PC Audio and the Behringer DEQ 2496

Re USB, in my opinion, as long as it is shielded, it should be fine. There is a guy on Audiogon selling "Silver" USB for $50. It is shielded. Also you can add ferrite cores at the end to remove high frequency noise. If you are DIY guy, the USB cable is very simple, with 4 wires. Braiding does not work for USB. I found a braided USB with Ferrite core at the end to use - about $30. If DAC's would have buffering like in the Mark Levinson DAC, that would be the best! Otherwise Asynchronous USB to SPDIF/Toslink will be very helpful (M2tech $150).

A reasonable company for Glass Fiber will also work. I am not sure a $1 glass fiber has the quality and the other extreme of $200+ in my opinion is too much. Siltechs are always good but margins on cables are 80% and up, so you pay a lot for the name. I had Audioquest for $100 and went to the Amphenol Ultra Premium Optical Glass TOSLINK at 16 ft so I could put the computer in the closet. This is longest Toslink specs allows. Having the computer in the closet removes the physical noise and perhaps electrical noise - I use another outlet with a filter.

Cwlondon,...buy a PC board (e.g. 24/96 Soundblaster) and use it's audio out to connect fibre-optic DIRECTLY to the Behringer. Works fine for me...

I currently use a Behringer 2496 for it's PEQ. I'm confused by what people are doing with it with regard to PC Audio playback? I'm under the impression that people use PC Audio as a convenience vs. creating the ability to download hi-rez music.

I hope this isn't so far off topic as to be irrelevant, but I'm curious about why I might rip all my CDs and go to the music server idea. I have a macbook pro laptop and the time capsule backup module. I have no discrete DAC and have no music currently on my computer. Just CD, SACD and vinyl.

My interest would be in chasing hi-rez playback, and I have been reading various forums about PC Audio, but I can't decipher what the benefits are after all is said and done.

Bogartg1

In my case, I use it as a decent, but cheap and versatile device to switch between cable HDTV and PC based sound on my desktop.

Its not state of the art, but surprisingly good, and fun.

If I were trying to build a single use, dedicated 2 channel audio system using PC as a source, I might not use the Behringer.

Or any Behringer.

Bogartgl - one of the biggest advantages of PC audio is convenience. Don't underestimate this. It might be easy to think that loading CDs one at a time is no big deal. But when you have your entire library at your fingertips, controllable from your sofa with an ipod or itouch, you find yourself listening to music you haven't heard in years. Another advantage is space - once your CDs are ripped, they can be moved into storage (or sold, if you should choose). Another convenience is portability. If you rip to an external harddrive, you can take your entire library with you (be sure you have a backup plan, with your music existing on at least two different drives). Lastly, sound quality can be spectacular if you pay attention to it. With the right choices in gear, you can get superb sound, and have the ability to chase the Hi-Rez stuff.

Your 2496 has a respectable DAC built in. Just take analog out of it to your preamp, and you're off to a good start.

I used the 2496 for a long time for its digital EQ capabilites. I recently changed to a DEQX which is definitely a bit cleaner, but the 2496 is quite a device.