Use of computer as pre amplifier for Classe 5200 High-end amplifier

[Infinitum]

Hi,

I have Classe 5200 amplifier which is driving 803D B&W speakers and I am very deperate to get rid of the wires and all space consuming equipment such as CD, DVD, DSP, Pre etc. etc. by placing a computer with good external sound card to do the job.

I spend many hours searching on internet and I found many sound cards for PC from Creative, M-Audio, LynxTwo etc. etc. in range from $300 to $10k, but I just can't make my mind, all of them has:

SNR > 100db
THD : <0.01%
Freq : <10hz-46khz, +0.05/-0.1dB

But will sound card for $1000 give huge difference in sound quality comparing to $300 card

I know it might sound crazy, but please could anybody give a practical advice which sound card will do a job. I want to use it for simple things such as playback (only) and as long XLR doesn't make much difference in sound quality (0.5 m cable), RCA are good enough for me.


Thank you.

[jdunn]

I wouldn't do it. The potential for software to raise the volume all the way up is too great. Or you might get some nice DC in your woofers. They're toast after that. Don't trust your monitoring setup to a damn computer!

Why not get a Classe CP-45 or some other excellent sounding line preamp. I'm getting the new Dangerous ST w/ remote as soon as possible.

[Infinitum]

Originally Posted by jdunn

I wouldn't do it. The potential for software to raise the volume all the way up is too great. Or you might get some nice DC in your woofers. They're toast after that. Don't trust your monitoring setup to a damn computer!

Why not get a Classe CP-45 or some other excellent sounding line preamp. I'm getting the new Dangerous ST w/ remote as soon as possible.

I don't know about you, but I dont want to waste money on dying technology. It is proven then already that $1K top flight sound card is worth competition for receivers upto 10x that. What I trying to do is to find an optimal solution, so I wouldn't spend extra money.

[jdunn]

You think analog volume control is a dying technology? I think some mastering engineers may beg to differ.



BTW, I don't know about you, but with audiophile stuff, I think in terms of 'line preamps', not receivers. You already have an excellent, dedicated power amp.

Where did you get this idea that it's "proven" that soundcards are better than line preamps. You can get a plenty good preamp for the same amount of money as a high quality soundcard.

But if you insist on getting a soundcard, I'd think that the Lynx would be the best. Jim Williams at Audio Upgrades can upgrade them to be more 'audiophile' too if you want.

[edit] (Sorry I keep editing. I do this all the time. Don't know if it bugs people, but it's better than having 2 or more posts in a row by the same person. Not that it matters anyway.)

I'm totally hip to the HTPC (Home Theatre PC) concept. I think that with FLAC or other lossless compression formats, selling music on the internet is a great idea. I'm working on it myself.

BTW, did you now that Windows Media Player is a Sonic Solutions creation, and that they are the 14th fastest growing Fortune 500 company? Not Sonic Studio though, they split off.

[Infinitum]

Originally Posted by jdunn

You think analog volume control is a dying technology? I think some mastering engineers may beg to differ.



BTW, I don't know about you, but with audiophile stuff, I think in terms of 'line preamps', not receivers. You already have an excellent, dedicated power amp.

Where did you get this idea that it's "proven" that soundcards are better than line preamps. You can get a plenty good preamp for the same amount of money as a high quality soundcard.

But if you insist on getting a soundcard, I'd think that the Lynx would be the best. Jim Williams at Audio Upgrades can upgrade them to be more 'audiophile' too if you want.

Dont want to argue with you (senseless) and didn't came here to prove anything, I just need some information.

Could please give a little information regarding lynx. Version B has 2 inputs and 6 outputs, will it actualy give desired 5.1 while playing DVD?

[jdunn]

Oh, for 5.1 I'm not sure. I haven't even thought about that yet, as far as setting up an HTPC for surround. There are people here who own the Lynx card. They should be able to give you more details than I can.

Another option would be an all digital card like the Lynx AES16 (that's what I'm using) with an external 8 channel D/A converter. I believe Mytek may have the capability of a multichannel D/A converter with one volume control for all channels. He was working on that at one point for the DAC 8x96 anyway.

[Another edit] I really don't know. You're feeding the soundcard from the computer dvd player, or a media player. Does the soundcard need 6 physical channels in order to see the input routing? I have no idea.

I think for 6 discrete outputs, you may need 6 discrete inputs. But if it's matrix surround processing, maybe you don't need discrete inputs. I would think this requires some control software, so the answer may depend on that.

[Juanathan]

You mention trying to widdle down your studio by cutting out your CD, DVD etc. You don't mention microphones or instruments and so, I'm thinking you may not be in the right group to get answers your questions. The "gear" in gearslutz refers to recording gear not stereo listening gear. There is not a member on this board who believes they that in their lifetime, they will give up there preamps to be replaced by a computer. But, they probably have some handy answers to the question, "Which DA converter sounds best for recording through?"

I would suspect more amusing posts saying as much will follow.

[Infinitum]

Thank you jdunn. I will try to go fish in another forum than. Might find someone.
BTW how with the customer support at Lynx Studio? Worth to try e-mail them?

[Darius van H]

Originally Posted by Infinitum

Hi,

I have Classe 5200 amplifier which is driving 803D B&W speakers and I am very deperate to get rid of the wires and all space consuming equipment such as CD, DVD, DSP, Pre etc. etc. by placing a computer with good external sound card to do the job.

I spend many hours searching on internet and I found many sound cards for PC from Creative, M-Audio, LynxTwo etc. etc. in range from $300 to $10k, but I just can't make my mind, all of them has:

SNR > 100db
THD : <0.01%
Freq : <10hz-46khz, +0.05/-0.1dB

But will sound card for $1000 give huge difference in sound quality comparing to $300 card

I know it might sound crazy, but please could anybody give a practical advice which sound card will do a job. I want to use it for simple things such as playback (only) and as long XLR doesn't make much difference in sound quality (0.5 m cable), RCA are good enough for me.


Thank you.

Why not buy a soundcard with a digital output (like an RME or Lynx), and use it to feed a nice DA converter like a Benchmark DAC-1? (around 800 euro - and it has a volume knob - and an internal 20db pad!)).

What CD/wav player were you thinking of using in the comp?

[jdunn]

Infinitium - I didn't mean to be an ass. It's common around here to say something like that, without starting a massive flame war.

Lynx customer response is pretty quick in most cases I think.

Lynx has their own forum, which is pretty active compared to some other manufacturer's forums. Since you've been looking at different cards, I'll assume that you'll have no problems navigating to the Lynx forum at lynxstudio.com. (I was going to leave a link).

I don't know too many Gearslutz who are running HTPCs, we're mostly recording freaks. Anyone is more than welcome to post questions about gear here. If you have any questions when you buy a soundcard, don't hesitate to return to this site.

But while you're trying to decide on your setup, you should look for a forum that's dedicated to HTPCs. I think there might be one. Do some searching. I think some hi fi forums may have a section on HTPCs too.

Let us know how it turns out, as I would like to know what gear end users are running in their listening setups.

[jdunn]

Here's one site that looks like it should have lots of info. Do a search, there's more.

HTPC News

[Infinitum]

Originally Posted by jdunn

Infinitium - I didn't mean to be an ass. It's common around here to say something like that, without starting a massive flame war.

Hee, I know, but it is not my attention, no time anymore for it.

Originally Posted by jdunn

Lynx has their own forum, which is pretty active compared to some other manufacturer's forums. Since you've been looking at different cards, I'll assume that you'll have no problems navigating to the Lynx forum at lynxstudio.com. (I was going to leave a link).

Thanks, good to know.

Originally Posted by jdunn

I don't know too many Gearslutz who are running HTPCs, we're mostly recording freaks.

Hmmmm, Sorry didn't know that, I came here only because of its title "High end" "Expensive stuff here"... after calculating an overal price of my gear I thought thats the place

Originally Posted by jdunn

Let us know how it turns out, as I would like to know what gear end users are running in their listening setups.

ABSOLUTELY, I am sure I will be the first insane one, to interface PC and Classe 5200. Will come back as soon as all set.

[Infinitum]

Originally Posted by jdunn

Here's one site that looks like it should have lots of info. Do a search, there's more.

HTPC News

BTW I already found information on how to set 5.1 on linxtwo at lynx studio site (Just thoght this might be usefull for somebody like me, when searching)