtpryan" wrote in message
ps.com

I'm putting all of my CD's (~800) on a PC that currently
has onboard sound. I want to come out of this to my
receiver and use the PC as a music server. However, it
seems to me that the quality would be better with a
dedicated sound card. Now, all I'm gonna do is listen to
music on this, no fancy mixing or anything. Would
something like the Audigy SE do it? Or should I find a
solution with optical out? Is it worth it?

Low cost? Better than your typical onboard audio interface?

SB Live! 24 bit PCI - about $30

Frequency response (from 40 Hz to 15 kHz):+0.07 dB, -0.18 dB
Noise level, dB (A):-97.1 dB
Dynamic range, dB (A):93.5 dB
THD, %:0.0066
IMD, %:0.014
Stereo crosstalk, dB:-95.
IMD at 10 kHz, %:0.013

In comparison:

Current Realtek AC97 on a motherboard:

Frequency response (from 40 Hz to 15 kHz): +0.08 dB, -0.56 dB
Noise level, dB (A):-85.0 dB
Dynamic range, dB (A):84.8 dB
THD, %:0.018
IMD + Noise, %: 2.703
Stereo crosstalk, dB: -67.
IMD at 10 kHz, %:0.088

[jtpryan]

On Feb 15, 1:23 pm, "Arny Krueger" wrote:
"jtpryan" wrote in message

ps.com

I'm putting all of my CD's (~800) on a PC that currently
has onboard sound. I want to come out of this to my
receiver and use the PC as a music server. However, it
seems to me that the quality would be better with a
dedicated sound card. Now, all I'm gonna do is listen to
music on this, no fancy mixing or anything. Would
something like the Audigy SE do it? Or should I find a
solution with optical out? Is it worth it?

Low cost? Better than your typical onboard audio interface?

SB Live! 24 bit PCI - about $30

Frequency response (from 40 Hz to 15 kHz):+0.07 dB, -0.18 dB
Noise level, dB (A):-97.1 dB
Dynamic range, dB (A):93.5 dB
THD, %:0.0066
IMD, %:0.014
Stereo crosstalk, dB:-95.
IMD at 10 kHz, %:0.013

In comparison:

Current Realtek AC97 on a motherboard:

Frequency response (from 40 Hz to 15 kHz): +0.08 dB, -0.56 dB
Noise level, dB (A):-85.0 dB
Dynamic range, dB (A):84.8 dB
THD, %:0.018
IMD + Noise, %: 2.703
Stereo crosstalk, dB: -67.
IMD at 10 kHz, %:0.088

Thank you for the response. However, I'm really not too good with
specs. Is this good or bad?

-Jim

[Laurence Payne]

On 15 Feb 2007 12:14:04 -0800, "jtpryan" wrote:

Thank you for the response. However, I'm really not too good with
specs. Is this good or bad?

Unless you listen to acoustic recordings, on good/very good speakers,
you won't notice any improvement over the onboard sound card. If you
listen to MP3s you DEFINITELY won't notice the difference

[Dirk Bruere at NeoPax]

jtpryan wrote:
I'm putting all of my CD's (~800) on a PC that currently has onboard
sound. I want to come out of this to my receiver and use the PC as a
music server. However, it seems to me that the quality would be
better with a dedicated sound card. Now, all I'm gonna do is listen
to music on this, no fancy mixing or anything. Would something like
the Audigy SE do it? Or should I find a solution with optical out?
Is it worth it?

-Jim


I can tell you that any X-Fi sounds better than the Audigy.
However, that's playing uncompressed (or lossless compressed) CDs on
speakers costing several thousand.

If you're talking MP3 then forget it.

--
Dirk

http://www.onetribe.me.uk - The UK's only occult talk show
Presented by Dirk Bruere and Marc Power on ResonanceFM 104.4
http://www.resonancefm.com

[justin david]

On Thu, 15 Feb 2007 22:30:22 +0000, Dirk Bruere at NeoPax
wrote:

jtpryan wrote:
I'm putting all of my CD's (~800) on a PC that currently has onboard
sound. I want to come out of this to my receiver and use the PC as a
music server. However, it seems to me that the quality would be
better with a dedicated sound card. Now, all I'm gonna do is listen
to music on this, no fancy mixing or anything. Would something like
the Audigy SE do it? Or should I find a solution with optical out?
Is it worth it?

-Jim


I can tell you that any X-Fi sounds better than the Audigy.
However, that's playing uncompressed (or lossless compressed) CDs on
speakers costing several thousand.

If you're talking MP3 then forget it.

How would one of the Turtle Beach cards do, specifically the Santa
Cruz? I've seen it on ebay for about $20.

[Geoff]

jtpryan wrote:
I'm putting all of my CD's (~800) on a PC that currently has onboard
sound. I want to come out of this to my receiver and use the PC as a
music server. However, it seems to me that the quality would be
better with a dedicated sound card. Now, all I'm gonna do is listen
to music on this, no fancy mixing or anything. Would something like
the Audigy SE do it? Or should I find a solution with optical out?
Is it worth it?


Your music server pc presumably only needs a soundcard for 'rough checking'
purposes. Only the client computer/s would need a high quality card. But
not if you are MP3ing the music at anything less that 256kbps - just use any
old junk for either soundcard.


geoff

[Mr.T]

"justin david" wrote in message
...
How would one of the Turtle Beach cards do, specifically the Santa
Cruz? I've seen it on ebay for about $20.

Perfectly adequate for the purpose IME.

MrT.

[Dirk Bruere at NeoPax]

Mr.T wrote:
"justin david" wrote in message
...
How would one of the Turtle Beach cards do, specifically the Santa
Cruz? I've seen it on ebay for about $20.

Perfectly adequate for the purpose IME.

MrT.

On an obviously related topic, which is the best soundcard for playback?
Esp wrt s/n figures?

--
Dirk

http://www.onetribe.me.uk - The UK's only occult talk show
Presented by Dirk Bruere and Marc Power on ResonanceFM 104.4
http://www.resonancefm.com

[Mr.T]

"Dirk Bruere at NeoPax" wrote in message
...
On an obviously related topic, which is the best soundcard for playback?
Esp wrt s/n figures?

Pretty hard to beat the Lynx or DAL cards if that's what you are after.
The M-Audio Audiophile 192 is hard to beat for value though.

MrT.