highest quality audio from pc to receiver?

[rockironwebb]

I am wondering if there is a better way (better quality) of getting audio from my laptop to my receiver. I am currently using a 1/8" stereo (headphone out) to RCA cable. The laptop is a HP DV7 and I am going to a DENON AVR 3805.

 

[nukemaster]

If your computer has digital audio out(Optical or Coaxial), it should sound better.

Will you notice it? this depends on the user. I use analog and it sounds just fine to me.

 

[avjguy2362]

You could use something like creatives' USB Sound blaster X-Fi since you can use the optical output to your Denon and avoid the inferior analog board in you laptop.
http://us.store.creative.com/Creative-Sound-Blaster-XFi-HD-Sound/M/B004275EO4.htm

 

[americanaudiophile]

If your laptop does not have digital audio output you can use a USB to SPDIF digital converter and connect that to a digital input on the receiver. The converters come in a wide price range. The better quality the music files the greater the improvement will be. It will also depend on the quality of the rest of the system.

 

[ssddx]

hdmi or spdif output to the receiver is best.

if you laptop doesnt support this then as suggested you may want an external soundcard.