[LFE]

Hello all!

I am building a Music Only computer, building it in a home theatre PC case, so I can rip my cd collection to it and use the computer as my digital playback device. ANyone have suggestions on:

1. What is the best sound card out there? I am looking at the M-Audio Audiophile 2496 card. Has anyone used it? is there somthing better? I am looking for the best possible sound i can get.

2. Any recomendations on a cd rom or dvd drive?

3. Do you guys know of any parts to use to get the best possible sound from a computer used for a music only application?

Any help would be fantastic!

Thanks!

[Tirade]

Best soundcard for those with some sort of budget would be a EMU 1212m.

Best way to get sound out from a music dedicated PC would be skip the sound card and get a modded Squeezebox2.

More info here

www.slimdevices.com

Mods found here

www.boldercables.com

[EchiDna]

best possible? money no object? I'd go with the Lynx product range.

squeezbox (modded or not) better than lynx? I'll reserve judgement until I've heard both.... but I'd find it difficult to believe they are even close - assuming the rest of your system can keep up.

and regarding the cdrom/dvdrom drive... maybe try the search function or take a look at the threads on the first page!

[Rashiki]

Stereophile mentioned the Wavelength Brick USB DAC. It plugs in to your USB port and plays the role of a sound card. Price is listed at $1750.

http://www.wavelengthaudio.com/usbdac.html

Personally, I use the squeezebox. I've got three of them now -- one for the living room, one for the bedrooms and one for my audio room. They're all stock models now, but I'm thinking about modding the one for my audio room.

[WerTicus]

hey i have the Lynx L22

its rather good

[bhobba]

best possible? money no object? I'd go with the Lynx product range.

I believe the money is no object option would be the VRS products which use a modded Lynx card -
http://www.vrsaudiosystems.com/index.html

I was interested enough to write to Vincent but US $7000.00 is a little outside my price range. As an aside Vincent claims the best sound he has ever heard is the output feeding a DEQX.

squeezbox (modded or not) better than lynx? I'll reserve judgement until I've heard both.... but I'd find it difficult to believe they are even close - assuming the rest of your system can keep up.

So do I.  I have however read good things about the Empirical audio modded M-audio Transit 96/24 card
http://www.empiricalaudio.com/

'I did have the good fortune to be able to demo the outstanding VRS Audio system as the source in my stereo. As you may know the VRS uses a Lynx sound card for its DAC.  I belive the Lynx sells for about $700. I haven't performed an A-B-A comparison between the VRS and my computer system but I belive the Freeway /Perpetual Tech combo is very close to the VRS.'

What I am looking at is a dedicated notebook feeding the Empirical USB and into the DEQX.  The stuff of dreams - now if only my money situation would improve and I can make it reality.

Thanks
Bill

[EchiDna]

*sigh* is there ever enough money?

unfortunately I also need a dual duty system - home theatre as well as audio, hence two channel options are pretty much out for me  

[WerTicus]

heheeh you 'need' it hey

home theater does not fit the meaning of 'need'  there are people without anything to eat in this world, i think you should use the word, WANT

[EchiDna]

er no... need is right...
I have a system doing double duty for home theatre and 2 channel, but any sound card upgrade must be tempered with the need for greater than 2 channels of output - otherwise the missus will get wise to the sound of silence from all the other speakers in the room when movie watching!

I want a 7 channel lynx  

[WerTicus]

your in luck, I'm pretty sure they have such a lynx or you can stick multiple lynxes into a pc.