2. pc-audio
  3. 1204665054

Wireless for the Keyboard, Not the Computer?


I use a wireless router to access the internet on my Sony VAIO laptop which I can then move around the house. This Sony laptop usually lives on my desktop, where it is hooked up to an external video monitor, and has USB out to connect it to a desktop audio system which consists of Behringer amps, an EQ and ATC monitors.

My desk is also in my listening room with my main 2 channel system.

I spend a lot of time sitting at my desk - where I can work, surf the web, watch the news etc - AND listen to the ATCs which sound very good.

But sometimes I am really tempted to DISconnect the laptop, move across the room to the sofa, and connect the USB output directly to my main rig through an Audio Research DAC, in order to listen through the main speakers. In theory, this is easy to do, but in practice, it is a bit of a pain, and I miss the larger video monitor when working directly from the laptop.

This dilemma has me thinking.....

* What if all of my audio files were ripped and stored not to my Sony laptop, but to a larger desktop computer?
* Where the larger, desktop computer could be a) optimized for audio and b) hard wired to both the desktop and the main system's DACs at all times?
* This way, to move across the room and sit on the sofa while listening to my big rig, I could use a wireless KEYBOARD?
* And a VGA splitter box to hard wire a second, full size video monitor?


This way, it seems I could get rid of the laptop, but still move around the room by simply picking up the wireless keyboard? Use a bigger video monitor...and also improve the audio quality?

A smaller point, but I would also like to ditch the laptops as they are always breaking.

Advice on this or any other PC configurations greatly appreciated and thank you.

But please please please, dont say: "just get a Mac"?!



cwlondon

Showing 4 responses by sarcher30

sarcher30
596 posts
 
Cwlondon, If I gave mac a chance I would probably like it. I've only ever owned PCs so I'm used to them.

As far as quietness I was only referring to physical quietness.

I use usb from my computer to a empirical audio IS2 Offramp to a benchmark dac1 modded by empirical audio to accept a IS2 connection from the offramp. This setup runs circles around my marantz DV8300 universal player. It also costs much more.

Your best bet would to use a usb dac. There are lots of these on the market with more comming all the time. Sean
sarcher30
596 posts
 
I do exactly as you discribe. The best way to get a quiet pc is to have a computer store build you one with the parts you pick out yourself. Make sure you get the quietest power supply you can find and also case fans. Some hard drives are quieter than others also. Do some research online to find the quietest parts. Make sure you also get a video card that has a dvi out so you can connect it to a hdtv with a dvi to hdmi cable. Also make sure the video card is passively cooled for less noise. I did all this for about $1200 about a year ago. I hooked it up to my 50inch dlp and set the video card for 1080p and it works great. I now use a 19inch monitor on a table right in front of the couch to avoid having a tv between my speakers. Also make sure you get a bluetooth wireless keyboard and mouse. The cheaper non bluetooth wireless ones do have much of a range. Sean
sarcher30
596 posts
 
Cwlondon, Threre are no ready built PCs that are quiet that i know of. Macs are a different story. Mac minis are very quiet. I personally dont like macs at all. A good site to look at is endpcnoise.com. Sean
sarcher30
596 posts
 
Cwlondon, Its not necessary anymore. I bought my benchmark dac1 before they had a usb option. At the time it seemed like the best way to go. Now you can buy them with a usb connection. The Offramp is still a good option for people that allready have a nice dac that doesn't have a usb port.

I believe that the new benchmark dac1 usb does convert to IS2 inside the box. I think the wavelength usb dacs also do this. I'm not sure about other companies usb dacs. You would have to ask them.

Other products that use an ethernet connection such as the Transporter by Slim Devices and Linn Acurate DS should have low jitter also.

It would be nice to be able to test all these options in your own system to see which is best for you, but unless you have alot of money and patience thats not likely to happen. Unless you can find a dealer that will let you demo them. Sean
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