2. pc-audio
  3. 1079514088

External sound device vs PCI soundcard

Hi all

I’m still feeling my way around the area of PC audio, so please don’t shoot me if I’m way off track.

After reading through many of the post on this site is seems the general consensus is that doing a D-A conversion inside to PC case degrades sound quality to much due to electrical interference.

One way I thought of getting past this problem was to use an external sound device like the M-audio Sonic Theater, USB. If the sensitive DAC process was kept away from the PC, wouldn’t the output signal be relatively good.

Any thought or experience with external sound devices vs. internal soundcard would be greatly welcome.

Cheers.
xs1

Showing 1 response by audioodyssey

audioodyssey
18 posts
 
The M-Audio Audiophile USB is OK for starting out, but sonically it is not really an "audiophile" piece.

For the next level of performance, the Apogee Mini-DAC with USB input is a big upgrade in sonic performance. It sells for around $1100. It's sonics are improved further by powering it with 12V battery power (I'm using a 7AH lead acid battery).
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