Hello I am Spanish and I need your opinion, I'm trying to mount an audiophile PC without spending much money... (I hope your understanding about my English because I'm using google translate ...)
Well I start to explain my intentions.
I have the following equipment (Rega Elex, Arcam Alpha 7 CD, Rega Ela) and approximately 1000 cd classical music (symphonic hear from lied to.)
In a room of 15m2 I have a PC with the following features in your mainboard:
Audio:
Chip integrated by Realtek® ALC892
Flexible 8-channel audio with jack sensing
Compliant with Azalia 1.0 Spec
Conections:
Coaxial S/PDIF-Out (1)
This S/PDIF (Sony & Philips Digital Interconnect Format) connector provided for digital
audio transmission to external speakers through a coaxial cable.
Optical S/PDIF-Out (1)
This S/PDIF (Sony & Philips Digital Interconnect Format) connector provided for digital
audio transmission to external speakers through an optical fiber cable.
1394 port (1)
Audio Ports (1)
Line-Out (Green) - Line Out, is a connector for speakers or headphones.
RS-Out (Black) - Rear-Surround Out in 4/ 5.1/ 7.1 channel mode.
CS-Out (Orange) - Center/ Subwoofer Out in 5.1/ 7.1 channel mode.
SS-Out (Gray) - Side-Surround Out 7.1 channel mode.
Connected to this mainboard for Line-Out output (Green) I have a Rega Ear with a ATH-A900 headphones
My question is ...
Buy a DAC, an interface or an internal sound card to connect to the Rega Ear (big question !!!).
Dac Arcam would be the most secure, but ... Why spend almost 400 eur (500 usd aprox.) if there are interfaces?
This is the question is a good solution as an interface that I'm just linking to the site of a DAC?
Among other things, because as I understand (and do not know if I'm right ...) kill 2 birds with one stone: with an interface we have a good external sound card will eliminate the noise inherent in the operation the Pc and we also have a DAC (though is also the question of putting an internal card in my PC since this assembly in a Silverstone Fortress FT02, so no problem...).
Let's see if anyone has tried the solution of this type of card (such as http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.family&ID=recording) and can clarify this.
I guess the ideal option would be to buy directly a neo Arcam Solo, which I believe would be the integrated solution http://www.arcam.co.uk/products,solo,music-systems,soloneo.htm
Would be helpful to make a good decision but honest advice and fair.
Thank you very much for your attention and sorry for my English again "google translate".