Sound equipment info needed

[Karl C]

I am running win7 with onboard sound into a Luxman R-117 outgoing to a pair of Paradigm monitor 11 towers. I love the sound of the luxman and the paradigms but I am looking to see if I can get any better sound from pc to the luxman. I have read where some say that the luxman will do all the digital to analog conversion and some say that an external dac would help between the pc and luxman, well, I am new to this environment so I am looking for thoughts and inspriation.

 

[DeauteratedDog]

It doesn't look like the Luxman has its own DACs, so - yes, you will need external DACs, either truly external, or as part of a sound card.

Your best bet might be to get a really good quality sound card. What are you using now?

 

[americanaudiophile]

I would suggest that adding a DAC to the system would be the best way to upgrade the PC audio. Removing the digital to analog conversion from the PC environment is always best. Given your system you should take a look at the M2tech, Cambridge Audio, or Teac DACs. Any of them would be a vast improvement. Most of them will connect with USB so the soundcard is bypassed.

 

[Karl C]

It doesn't look like the Luxman has its own DACs, so - yes, you will need external DACs, either truly external, or as part of a sound card.

Your best bet might be to get a really good quality sound card. What are you using now?

I am only using the integrated sound on the motherboard. I am wanting to get away from using the integrated sound one way or the other.

 

[Karl C]

I would suggest that adding a DAC to the system would be the best way to upgrade the PC audio. Removing the digital to analog conversion from the PC environment is always best. Given your system you should take a look at the M2tech, Cambridge Audio, or Teac DACs. Any of them would be a vast improvement. Most of them will connect with USB so the soundcard is bypassed.

Thank you, I will research those items and see how it goes.

 

[DeauteratedDog]

Yeah. Either way, "external USB connected DAC" or "good sound card" will almost certainly be better than whatever your motherboard has.