2. pc-audio
  3. 1245894275

Sound card suggestions

I have recently bought a Bryston intergrated amp with a built in dac, toslink and spdif connections only. At this moment i am using a Macbook pro with an Apogee Duet connected to the standard rca inputs.

I am currently buiding a pc to use as my music server to utilize the dac in the amp which should be alot better than the duet.

I am looking for a good sound card with s/pdif output for stereo playback. Most sound cards are geared more for gaming and surround sound which is of no use for me. I've seen some professional card on the market, but none with spdif output. Cost is not really a factor. I will probably sell the mac and duet to pay for the card.

Another question.

Which is better s/pdif or toslink.
mwilliams
spectron
130 posts
 
" I am looking for a good sound card with s/pdif output for stereo playback..."

Look at RME Hammerfall DSP 9632 soundcard. ( http://www.rme-audio.com/english/hdsp/hdsp9632.htm ) The RME, a 192kHz-capable DAC, provides output to both the analog and S/PDIF jacks - exactly as you wish.

Its not cheap - I believe its priced at about $500 but its very good
johnss
570 posts
 
As blindjim states, the audiophile 192 card is is great and hard to beat if you are on a budget. If you budget is wide open, then shift gears and buy a Lynx Studio TWO PCI card with AESEBU out; and get either a berkeley audio alpha DAC or the new Bryston DAC and you're done.
dollar91
2 posts
 
I also have Lynx Two and wonder should be it better than AES-16 ?
singleendedsingle
664 posts
 
"Which is better s/pdif or toslink."

The DVI + Audio (SPDIF & Toslink) to HDMI Converter Adapter by Ce-link is my suggestion
More to discover