How to get the best audio from a desktop pc?

mclaren85 · Jan 25, 2020

Hello everyone, I would like to discuss and hear your opinions about sound quality. I want to have excellent sound when I listen music and watching movies. Do I have to buy a soundcard? Or those modded Realtek drivers with Dolby, SRS can do the same? Some claims that DAC will work great, too. What are your advices for me and other music lovers?

CityCultivator · Jan 25, 2020

mclaren85 said:
Hello everyone, I would like to discuss and hear your opinions about sound quality. I want to have excellent sound when I listen music and watching movies. Do I have to buy a soundcard? Or those modded Realtek drivers with Dolby, SRS can do the same? Some claims that DAC will work great, too. What are your advices for me and other music lovers?

Explain your current setup first. What speakers, amplifiers, etc.

mclaren85 · Jan 25, 2020

@CityCultivator I have none of this, I'm building the new system, I will buy hardwares according to your directions. (At the moment I have a vaio laptop with SRS Premium which is not enough for nothing)

CityCultivator · Jan 25, 2020

mclaren85 said:
@CityCultivator I have none of this, I'm building the new system, I will buy hardwares according to your directions. ()AT the moment I have a vaio laptop with SRS Premium which is not enough for nothing)

Stereo, Multichannel?
PC speakers? Or a receiver + speakers? What do you like?
Buying? Budget.

mclaren85 · Jan 25, 2020

Stereo channel and pc speakers are good to me

revin · Jan 25, 2020

mclaren85 said:
Do I have to buy a soundcard?

That depends on If the spec's of "Onboard" is as good as an "add on" card
Some {Most} motherboard's have Amazing Audio onboard, even older m/b's

But you don't really want any extra stuff that changes the "original" recording ie... SRS, that is more of "gimmick" to the sound for Music
But since you mention "Stereo" then it will indeed help to use some extra codec's for movies
Now that is based on what you said "I want to have excellent sound"
It come's down to using the "Best" DAC" in the chain, onboard or a add in sound card, and speaker's.

mclaren85 · Jan 25, 2020

@revin Thank you, so do you think SRS, Dolby etc, breaks the sounds naturalty?

oobymach · Jan 25, 2020

I like creative desktop speakers. I have on my desktop a set of both creative T20's and T50's, they have a break in period but once they have been used for a bit they produce more bass, as low as 50hz response which is pretty good for a speaker with such a small footprint.

For a dac I use an ifi nano idsd le which is 32 bit 384khz response and is stereo only so no extra outputs but what it does output is fantastic in terms of quality, the newest firmware for it includes a digital filter upgrade to make all the audio you listen to sound as close to perfect as you can get.

You can hear audio distortion and compression so low quality audio will sound like low quality audio but high quality audio or even just good quality sounds so much better with a dac than through onboard pc audio. My onboard can do 32bit 192khz but has a duller tone to it and not as loud compared with the ifi.

trickson · Jan 25, 2020

mclaren85 said:
Stereo channel and pc speakers are good to me

Sorry but I am confused, first you say you want the best well PC speakers are not the best.
I have what you would consider the best sound. (Opinion).
First My PC is connected to my Denon AVR-3802 VIA Fiber optic cable ( only other way is 4 individual 3.5mm to RCA inputs on the back of ARV unit.) from there the sound enters the BEST SPEAKERS on the consumer market (IMHO) RF5000f Klipsch and RF6000F Klipsch with a huge 800w sub and DBX rear speakers This is the best sound that I can get.
If you want good sound you are going to have to step it up you are listening to a tin can IMHO!

I know not everyone can afford an audiophile setup like mine so don't be a hater, I am telling the OP he is WAY off base if he thinks logitecs are going to give him what he really wants. STEP IT WAY WAY UP BRO!

oobymach said:
I like creative desktop speakers. I have on my desktop a set of both creative T20's and T50's, they have a break in period but once they have been used for a bit they produce more bass, as low as 50hz response which is pretty good for a speaker with such a small footprint.

For a dac I use an ifi nano idsd le which is 32 bit 384khz response and is stereo only so no extra outputs but what it does output is fantastic in terms of quality, the newest firmware for it includes a digital filter upgrade to make all the audio you listen to sound as close to perfect as you can get.

You can hear audio distortion and compression so low quality audio will sound like low quality audio but high quality audio or even just good quality sounds so much better with a dac than through onboard pc audio. My onboard can do 32bit 192khz but has a duller tone to it and not as loud compared with the ifi.

Again not the BEST more of a tin can comparatively speaking. My god that is like listing with my iphone S6! LMFAO!
THE "BEST"? That is the BEST? Man mine must be out of this UNIVERSE then! LOL.

ador250 · Jan 25, 2020

A 100$ motherboard built-in audio codec + a 100$ good stereo speaker is 95% as good as the most expensive stereo system. My advice don't waste ur money for that 5%.

hat · Jan 25, 2020

Depends on what you're looking for. If you want the BEST sound, you're entering audiophile territory. Be prepared to spend thousands and thousands of dollars and learn all sorts of terminology that will make your head spin. And then spend more when you're unhappy with your setup.

If you just want good sound, well, I had a set of Bose Companion 2 Series 3 stereo speakers. They sounded really good and had powerful enough bass on their own without needing a sub. They also only cost about $100. I still use an old X-Fi Fatal1ty Pro I had from years and years ago, but onboard today is probably just as good. If you still want more, you can look into a recent sound card, or maybe an external DAC.

erixx · Jan 25, 2020

A pair of wooden 3-way speakers plugged into the onboard sound would be a good base. Tiny, plastic, "PC speakers" are rubbish. I have a pair of +/- 150 € Edifiers and they are great for an Soho setup. If you live in the countryhouse or in a villa well, you can up your game...

trickson · Jan 25, 2020

ador250 said:
A 100$ motherboard built-in audio codec + a 100$ good stereo speaker is 95% as good as the most expensive stereo system. My advice don't waste ur money for that 5%.

WHAT! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!
SO you are saying some POS 100 dollar set up is going to even COME FING CLOSE TO GIVING YOU THE SOUND MY 4K SYSTEM CAN?! OMFG THIS IS JUST PLAIN WRONG 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000%
You are selling snake OIL and BS!

hat said:
Depends on what you're looking for. If you want the BEST sound, you're entering audiophile territory. Be prepared to spend thousands and thousands of dollars and learn all sorts of terminology that will make your head spin. And then spend more when you're unhappy with your setup.

Exactly RIGHT ! 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000%!

This guy THIS GUY GETS IT! Now this is more like it.

robot zombie · Jan 25, 2020

Where are you listening? On the couch? At your desk? Basically, are you sitting close to the speakers? Completely different creatures.

trickson · Jan 25, 2020

robot zombie said:
Where are you listening? On the couch? At your desk? Basically, are you sitting close to the speakers? Completely different creatures.

In this case you can ask what about headphones?

The OP asked for the BEST I gave the OP the BEST and then someone says the best is a set of PC speakers and a sound card WTF? Man the best sure has been changed from my time.
This can't possibly be the BEST NOT by a LONG shot!
PC, Speakers and or pc bookshelf speakers OMG.

robot zombie · Jan 25, 2020

trickson said:
In this case you can ask what about headphones?

True, but they're always a compromise IME. I'd rather be sitting in front of decent speakers in a bad room than only have a REALLY good headphone setup. I have gotten to try some amazing stuff, but by nature all headphones have their own kinds of weirdness to them. It's just not the same.

Sithaer · Jan 25, 2020

robot zombie said:
True, but they're always a compromise IME. I'd rather be sitting in front of decent speakers in a bad room than only have a REALLY good headphone setup. I have gotten to try some amazing stuff, but by nature all headphones have their own kinds of weirdness to them. It's just not the same.

Opposite here.
I'm all about headphones in front of my PC due to various reasons but mainly cause I don't want to bother anyone else in the house cause I know very well how much it bothers/annoys me when I'm forced to listen to someone else blasting music or whatever else.

Sure if you live alone or in the middle of nowhere then blast away but I can't do that nor want to.

trickson · Jan 25, 2020

Sithaer said:
Opposite here.
I'm all about headphones in front of my PC due to various reasons but mainly cause I don't want to bother anyone else in the house cause I know very well how much it bothers/annoys me when I'm forced to listen to someone else blasting music or whatever else.

Sure if you live alone or in the middle of nowhere then blast away but I can't do that nor want to.

You would absolutely hate me as a neighbor in this case. LOL.
Don't think you would get much sleep.

mclaren85 · Jan 25, 2020

I think without loudest volume and with headphones we can get the clear sound with decent bass, isn't it?

Sithaer · Jan 25, 2020

trickson said:
You would absolutely hate me as a neighbor in this case. LOL.
Don't think you would get much sleep.

Most likely yes and I would try to make you stop one way or another. :laugh:

Luckily its not a thing where I live 'in a town',its bad enough to listen to all of my neighbour's dogs barking the whole night sometimes. 'I also have sensitive ears so yea..'

erixx · Jan 25, 2020

never heard about "latest volume"... (Must be some audiophile stuff, lol)

erocker · Jan 25, 2020

Headphones or speakers? Budget?

freeagent · Jan 25, 2020

I don't mind bothering people. At my old apartment the caretakers lived two suites below me, and they could clearly hear my subs

7am to 11pm as long as you aren't rattling stuff off the walls you are good to go. I could.. but didn't.. just that one time. The neighbors between us complained frequently. I was nice enough to leave my subs off during the week, the weekend is fair game :toast:

mclaren85 · Jan 25, 2020

I prefer a well isolated mid level headphone .

trickson · Jan 25, 2020

Sithaer said:
Most likely yes and I would try to make you stop one way or another.

Yeah that's what my current neighbors keep saying lol.
Once I got the new Klipsch speaker system they just HATE me!

System Name	MSI-MEG
Processor	AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
Motherboard	MSI MEG X570S ACE MAX
Cooling	AMD Wraith Prism + Thermal Grizzly
Memory	32 GB
Video Card(s)	MSI Suprim X RTX 3080
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System Name	MSI-MEG
Processor	AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
Motherboard	MSI MEG X570S ACE MAX
Cooling	AMD Wraith Prism + Thermal Grizzly
Memory	32 GB
Video Card(s)	MSI Suprim X RTX 3080
Storage	500 GB MSI Spatium nvme + 500 GB WD nvme + 2 TB Seagate HDD + 2 TB Seagate HDD
Display(s)	27" LG 144HZ 2K ULTRAGEAR
Case	MSI MPG Velox Airflow 100P
Audio Device(s)	Philips
Power Supply	Seasonic 750W 80+ Gold
Mouse	HP OMEN REACTOR
Keyboard	Corsair K68
Software	Windows10 LTSC 64 bit

System Name	Dell Inspiron 7375
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Storage	SanDisk X600 SATA SSD 512GB
Display(s)	BOE NV13FHM
Audio Device(s)	Realtek ALC3253 (Dell Labelling) ALC255 (Real name)

System Name	MSI-MEG
Processor	AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
Motherboard	MSI MEG X570S ACE MAX
Cooling	AMD Wraith Prism + Thermal Grizzly
Memory	32 GB
Video Card(s)	MSI Suprim X RTX 3080
Storage	500 GB MSI Spatium nvme + 500 GB WD nvme + 2 TB Seagate HDD + 2 TB Seagate HDD
Display(s)	27" LG 144HZ 2K ULTRAGEAR
Case	MSI MPG Velox Airflow 100P
Audio Device(s)	Philips
Power Supply	Seasonic 750W 80+ Gold
Mouse	HP OMEN REACTOR
Keyboard	Corsair K68
Software	Windows10 LTSC 64 bit

How to get the best audio from a desktop pc?

mclaren85

CityCultivator

mclaren85

CityCultivator

mclaren85

revin

mclaren85

oobymach

trickson

OH, I have such a headache

ador250

hat

Enthusiast

erixx

trickson

OH, I have such a headache

robot zombie

trickson

OH, I have such a headache

robot zombie

Sithaer

trickson

OH, I have such a headache

mclaren85

Sithaer

erixx

erocker

*

freeagent

Moderator

mclaren85

trickson

OH, I have such a headache

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