Getting your first home audio system? Read this.

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Inspect Your Gadgets > Getting your first home audio system? Read this.

TheChimney: Jan 31, 2005

How important is it to match a sub to the rest of your speaker system? I am lucky enough to be inheriting a pair of Polk LS50s and surrounds (I can't remember the model number on these), and I am thinking about adding a sub to help out the low end.

# ¿ Apr 3, 2011 08:17

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# ¿ May 3, 2024 11:44

TheChimney: Jan 31, 2005

Cross posted from the general question thread.....

In the next few months I plan on putting together a 2 channel setup with my computer as the source, but I am confused about the topic of DACs.

What kind of specifications do I need to be looking at?

How important are they to the overall listening experience (is there a certain price that there is no point in going over)?

Lastly, what kind of models/brands should I be looking at?

Edit: Maybe this would make more sense in the home audio system thread.

# ¿ Aug 16, 2011 18:18

TheChimney: Jan 31, 2005

Hob_Gadling posted:

Bitrate and sampling rate. Try to match your audio files.

Connectivity.

Do you want it to do something else besides work as a DAC for computer, like work as a headphone amp?

Otherwise it's just like sampling any other piece of audio equipment. Listen for yourself, judge for yourself.

I have a Pro-Ject USB DAC and have been completely satisfied with it. I don't have high quality lossless music, all my stuff is CD quality. It cost me around �100 and I don't feel I can gain anything by upgrading it. For SACD material I'd just use a SACD player since even a quiet computer is relatively loud compared to other audio equipment. I would guess around $200 is the point where diminishing returns hit hard, and you can good performance with less if you don't need iPod docking or whatever.

Pro-Ject, NuForce, FireStone FUBAR if you want a reasonably priced DAC.

KingRex T20U is an interesting little thing. Unfortunately I haven't heard it personally.

Linn Majik DS-I if price is no objection and you want the best possible "all-in-one" unit. It sounds nice, but $4200 MSRP is way above my means.

I would eventually like to have some high-end headphones. So, the ability to use it as a headphone amp would be a plus.

I've been reading some about Peachtree's iNova and iDecco. They look interesting: a DAC, pre-amp, and amp all in one package (though they are pretty pricey). Do you have an experience with these?

# ¿ Aug 18, 2011 00:40

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