LittleMatt

Okay so a bit more digging and I found this. http://wiki.slimdevices.com/index.php/Connecting_directly_to_a_power_amplifier. What it boils down to is that I have cranked up the master volume in windows to 100% from about 3% and used the gain dials on the back of the power amp to attenuate the signal to an acceptable level. Straight away I've got a marked improvement. Yay! Silly me....

First time poster here, glad I found this great site... I have had an HTPC since before anyone new what one was, running winamp, meedio, musicmatch etc... Currently have mediaportal... My setup is very simple, just the HTPC in an antec NSK2400 case sitting on a 180w parasound poweramp driving a pair of cerwin vega v15-f's, with a 42 inch plasma as the control panel. Lately have become unhappy with the music side of things. Thinking the speakers are the weakest link I have bought a pair of old Sharp Optonica speakers to try... While waiting for them to arrive I have done some more digging and it turns out my weakest link is likely to be the onboard sound card (line level output) signalling the power amp.. Is this right? It seems like a big no no to have digital volume control. So I need to by a DAC/pre amp combo, right? I have a very good m-audio 5.1 sound card in the garage somewhere, even this will be crap compared to an external DAC, no? Why can they not build a sound card that digitally controls the analogue output so you dont lose resolution at low volumes, like a digital pot... Or do they? I have a young family, wife at home, mortage etc so am very budget conscious (hence the second hand optonicas - cheap, but I have high hopes for them). My CVs can scare small animals to death within a 3KM radius whilst causing the wife and children all to start yelling at me simultaneously, but sound pretty flat at low levels... So these days I'm looking for something a bit more refined as I head towards forty. So do I need a DAC/Pre combo, or maybe seperates? And if so I have to go cheap. Its digital, it shouldnt be too expensive right? The DAC chips doing the actual work are only a couple bucks apeice, no? Or is there an acceptable, shielded internal card available with analogue side volume control? Many thanks for your time/advice in advance. I apologise if this has been asked before (Im sure it has) but I have been googling for hours, its past midnight, and would very much appreciate a clear answer from those in the know...