How to get the best audio from a desktop pc?

[mclaren85]

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]

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]

@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]

@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]

Stereo channel and pc speakers are good to me

 

[revin]

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]

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

 

[oobymach]

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]

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!

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]

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]

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]

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]

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!

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]

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

 

[trickson]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[Sithaer]

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.

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]

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

 

[erocker]

Headphones or speakers? Budget?

 

[freeagent]

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

 

[mclaren85]

I prefer a well isolated mid level headphone .

 

[trickson]

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!