I'm Using Home Audio System For My PC

[yeobt]

guys, i don't watch TV at home. so i converted my pioneer home audio system
i bought few years back for my PC speakers. (see pictures)
now, i intend to enhance the system with a sound card. so far, from what i've
read from the forum, i think creative is one of the commonly used sound card
here. i want to stay open for more options. anything that is value for money and
can boast my system would be considered. budget $200

TIA

 

[yeobt]

forgot to add, please recommend me a good, value for money sound card.

TIA

 

[Shutterbox]

what inputs you have for this pioneer system?

 

[zenniz]

Wait for SITEX, IT FAIR, etc. Creative will always sell their sound card at around 75~50% of retail price. I got my SB Recon 3D at $69 (Retail@$149) at SITEX 2013.

 

[yeobt]

what inputs you have for this pioneer system?

it has analog, DVD, DVR, digital

 

[yeobt]

Wait for SITEX, IT FAIR, etc. Creative will always sell their sound card at around 75~50% of retail price. I got my SB Recon 3D at $69 (Retail@$149) at SITEX 2013.

oh, i think i juz missed one from sgp expo.

 

[royfrosty]

You will not get any form of performance boost.

The sound card is only needed if you are connecting your speakers using a 3.5mm jack to the soundcard. Else the Player will just take whatever signal from the onboard sound and process the signal in the build in amp by itself.

Do not waste your money on a sound card.

A single optical from your mobo to the receiver will do the trick.

 

[yeobt]

You will not get any form of performance boost.

The sound card is only needed if you are connecting your speakers using a 3.5mm jack to the soundcard. Else the Player will just take whatever signal from the onboard sound and process the signal in the build in amp by itself.

Do not waste your money on a sound card.

A single optical from your mobo to the receiver will do the trick.

hi, i've been reading up some discussion on Home audio system and am
attracted to the Denon or marantz system. am curious to know if it would
make sense to hook up any of those (denon or marantz) amplifier or CD player
combo with a set of good enough speakers to enhance my PC sound
experience? ok, as i've mentioned earlier, i dont watch and i dont have any TV
sets at home, basically i only surf net, play games and listening to music. so
i juz wanted a good set of sound system driving from my PC.


TIA

 

[royfrosty]

hi, i've been reading up some discussion on Home audio system and am
attracted to the Denon or marantz system. am curious to know if it would
make sense to hook up any of those (denon or marantz) amplifier or CD player
combo with a set of good enough speakers to enhance my PC sound
experience? ok, as i've mentioned earlier, i dont watch and i dont have any TV
sets at home, basically i only surf net, play games and listening to music. so
i juz wanted a good set of sound system driving from my PC.


TIA

Good choice of amps. Personally as you can see -----> im using onkyo.

Yes basically an amp with a good set of speakers would give you a better sound. But there is no need for a sound card to do that. Buying an amp like denon or marantz etc has its build in chip to produce the sound to the speakers connected to it. The PC on the other hand is your source of music/music etc. You need to connect it via Coaxial Cable or a Optical Cable to the receiver. By doing so you are basically bypassing it. Sending the sound signals from the PC to the receiver. And the receiver will decode it and process it from there.

You do not need a sound card for that. Check your mobo whether does it have optical support or coaxial support.

The process takes place in amp and it will produce a better sound than a sound card could offer.

Buying a soundcard is good for people whom wants to connect their speakers or headphones with an analog signal to the sound card direct.

 

[Kalikway]

Bro forget abt pc sound card, waste $ if you dun intend to connect speakers direct to it, just, hook up ur pc hdmi to ur avr via hdmi, play a dts or watever hd dts hd movie file, it should pass through and reflect dts or hd dts on ur avr. Ur if its an older avr no hdmi, just use optical cable, make sure u select digital output at pc sound setting. I hav been using my denon avr for yrs. My opinion is still avr.

 

[royfrosty]

Bro forget abt pc sound card, waste $ if you dun intend to connect speakers direct to it, just, hook up ur pc hdmi to ur avr via hdmi, play a dts or watever hd dts hd movie file, it should pass through and reflect dts or hd dts on ur avr. Ur if its an older avr no hdmi, just use optical cable, make sure u select digital output at pc sound setting. I hav been using my denon avr for yrs. My opinion is still avr.

Precisely ~

Ups for TS

 

[chong]

hi, i've been reading up some discussion on Home audio system and am
attracted to the Denon or marantz system. am curious to know if it would
make sense to hook up any of those (denon or marantz) amplifier or CD player
combo with a set of good enough speakers to enhance my PC sound
experience? ok, as i've mentioned earlier, i dont watch and i dont have any TV
sets at home, basically i only surf net, play games and listening to music. so
i juz wanted a good set of sound system driving from my PC.


TIA

The Denon or Marantz will easily break the $200 budget you had mentioned earlier.

If you're happy with the sound from your Pioneer AV, stick with it and get the digital cable to connect from your onboard sound to the AV like what the rest have mentioned. Audio is a bottomless money pit and I don't think $200 can give much improvements esp when the limiting factor now IMO is your speakers.

"Good enough sound" is totally subjective, so I suggest that you take some time and do some auditions yourself to understand what's out in the market before you spend your money:
Put some music you are familiar with onto a CD or decent music player and take it to shops to test out their sound systems. Listen to sets from $300 to 2k, then decide what suits your ears and budget.

 

[yeobt]

Now I know a sound card is not necessary for my setup. Great, i can have some saving for
my system. I didn't know there R ppl actually hook up high end AV system with a PC at
home. I was afraid I could sound too stupid to mention my intention to hook up a denon
system with my PC.

Well, I'm not quite satisfy with my present pioneer system after listening for years. I know
nuts about a good HTS but am keen to bring forward my music experience to the next level.
I know a HTS consists of AVR, Amp, speakers and etc and they R usually mixed with diff
brands. If I have to choose one to upgrade at a time, which part of the system should I start
off first to get the sounds I wanted right? I mean which part of a system is deem as more
sensitive of choice or is a commander of good music? A receiver? Amp? Player? Speakers?
Example of my question is should I match a new AVR with my old pioneer speakers first or
match a set of good speakers with my pioneer receiver first? Sorry if I've cracked your brain
cells with the questions. Haha

TIA

 

[86technie]

If you are using Digital inputs like Coaxial/Optical/HDMI,
you don't need a sound card.
As basically for Digital inputs, sound is transmitted through
the cable hence sound quality depends on the amp/receiver
connected to it.
You only need a sound card if you intend to connect
speakers to your computer hence you need a good sound card
to drive them.
$200 is very tight, you might need to up your budget for
a decent HTS system.
Separate amp/receiver + speakers will cost even more.

 

[Kalikway]

All the devices that form a HT System can be a la cart or if you prefer single brand all. E.g. a 5.1sys; avr is denon, front/central/sub speakers are morduant short, rear can be boston and so for, if you have a ear for detail then you would probably pick out the difference. End of the day is your budget and personal preference. Change your avr first bah, leave to the floor to share their view. Can also seek advice from the masters in this thread Home Theatre & Audiophiles - www.hardwarezone.com.sg

Now I know a sound card is not necessary for my setup. Great, i can have some saving for
my system. I didn't know there R ppl actually hook up high end AV system with a PC at
home. I was afraid I could sound too stupid to mention my intention to hook up a denon
system with my PC.

Well, I'm not quite satisfy with my present pioneer system after listening for years. I know
nuts about a good HTS but am keen to bring forward my music experience to the next level.
I know a HTS consists of AVR, Amp, speakers and etc and they R usually mixed with diff
brands. If I have to choose one to upgrade at a time, which part of the system should I start
off first to get the sounds I wanted right? I mean which part of a system is deem as more
sensitive of choice or is a commander of good music? A receiver? Amp? Player? Speakers?
Example of my question is should I match a new AVR with my old pioneer speakers first or
match a set of good speakers with my pioneer receiver first? Sorry if I've cracked your brain
cells with the questions. Haha

TIA

 

[royfrosty]

And for sound wise, walk around in adelphi and go take a look. I know it may sound inconvenient, bring your rig down and get them to audition for you. By doing so you can know how exactly will it sounds like.

 

[yeobt]

The Denon or Marantz will easily break the $200 budget you had mentioned earlier.

$200 is very tight, you might need to up your
budget for a decent HTS system. Separate amp/receiver + speakers will cost even more.

fortunately, i didnt need to get a sound card for the matter. so, i would be
comfortable to increase my budget for a decent amp or something (header) to maybe $500.

going tampines courts to reccee reccee first. haha

 

[chong]

Well, I'm not quite satisfy with my present pioneer system after listening for years. I know
nuts about a good HTS but am keen to bring forward my music experience to the next level.
I know a HTS consists of AVR, Amp, speakers and etc and they R usually mixed with diff
brands. If I have to choose one to upgrade at a time, which part of the system should I start
off first to get the sounds I wanted right? I mean which part of a system is deem as more
sensitive of choice or is a commander of good music? A receiver? Amp? Player? Speakers?
Example of my question is should I match a new AVR with my old pioneer speakers first or
match a set of good speakers with my pioneer receiver first? Sorry if I've cracked your brain
cells with the questions. Haha

TIA

Generally speakers are the ones that make the biggest difference.

I use it mostly for music so don't need surround sound and to cut cost further, I use powered speakers. My setup is simply PC -> USB DAC -> Powered bookshelf 2.0 speakers.

 

[yeobt]

Hi guys, I got a mixture of answers pertaining to whether if my converted HTS on PC needs
a sound card to improve the sound quality or not. Some said yes and some said no. And each
has their reason to backup their claim. Well, I think there is no right or wrong answer here.
Basically, the bottomline is whether the money is well spent for a sound card with the quality
it produces or not. I'm quite curious to find out thinking that it doesn't cost much anyway.

Any advice for a compatible SC that costs around $200-300 to kill my itch?

I'm considering creative products, worth or not?

TIA

 

[silencer13]

Instead of a sound card, I'd suggest you get this instead:
Amazon.com: AudioQuest DragonFly USB Digital to Analog Converter (Black) Version 1.0: Electronics