2. pc-audio
  3. 179831-177226

High resolution audio on a PC questions

I was thinking about getting into the high resolution audio fray using my PC. I was doing some research and found that it's recommended to buy some sort of USB DAC unit that supports high res audio. These range from less than 50 bucks to hundreds... I'm kind of not sure where to begin.

Can someone explain to me why I need a fancy external DAC, if most modern PCs are equipped with integrated audio chips adhering to the Intel High Definition Audio standard which supports sample rates of up to 192 kHz and 32 bit depth?

If I plug decent headphones into my PC's headphone jack (which is a current generation Mac Mini) and play 24/96 FLAC files using VLC, should I be able to hear an improvement over standard 16/44? If not, why not, and why is an external DAC better?

Also, I have an Onkyo TX-8255 audio receiver (it's completely analog). Would I hear an improvement if I ran the signal from my PC's headphone jack through the receiver? (it doesn't have a line out). Sorry if these are stupid questions.

ukhanjemb

Showing 2 responses by fuzztone

fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,500 posts
 

Get a separate DAC. Then get a separate player.

You CAN NOT discern "high definition" on a PC, no one can, blindly.

Why not?

Noise friend.

Not especially the kind you hear, it just conflicts with the signal.

Try it, you will see.

Digital streamers and players were designed by souls that all started with PC sound. And then they found ways to make music playback breathtakingly better.

That said, you are free to be happy with $0 spend.

 

fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,500 posts
 

You can always keep the DX3+ for a spare for when your more expensive stuff breaks.

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