Audiophile Sound Card

  • Thread starter Thread starter GilesGuthrie
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GilesGuthrie

GilesGuthrie

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CMDRTheDarkLord
Right.

In my study, I have:

1x Athlon-based computer, with iTunes and 30GB of files.
1x Marantz CD-63 II CD Player
1x Marantz PM-7200 Amplifier
1x Denon TU-260L Tuner
1x Pair B&W DM602 S3 Speakers on Atacama stands

Now, if I import a CD into the iTunes library, I can play it through the Hi-Fi, as the L-R out on my Soundblaster Live! Value sound card is connected to the Aux1 on the amp. The sound is OK, but way inferior to listening to the CD using the CD player. This is in line with expectation. I mean, you would think that the sound quality would deteriorate with the compression, and that the revealing Hi-Fi would show this up.

However, and here's the rub. If I create a playlist in iTunes, and burn the tracks to CD, which I then play in the CD player, the sound is virtually indistinguishable from the original disc! Also, playing the disc using the computer's DVD-ROM shows a similar loss of quality.

So, clearly, my sound card is garbage. What I want, therefore, is to replace it with one that's really good. Does anyone have any suggestions? Or should I just buy an Apple AirPort Express, and do the whole thing wirelessly?
 
GilesGuthrie
Right.

In my study, I have:

1x Athlon-based computer, with iTunes and 30GB of files.
1x Marantz CD-63 II CD Player
1x Marantz PM-7200 Amplifier
1x Denon TU-260L Tuner
1x Pair B&W DM602 S3 Speakers on Atacama stands

Now, if I import a CD into the iTunes library, I can play it through the Hi-Fi, as the L-R out on my Soundblaster Live! Value sound card is connected to the Aux1 on the amp. The sound is OK, but way inferior to listening to the CD using the CD player. This is in line with expectation. I mean, you would think that the sound quality would deteriorate with the compression, and that the revealing Hi-Fi would show this up.

However, and here's the rub. If I create a playlist in iTunes, and burn the tracks to CD, which I then play in the CD player, the sound is virtually indistinguishable from the original disc! Also, playing the disc using the computer's DVD-ROM shows a similar loss of quality.

So, clearly, my sound card is garbage. What I want, therefore, is to replace it with one that's really good. Does anyone have any suggestions? Or should I just buy an Apple AirPort Express, and do the whole thing wirelessly?
Click to expand...

Before I make any recommendation - What cables are you using to connect the PC to the amplifier ?..
 
Flerbizky
Before I make any recommendation - What cables are you using to connect the PC to the amplifier ?..
Click to expand...

It's a fairly straightforward unbranded 3.5mm headphone to 2x phono connection.
 
Shannon
Well, whatever you do you want an external sound card. Internal ones are susceptible to interference from the other components.

Apparently the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 NX is pretty awesome. 👍
Click to expand...
Great card for gaming, but it's not as good for music listening in my experiences.

Check out offerings by M-Audio. They're a bit expensive, and they won't handle gaming as well as the Creative cards will. If you want a bit of both worlds, check out the Creative Audigy 4. It's no audiophile card, but it's the closest that Creative has gotten in years.
 
I would suggest you look into this. I read that it was good on several reviews, but that was a while ago.
 

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