Computer to Passive Speakers

[chivalroussisyphus]

Hi, 

 

So, please accept my apologies if this has been addressed elsewhere, but I cannot seem to find/understand what I'm doing.  Here's the deal: I currently have a computer I built myself with an old, old sound card (which happened to have a digital coax out) - I have it hooked up to a cheap-as-shit denon avr-587 basically to use it as an amp for my B&W 602s3 speakers.  I'm ready to build a new computer, but want to continue to use my B&W speakers (which, obviously) are passive.  All the DACs I see are for headphones, and I'm not quite sure how this translates to my rig.  Could someone please help me understand what I need (or how I can better) make use of my passive B&W 602s3's? I love them, and want to continue to use them - I just can't figure out a way to do it without the Denon.  Hope this makes sense.

 

Basically, what should I buy for a new pc build to accommodate passive speakers?

 

Please help!

[rando]

Integrated amp.

[esldude]

1st welcome to CA. 

 

If your motherboard doesn't have Toslink output, you can ad this $29.99 soundcard which has an optical out.  It is limited to 96 khz. 

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132020&cm_re=asus_sound_card-_-29-132-020-_-Product

 

The suggestion of an integrated amp would work too.  Some of those now have USB input for music from computers.  Would cost more to do that, but might improve the sound of your speakers by doing a better job than an AVR. 

[STC]

15 hours ago, chivalroussisyphus said:

All the DACs I see are for headphones,

 

You can always feed from the headphone output to your Denon or int Amp. 

[Phonautograph]

audioengine D1 is a fairly decent, simple and versatile DAC , it has USB and Toslink inputs and non amped RCA outputs and an amped headphone 3.5mm output for headphones of impedence less than 300ohms