Lets talk PC Audio

[Deleted member 24505]

Thanks guys, at least that helps reassure me I've not botched the setup. Going forward though, how does one come up with info on whether AVRs, new ones we shop for, support multi LPCM?

I assume the list you posted tigger was made by amassing info from people whom owned and used those AVRs for said purpose?

It seems the only way to tell if a current or recently made model of AVR supports multi LPCM is to ask people that are presently using them that way, or buy from a store that has 30 day return privileged with no restocking fee that allows that type of return.

I reckon hi-fi shops might know about LPCM support or they should do if they are selling the stuff. Normal stores selling AVR's might not have a clue though.

 

[Frag_Maniac]

I reckon hi-fi shops might know about LPCM support or they should do if they are selling the stuff. Normal stores selling AVR's might not have a clue though.

Kind of counter productive don't you think to ask a Hi Fi shop when the unit needs to be multi channel like your typical Home Theater AVR? One of our oldest Hi Fi shops in the area told me the other day they don't even carry headphones anymore, and in the past when I've asked them about AVRs they say they deal with stereo amps, not home theater.

Hi Fi shops seem to be hard to find anymore, and it doesn't make sense to me that they'd have any better idea of modern multi channel AVR design than those specializing in selling them. What needs to happen is better integration of PC and HT, and that includes not just labeling which HDMI ports to use for PC, but also whether lossless multi LPCM is supported.

Like I said, it comes back to trial and error, buying at a shop that has flexible return privileges.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

Kind of counter productive don't you think to ask a Hi Fi shop when the unit needs to be multi channel like your typical Home Theater AVR? One of our oldest Hi Fi shops in the area told me the other day they don't even carry headphones anymore, and in the past when I've asked them about AVRs they say they deal with stereo amps, not home theater.

Hi Fi shops seem to be hard to find anymore, and it doesn't make sense to me that they'd have any better idea of modern multi channel AVR design than those specializing in selling them. What needs to happen is better integration of PC and HT, and that includes not just labeling which HDMI ports to use for PC, but also whether lossless multi LPCM is supported.

Like I said, it comes back to trial and error, buying at a shop that has flexible return privileges.

Most of the better hi-fi shops in my area do audiophile stereo setups, and muti channel Avr setups too, so i am only going by the shops in my area. A lot of people nowadays have hi end 5.1 setups in their living rooms now, so imo it is stupid for hi-fi shops to ignore this market.

 

[Mussels]

Most of the better hi-fi shops in my area do audiophile stereo setups, and muti channel Avr setups too, so i am only going by the shops in my area. A lot of people nowadays have hi end 5.1 setups in their living rooms now, so imo it is stupid for hi-fi shops to ignore this market.

around here they hire salesmen, not audio specialists. i've asked many stores about cheap 5.1 sound systems that do 5.1 LPCM audio, and every time i've been directed to systems that dont bloody work without pre-compressed audio (Dolby digital/DTS)

i ask them a second time, and they assure me its the same thing.

 

[BumbleBee]

Most of the better hi-fi shops in my area do audiophile stereo setups, and muti channel Avr setups too, so i am only going by the shops in my area. A lot of people nowadays have hi end 5.1 setups in their living rooms now, so imo it is stupid for hi-fi shops to ignore this market.

different stores that's why.

in Toronto one store sells Plasma televisions, AVR, 5.1 speakers, bluray players, pre/pros and another store sells luxury speakers, monoblocks, integrated amplifiers, turntables, cartridges and D/A converters.

a home theater enthusiast and audiophile are different. in a home theater I prefer 2-way bookshelf or towers with ribbon tweeters (RAAL), multiple subwoofers and dipolar surround channels. in a listening room I prefer 3-way towers with soft dome tweeters or other easy on the ears and no subwoofer.

also I probably wouldn't use tubes in a home theater

 

[Deleted member 24505]

different stores that's why.

in Toronto one store sells Plasma televisions, AVR, 5.1 speakers, bluray players, pre/pros and another store sells luxury speakers, monoblocks, integrated amplifiers, turntables, cartridges and D/A converters.

a home theater enthusiast and audiophile are different. in a home theater I prefer 2-way bookshelf or towers with ribbon tweeters (RAAL), multiple subwoofers and dipolar surround channels. in a listening room I prefer 3-way towers with soft dome tweeters or other easy on the ears and no subwoofer.

also I probably wouldn't use tubes in a home theater

I'm pretty sure there is audiophile 5.1 setups, one of the shops i was talking about sell some pretty high end gear, Krell, Meridian etc but still does what i would call audiophile 5.1 setups.

For example this-
http://www.harmankardon.com/EN-CA/Products/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?PID=AVR 1565

And these-
http://www.homecinemachoice.com/news/article/dali-epicon-51-review/15988

I'm pretty sure this would be a pretty nice combo.

 

[BumbleBee]

for $31,000 you could get a large JBL Synthesis array hell even with half that budget I would be happy with some Salk Soundscapes and SVS Cylinders.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

for $31,000 you could get a large JBL Synthesis array hell even with half that budget I would be happy with some Salk Soundscapes and SVS Cylinders.

I understand what you're saying, but though the JBL are nice, personally I would take the Dali's. Lets face, there is a hell of a lot of personal taste via looks or sound in audiophile equipment.

 

[Frag_Maniac]

A lot of people nowadays have hi end 5.1 setups in their living rooms now, so imo it is stupid for hi-fi shops to ignore this market.

I know what you mean and agree, but it seems ever since the big box stores things have changed. One of our most respected stores for HT and Hi Fi was Magnolia Hi Fi, but since they've been bought out buy Best Buy, they're just a smaller chain that pushes higher end gear and the philosophy is the same, get it out the door, make the sale. They don't care if their employees know about advanced HT/PC integration, even things that for some aren't considered advanced.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

I did some testing and I think my HT|Omega card is shot (tons of noise on it). Are there any decent 5.1/7.1 DACs out there that won't break the bank? It must support stereo surround.

 

[BumbleBee]

I don't think it's shot.

audio 101.. power and signal.

a sound card is just a power supply modulated by a signal. computers use switching mode power supplies which are very noisy and there is a lot of interference inside a case going on. The little "EMI shields" Asus and Creative put on their cards are more decorative than anything.

external D/A converters have better grounding/shielding and can use linear power supplies and all types of output stages.

you will need to buy a receiver.

 

[BumbleBee]

you could try something like this

http://www.allaboutadapters.com/hddodtsdihdo.html

I posted this on GN a couple weeks back. a lot cheaper than a receiver

 

[FordGT90Concept]

That's only HDMI in. The only HDMI I have is on the HD 5870 which is intended more for video than audio. Pretty sure I can't even tell the card on only send audio.

This is the only decent external one I found at Newegg:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102035

I moved FP Audio from the Striker 7.1 card to the Realtek integrated and blew the Striker off. I'm thinking it sounds better but who knows how long that will last...

 

[Deleted member 24505]

I don't think it's shot.

audio 101.. power and signal.

a sound card is just a power supply modulated by a signal. computers use switching mode power supplies which are very noisy and there is a lot of interference inside a case going on. The little "EMI shields" Asus and Creative put on their cards are more decorative than anything.

external D/A converters have better grounding/shielding and can use linear power supplies and all types of output stages.

you will need to buy a receiver.

Does the isolated onboard sound on certain asus boards, like mine, do anything or is it just for show?

 

[MxPhenom 216]

What is the best way to burn in a now audio device, headset specifically. I saw in a tou review for qpad qh 90 sonething about burn in.,Then i read somewhere else a while ago that running what noise for a good amount of time is a good way of doing it.

Anyone have any input?

 

[BumbleBee]

Does the isolated onboard sound on certain asus boards, like mine, do anything or is it just for show?

are you talking about the SupremeFX cards that come with some motherboards or something else? I remember Biostar or Asrock had a motherboard called the HiFi edition or something with output capacitors lol

What is the best way to burn in a now audio device, headset specifically. I saw in a tou review for qpad qh 90 sonething about burn in.,Then i read somewhere else a while ago that running what noise for a good amount of time is a good way of doing it.

Anyone have any input?

just use them like any other pair of headphones.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

are you talking about the SupremeFX cards that come with some motherboards or something else? I remember Biostar or Asrock had a motherboard called the HiFi edition or something with output capacitors lol



just use them like any other pair of headphones.

Yeah the SupremeFX III thats onj my board, with its isolation and funky red line.

 

[BumbleBee]

probably not.

if you want to shield something you want to use copper, nickel or steel.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

I can

probably not.

if you want to shield something you want to use copper, nickel or steel.

I can understand why they have isolated the onboard sound from the rest of the board, maybe it does make a differance.

 

[BumbleBee]

nevermind I thought you were talking about this

I would put money on it being decorative

 

[Deleted member 24505]

nevermind I thought you were talking about this

I would put money on it being decorative

Won't it isolate it from any emi or other electrical interference created by other components on the board? If it is properly isolated it's kinda like a seperate sound card is it not.

 

[BumbleBee]

just because it has it's own board doesn't mean it's not susceptible to the soup inside the case or the noisy power.

sorry.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

J

just because it has it's own board doesn't mean it's not susceptible to the soup inside the case or the noisy power.

sorry.

Just wondering, no need to be sorry.

 

[Frick]

Found a Creative SB X-Fi named 0460, which assumedly is an X-Fi Platinum, in a computer someone gave me, and ye gods my ass cheap Logitech Z523 (bought for about €30) speakers is suddenly very nearly ok. The downside is that White Stripes does not sound as thrashy as they used to.

 

[remixedcat]

How can Logitech speakers sound "ok" hahahaha?

mine, no matter what still sound like a buffalo taking a dump on chewbacca's head.