Memo

The E-MU would be perfect because of the regulated headphone jack and the phono preamp (besides the usb to aes conversion) but unfortunately does not support windows 8 or win 2012 server :-( What do you think about a simple onboard SPDIF out and not use the AES/EBU conversion at all? I'm a little "BIT" confused about the options.

Please correct me, but if I use a soundcard just to take out a digital signal over AES3 or S/PDIF out of the PC to a DAC I would expect the same functionality by an external device that converts from digital (coming over USB) to AES3 or S/PDIF. Of course you can do more with a soundcard, but in my scenario described initially in this topic, I just use the conversion and not the DAC. Maybe there is another functionality that I'm looking for: a phono in/preamp. I find a device that supports all requirements--> E-MU 1616. I don't know what U12 and AP is. If you have evidence that the yellowtec is equal to a Berkeley, I would buy this of course. Can you tell me where I can find those reports you mention?

Have a look at this study design: Audiophile PC Sound - The Real Cost of Hi-Fi - Tom I'm not sure what this software do with the music?

I have searched for it and could not find a thread to it I think so I don't agree to that fully. For me sound quality in terms of listening to music and decide whether this sounds good or bad to you can be described as subjective sound quality and yes this is something very individual and very subjective. There are several ways to measure subjective sound quality. If you want to make a statement that goes beyond a single opinion you have to make a review of all the single opinions and try to make a kind of pooled opinion or better conduct a trial (to get equal covariates). The value and the evidence is much higher, if subjective sound quality of a device is approved by other individuals in a standardized way. Maybe CT (controlled trial) approach goes a bit too far scientific but could be funny too. I write a thread to that separately. I have an idea how that can work. 1 hour to Berlin from Zürich by car? :-)

Do you think that a SOtM dx-USB HD sounds better than a Berkeley alpha USB? After reading the threads in this forum I would say that the Berkeley USB converter should "win" the challange for most listeners. To clarify the question of subjective sound quality of different devices formally you have to conduct a double blinded controlled trial with at least 30 hifi enthusiasts (depending on measureable effects and other parameters). If you would live in Germany I would organize such a trial.

This is an extract of a critical review from the articles - including the one you cited - that I read in the last weeks. It does not include all devices that are available. Please make additions to this list if you want.

To sum up I would propose following AES/EBU ranking (from high to very high Sound Quality): 1. Audio-PC - m2tech Evo (380€)- DAC - LS 2. Audio-PC - Yellowtec PUC2 (500€)- DAC - LS 3. Audio-PC - ESI Juli (150€)- DAC - LS 4. Audio-PC - RME/Lynx (300-600€)- DAC - LS 5. Audio-PC - SOTM USB (300€)- Berkeley alpha (1500€)- DAC- LS 6. MAC mini with linear PS - Berkeley alpha (1500€)- DAC - LS After that some guys add several external clocks etc to that scenario that seem to have an impact on SQ. If the ranking would be right, I would say that option 3 and 6 seem to be interesting (price/SQ). Option 6: I'm not sure with the macs. I have an iMac and I'm not convinced that they sound better than PC with win server 2012 and asio. Further i have not seen a mac without a fan and I don't want to be annoyed by ventilators.

That is a really interesting device! It costs the half of an audiophileo 1 and seems to sound better (at least for one reviewer).

Thanks for all the info!! I have an external m2tech Evo (not used) and think about to change it to an internal RME Hammerfall. If I sum it up what you said I have to keep the Evo or get an external DAC. But I just need the connectivity of the DAC because of the balanced XLR input of my DAC (3 x Burr Brown within speakers). It would be so easy if ma speakers would have an asynchron USB in. I would take an internal sodm usb card and make an usb connection to the speakers. Anyway thank you very much for your advice!

Very good thanks! This supports my thinkings. what do you think of this combo (HDPLEX Linear Power Supply with HDPLEX Hi-Fi 250W)? or this one (which can be located in the case, 240 Watts): I think the combo shown above is better for SQ than those? (150W EDAC Adapter x1, PicoPSU 150-XT): or from Streacom: Do I understand right, that you prefer a fanless seasonic (fanless 460) instead of an hdplex PS? Why? 460 is too much isn't it? At least for a 15 Watt Celeron four core without xtra graphics card. I think that all components will need 20min-80max Watts. I don't know the energy consumption of the ESI or the RME but it should be 5-15 Watts. What do you think about an external Li(Fe)Po Battery? Does anyone build one? I just want to use the converter function of the soundcard to switch the digital (usually usb) output internally to AES/EBU on XLR because this is the input needed at the front end of my speaker. My speaker then turns the signal over his DAC into analog sound just before the loudspeaker membrane. Do you think that this is noise critical thin in a hdplex H10 or H5? Would you then also prefer external supply over internal? So you have three cases instead of one? Why manufacturers like Wadia or Sooloos doesn't do that?

Does anyone has an opinion? I tend to the internal solution and also find an ESI Juli, which has two audio in's and at least one AES/EBU or SPDIF out. So I can also attach an turntable to the sound card. Do you know whether I need an preamp/equalizer or something else before using the AD-converter of the sound card? kind regards

Hello from Germany, first sorry for linguistic inaccuracy. I have many questions and hope for your answers. I would like to build an audio-PC with the following components: Passively cooled housing (hd-plex, Streacom ..) ITX motherboard with Celeron 4x2Ghz, linear power supply (HDplex linear power supply, Streacom ZF 240, Teradaks), sound card (eg RME Hammerfall) or external USB converter (m2tech, see below), 64 GB + 1TB SSD hard disk, Windows server 2012 R2 in Gui mode maybe in core mode, Foobar with Asio drivers, touch-display as primary cable connected screen + WLAN MonkeyMote if wife is not there, don't want WLAN :-( My questions: - What do you think of the selection? - Why Many build into their audio Pc's processors like I5 or I7 series (in my view not necessary and energy wasting)? - Which linear power supply is the best for the buck and maybe support an external 9V device (converter) or internal USB/Audio card in addition to the mainboard? Or a second low power Audio-PC in the future? - Mainboard better as gaming variant with X99 chipset and 5V USB in combination with an I3 processor? - Internal sound card or external coverter for best SQ (see below)? Option 1: Audio PC via internal RME 9632, a digital interface cable (RME D-Sub to XLR) and then via AES / EBU / XLR cable 1,2m directly into the speaker with XLR connection and internal DAC or Option 2: Audio PC, USB 5V out, USB cable (eg AudioQuest Carbon) by M2Tech Evo (USB in, XLR out), then via AES / EBU / XLR cable 1,2m directly into the speaker with XLR connection and internal DAC or 3. Audio PC -> ??? -> Active Speakers with DAC Would be great if you could post me your experiences or theoretical considerations. regards