Updating PC

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic. Read 756 times.

WarmColors

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 166
Updating PC
« on: 7 Apr 2020, 05:22 am »
Greetings,

I will be updating my PC (motherboard, CPU) I noticed that Gigabyte Aorus has ESS Sabre 9018 DAC. I am wanting to use my NX Studios as speakers but have no idea how to hook up an Odyssey amp to the computer. Would be fun to hook up a subwoofer if possible as well for 2.1 listening. Any recommendations?

Thank you.

Phil A

Re: Updating PC
« Reply #1 on: 7 Apr 2020, 12:47 pm »
What are you using as a preamp and DAC?  The PC will have a digital out (USB or sometimes that and another digital out - e.g. toslink, coax) and some may have analog outs depending on the configuration.  For example - https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/TRX40-AORUS-XTREME-rev-10#kf  which has USB, toslink and analog (line) out.  If you use the line out to your preamp, you will be using whatever is built into the motherboard as a DAC.  Your PC will have a volume control although I'm not sure if the DAC and the volume control will be optimal vs. audio components such as a preamp and a DAC.  The DAC chip is just one of the elements of a DAC.  Many components use the same DAC chip (and it is not an expensive part of the component).  It's how the chip is implemented and the analog conversion quality that determines what you will hear.  There's a circle here on 'Cheap and Cheerful Hifi' - https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?board=165.0  that may have lots of information along with the 'Discless' Circle - https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?board=133.0 which would be of interest to you.

WarmColors

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 166
Re: Updating PC
« Reply #2 on: 7 Apr 2020, 02:00 pm »
What are you using as a preamp and DAC?  The PC will have a digital out (USB or sometimes that and another digital out - e.g. toslink, coax) and some may have analog outs depending on the configuration.  For example - https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/TRX40-AORUS-XTREME-rev-10#kf  which has USB, toslink and analog (line) out.  If you use the line out to your preamp, you will be using whatever is built into the motherboard as a DAC.  Your PC will have a volume control although I'm not sure if the DAC and the volume control will be optimal vs. audio components such as a preamp and a DAC.  The DAC chip is just one of the elements of a DAC.  Many components use the same DAC chip (and it is not an expensive part of the component).  It's how the chip is implemented and the analog conversion quality that determines what you will hear.  There's a circle here on 'Cheap and Cheerful Hifi' - https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?board=165.0  that may have lots of information along with the 'Discless' Circle - https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?board=133.0 which would be of interest to you.

I would only be using the motherboards DAC and as the pre amp. I do understand that internal DACs specially on a computer can/are noisy but it's just a high end gaming PC . I have a separate room for actual audio listening.

I've been researching and found that I can connect the Odyssey Stratos with an  RCA to the light green Jack, I can also hook up the Servo Sub to the orange/yellow jack. i would just go into my PC audio settings and change it to 2.1
That way I can use the DAC that's on the motherboard.

I will use the setup for near field listening, as well as filling the small room. One of the reasons I want to add the sub.