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PC Audio Basics

I think this question is so basic it is difficult to find the answer.

I am looking to set up a home theater pc with an emphasis on being a music server with very good quality sound. I intend to hook it up to pair of good quality speakers like the Rega r3's. The PC is likely going to be a mac mini running vista.

My question is what do I need between my PC an the speakers?

Do I only need a DAC and can use foobar at the pre-amp?

Do I need a separate amp? If so, can an amp serve as a DAC as well?

Thanks for the help.
delvxe
3 responses Add your response
reubent
6,986 posts
 
Delvxe,

Yes, you will need an amp. I have a friend who is a manufacturer of high-end SET tube amps, DACs and speakers. His system consist of:

Macbook
USB DAC (his design)
SET power amplifier (his design)
single driver speakers (his design)

In his system, he uses iTunes as the digital music source and he uses the built-in volume control. It's a very simple, very elegant, very good sounding system.....

Enjoy,

TIC
computeraudiophile
18 posts
 
Think of it as your Mac Mini replacing the transport part of your CD player.

mac mini>external dac>pre amp>amp>speakers

or mac mini>external dac>integrated amp>speakers

You could use the DAC inside the Mac Mini, but that would be ugly in my opinion because you would probably have to use a mini>rca cable into your pre amp etc... yuck.

- Chris
Computer Audiophile | Turn Down The Silence

http://www.computeraudiophile.com
bigamp
219 posts
 
Chris - Interesting web site. Someone needed to do it. Nice to get in on the ground floor. Good luck.
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