Luke Sparkes

My Focal just arrived. They do have miinijack output as well as usb. The DAC takes place in the soundcard which is integrated with the speakers.

thanks guys for the reply. The Emotiva's sound very interesting; and are a hell of a bargain. Yesterday I found out that my friend has the Focal and when I listened they sounded amazing. So crisp, so gentle. So I went and bought them And probably exactly what I need for a tiny student accommodation room. Because I study film and sound production, I will have in mind the Emotiva 6's for future studio speakers. thanks

Hello guys, I am looking to buy speakers for my desk for the price range of 300£. The only speakers that I've looked up are the Focal XS 2.1 which cost 420£. I have read reviews about them and really want to buy them but the exceed my price range. I already have an M-Audio Firewire Solo sound card so I would someone to help me find speakers that are as good as the Focal's but without a built-in sound card. I listen to Jazz, Classical Rock and Soul mostly and all of my files are lossless format. I want speakers that can play my lossless music with perfection. Difficult really with my price range. If it really makes a big different I would spend up to 400£. Thanks in advance, Luke

Cambridge Audio DacMagic it is then. I've look for second hand on ebay and couldn't find anything. I've read reviews of all DAC mentioned here and the DacMagic is what I need for what I can afford, for a start point. Thanks.

Because I realise that this is an expensive hobby, I think for start, I'm going to buy a DAC to connect it with my Sony Amp and see how it goes and if I want something better in the future I will invest into to it. The DC1 HDR looks good but it's too expensive. Could you recommend any other DAC option in the price range of 200$-400$ ? Like the HRT Music Streamer II. Do you know about Musical Fidelity's V-DAC is good for it's price? Also, are you said before; the USB DACs bypass your soundcard. So that means that they work as a soundcard, right? Thank again for helping me!

Then, I'm going to take the separate route and going to buy the KingRex Preamp because I want to have the best possible that I can afford and I also use a Technics Compact Disk player and a playstation. So I would be needing that extra input. I looked at the HRT Streamer DAC II+ and I cannot find it somewhere that ships to Greece. Do you suggest any other DAC's? Also, as you said; I would be needing an Amplifier aswell as a Pre-amp. So could you recommend any Amplifier or I'm good enough with my Sony one? I don't know if I mentioned this before, but the Sony one is 7-year old Stereo amp and was a audiophile product when it was available. I still didn't get it out of the shelves but I will probably tomorrow.

Thank you for replying I looked at your site, what do you think of : http://www.itemaudio.co.uk/kingrex_t20u.html and http://www.itemaudio.co.uk/kingrex_psu.html How good is the KingRex that is both Amplifier and DAC? Usually products that do 2 more of things together, aren't as good as the ones that are dedicated to only one task, Right? Also, I'm abit confused on how you connect a DAC and a Amplifier with the computer? I can see DAC's have USB inputs, but I have a Sound Card. How will that work? If I buy a DAC and an Amplifier, I won't be needing my Sony amp, right? What did AudioELF mean when he said "use your Denon as a bottle neck" ? And what's the difference between a Pre-Amp and a Amp? Would I need both?

Yes I understand now. Of course though, a better amplifier has better DACs, pre-amps and power-amps, Right? I have an old Sony Stereo Amplifier that is very good which I replaced it with a second hand Denon just because I was about to buy surround sound speakers. But I didn't in the end. Having said, It's a good idea to replace the Denon with the Sony one. I cannot provide you with the exact Sony model because it is shelled in the basement. But I will tomorrow. It's a hi-end model my father bought about 7 years ago. Also about the DAC, because my budget isn't high, I'm thinking of buying Musical Fidelity's V-DAC. I've read reviews and they say it's really good and can be compared with the hi-end models. Would you recommend it? Would you recommend any other model in the same price range? Thanks again

Thank you for your reply. I am saving for a DAC and I wanted to confirm if it's necessary or not. (for the system I have) Wait, doesn't the Denon Amplify the speakers? Why would I need a stereo amp?

Hello. I'm 17 years old, and for a long time I've been listening to 128kbps mp3 and never realised the difference between lossless and compressed music files. I now only listen to lossless music and there's no turning back. I love it My computer is a Macbook Pro (Dual Core - Mid 08' - Non unibody). I have it set with : M-audio Firewire Solo external sound card, connected to Denon AVR-1802 receiver and Roister Status speakers. I convert FLAC's to AIFF and play them with iTunes and Amarra Plugin. I also rip CD's via iTunes to AIFF. I want to ask, whether a DAC is necessary and how I can improve my sound, not that it's bad but I'm new to all this audiophile equipment. Roister is a Greek company. Speakers details : http://www.roister.gr/status8.2_en.htm Roister Company details : http://www.roister.gr/company_en.htm