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Advice needed: am I going in the right direction?

I'm new to hi-fi sound world and spontaneously bought myself Yamaha NS BP200 passive speakers and Onkyo A-9030 amplifier, because I thought that connecting it to a PC will be a piece of cake - just buy some external sound card and you are good to go!

However after doing some research I found out that it's not that simple and now I'm kinda lost: does it (PC -> DAC or sound card -> amp -> speakers) even work like this. So, my question is:

Am I going in the right direction? And if yes, maybe you can suggest some DAC/external USB sound card that could suit my case (budget is about $150)?

jassblack

Showing 2 responses by big_greg

big_greg
6,711 posts
 
That amp has multiple RCA inputs. 

You run a USB cable from your computer to a DAC.  The DAC will have RCA outs that you can connect to one of the RCA inputs. 

You don't need digital inputs on the amp.  Not complicated at all. 

I don't have any recommendations for a DAC in that price range, but I know there are lots of choices available. 
big_greg
6,711 posts
 
Just like all the other components in an audio system, DACs will have different sonic signatures.  Some are "warm", some are "neutral", some are "bright", some are more detailed, etc. etc. etc.

At the level your system is currently at those differences are probably going to be less obvious.  The more revealing your system is, the more those differences will be noticeable and the more they will matter.
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