Your current computer audio setup? (feel free to post pics)

[Hammie]

I guess I have three...

Setup #1 - Work Computer:
- Dell Laptop with Logitech USB powered external speakers

Setup #2 - Desktop Computer:
- Gateway desktop
- 64-bit Windows 8 OS
- B&W MM-1 external speakers

Setup #3 - Media Room:
- Mac Mini (OS X 10.7.5)
---> iTunes 11
---> Pure Music High Resolution Music Server Software (majority of my music is in high resolution ALAC format)
- 4TB Classic Case FW800 Hard Drive (via AudioQuest Cinnamon FW800 cable)
- 2TB Iomega FW800 Hard Drive (via AudioQuest Cinnamon FW800 cable)
- M2Tech Young DAC (via AudioQuest Cinnamon USB cable)
- Onkyo Pro PR-SC5508 Pre/Pro (via AudioQuest King Cobra RCA cables)
- A pair of Emotiva XPA-1 amps (via Emotiva X-Series XLR cables)
- A pair of B&W 804 speakers (via King Cable speaker wires)

I also have a B&W Zeppelin that uses an old iPhone 3GS as the music controller.

[Quake1028]

24" 1080p
Saitek Cyborg
Logitech MX518
M-Audio AV40's

[bhampton]

I use a 2010 Mac mini that is stock for now.

I use its toslink out to my Denon AVR.

I control it via the network (it doesn't hook up to any video source.)

It runs iTunes and currently my 200 CDs use about 60gb in apple lossless.

It's lovely and simple. I have no records or tapes. I have a single SACD and a single Blu Ray Audio disc so I play those through my BDP.

I listen in the HT or via the network on my iPhone or iPad with headphones.

I may max out the mini's RAM or install a SSD drive for the heck of it but neither upgrade is needed really.

-Brian

Edit- I noticed an improvement when I put the sound files on an external hard drive. And I purchased the BitPerfect app.

[Megalith]

Desktop: DacMagic Plus, Neumann KH 120 A
Headphone: Sennheiser HD650, Schiit Valhalla, Schiit Bifrost

[Henry T]

Jeeezz all the magazines and such say computer audio is the future for the main stream.....last post on this board 12-4-13.....wondering how true that all is? Last post this thread 7-21-13 LOl almost 6 months ago and its the main basic thread.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Henry T

Jeeezz all the magazines and such say computer audio is the future for the main stream.....last post on this board 12-4-13.....wondering how true that all is? Last post this thread 7-21-13 LOl almost 6 months ago and its the main basic thread.

Many are afraid to tread these waters - World's End type stuff (pun intended). However I know these waters well !!!! I'm going pro, as I've purchased a Firewire/USB 2.0 multichannel audio interface that will serve as my future sound card!!! I love the Asus Essence but now I want to try some other things. My new unit will do 44.1, 88.2, 96, 176.4, and 192 khz sampling and 16 and 24 bits. It also consist of 16 channels - this is the big thing, as I may disconnect the crossover from my Cornwalls and actively triamp them with the PC serving as the crossover. This will help me to time-align everything (as of now I just have them raked back to assist in time alignment and my measurements are decent in that area - I'm just preparing for future curiosity).

Belive it or not PC audio is huge right now (why do you think a new usb/thumb dac comes out every month). I believe it is the wave of the future - but many people are afraid of the complexities that involve computer setups. It's simple for one using the PC as only source device (transport with a usb DAC), but it can get complex for someone using their PC as a prepro.

[bhampton]

My setup (maybe 3 posts above this one) totally changed. My kids needed more computers upstairs for homework so the mac mini moved up to the living room.

Now my computer audio setup consists of a ipod classic 160Gb stuffed about half full with Apple Lossless files made from all my CDs. I use it with traditional headphones or with some noise isolating ear buds. I can hook it to my HT via USB and control it using my remote (which is roomie remote running on ipad or iphone.)

[prerich]

Ok, my setup has changed....I'm now using a Firefly 808U as my DAC. The Firefly comes with mixed reviews all because of its brand name (Phonic) but as we have learned - don't be deceived!!!! The Firefly is working terrrific for me! It opens up a variety of uses also (besides the 8 analog outs - it has digital ins/outs of all types and can be used as a standalone mixer). I think its one nice piece of equipment - and its very, very quiet!!!!

[prerich]

P.S. Almost every room - regardless of the equipment price - had PC/Mac audio as the front-end at CES/T.H.E. Show last week, and the most popular piece of new gear happen to be DAC's. This part of the hobby is expanding!

[Solo man]

Hi Prerich,

Any pics of your new upgraded computer setup. I know you use Jriver but was wondering what your thoughts are on Audirvana.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Solo man

Hi Prerich,

Any pics of your new upgraded computer setup. I know you use Jriver but was wondering what your thoughts are on Audirvana.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Audirvana is a Mac only system so I haven't used it. The Gold Standard for Mac is currently Pure Music Vinyl (followed quickly by JRiver for Mac - from what I'm hearing now). What I have heard about Audirvana has been very good though. There's a full 15 day free trial (I love those free trials), if you want to play with it a while.

I haven't taken any pics yet, mainly because the case is very simple (although the Firefly 808U looks like a piece of space gear ). I'll post some up this week in this thread

[Solo man]

Originally Posted by prerich

Audirvana is a Mac only system so I haven't used it. The Gold Standard for Mac is currently Pure Music Vinyl (followed quickly by JRiver for Mac - from what I'm hearing now). What I have heard about Audirvana has been very good though. There's a full 15 day free trial (I love those free trials), if you want to play with it a while.

I haven't taken any pics yet, mainly because the case is very simple (although the Firefly 808U looks like a piece of space gear ). I'll post some up this week in this thread

Thanks, I will check out Pure Music Vinyl and I have been using the trial version of Audirvana but ran out of time so I guess I have to make a decision.

I also liked Audiofile Engineering's Fidelia, it had a nice smooth sound but it does not do DSD currently.

Jriver is another I tried but prefer Audirvana over it in terms of interface.

Please do take pics as I have been following your computer audio updates and seems interesting. I am new to computer audio and am slowly entering into a new way of listening because I am still stuck in the CD stage.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Solo man

Thanks, I will check out Pure Music Vinyl and I have been using the trial version of Audirvana but ran out of time so I guess I have to make a decision.

I also liked Audiofile Engineering's Fidelia, it had a nice smooth sound but it does not do DSD currently.

Jriver is another I tried but prefer Audirvana over it in terms of interface.

Please do take pics as I have been following your computer audio updates and seems interesting. I am new to computer audio and am slowly entering into a new way of listening because I am still stuck in the CD stage.

You bet! I'll try and throw a picture up by Saturday. Are you doing multi -channel or just 2 channel audio?

[Solo man]

I will check it out on Saturday. Do you sometimes connect your pc to that kick ass HT setup you have? I am sure the sound would be awesome.

I listen in 2 channel but with SACD(ht setup) on certain ones, I am trying to get into multichannel, its still a little new to me. But my computer setup, definitely 2 channel.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Solo man

I will check it out on Saturday. Do you sometimes connect your pc to that kick ass HT setup you have? I am sure the sound would be awesome.

I listen in 2 channel but with SACD(ht setup) on certain ones, I am trying to get into multichannel, its still a little new to me. But my computer setup, definitely 2 channel.

It's always connected to it !!!! It's my prepro

[prerich]

Here's a pic of the Firefly and a pic of the PC in the rack.
http://i487.photobucket.com/albums/r...g?t=1393125879

http://i487.photobucket.com/albums/r...g?t=1393125882

[prerich]

Ok an update:

After using a Phonic Firefly 808u for a few months I've come to a conclusion...If you are going to use a firewire based product - do yourself a favor and get a firewire card based on the Texas Instruments chipset. I loved the 808u, but every now and then I'd suffer sync loss or I'd have to reset the sync when going from Audio to say TV. After some research, I found that my VIA based firewire card may be the culprit. I just replaced it with a TI based card and literally ran it all night! Windows did some updates, so I got up turned the PC on and just to test it, went straight to JRiver to play some audio without setting the sync first.....BAM!!!!! No sync issues! Moved from audio to TV etc., no problems what-so-ever!!!

Moving to the audio interface from a sound card was a big jump. More things that can go wrong - but the operation is quieter, fewer things in the PC itself, so this little bit of struggle was worth it. I loved my Xonar Essence ST/H6, but the 808u rivals it in performance and it's more flexible (especially if I want to do some live recording).

[pentatonic]

Originally Posted by prerich

Ok an update:

After using a Phonic Firefly 808u for a few months I've come to a conclusion...If you are going to use a firewire based product - do yourself a favor and get a firewire card based on the Texas Instruments chipset. I loved the 808u, but every now and then I'd suffer sync loss or I'd have to reset the sync when going from Audio to say TV. After some research, I found that my VIA based firewire card may be the culprit. I just replaced it with a TI based card and literally ran it all night! Windows did some updates, so I got up turned the PC on and just to test it, went straight to JRiver to play some audio without setting the sync first.....BAM!!!!! No sync issues! Moved from audio to TV etc., no problems what-so-ever!!!

Moving to the audio interface from a sound card was a big jump. More things that can go wrong - but the operation is quieter, fewer things in the PC itself, so this little bit of struggle was worth it. I loved my Xonar Essence ST/H6, but the 808u rivals it in performance and it's more flexible (especially if I want to do some live recording).

You know buddy, I've never met someone using firewire whether 400 up to S3200 that never had a problem. Most chipset are technically sound but driver support and compatibility was never and most probably never will be great, unless your running a Mac where it's native as you know. I'm waiting for USB 3
interfaces before considering it, USB 2 is enough but you might start encountering jitter and distortion if you're driving to many channels as you know. I wonder if thunderbolt will make an appearance in the pro audio world, that would be sick

[prerich]

Originally Posted by pentatonic

You know buddy, I've never met someone using firewire whether 400 up to S3200 that never had a problem. Most chipset are technically sound but driver support and compatibility was never and most probably never will be great, unless your running a Mac where it's native as you know. I'm waiting for USB 3
interfaces before considering it, USB 2 is enough but you might start encountering jitter and distortion if you're driving to many channels as you know. I wonder if thunderbolt will make an appearance in the pro audio world, that would be sick

Yep, thunderbolt will make an appearance! It's been working great since I got the TI FireWire card, I'm trying some up-sampling now (I have izotope ozone5 so I can "re-master" at higher rates). It's handling 176.4 and 192 kHz like a champ!!! I boxed my Xonar up for good today !

[prerich]

Originally Posted by pentatonic

You know buddy, I've never met someone using firewire whether 400 up to S3200 that never had a problem. Most chipset are technically sound but driver support and compatibility was never and most probably never will be great, unless your running a Mac where it's native as you know. I'm waiting for USB 3
interfaces before considering it, USB 2 is enough but you might start encountering jitter and distortion if you're driving to many channels as you know. I wonder if thunderbolt will make an appearance in the pro audio world, that would be sick

P.S. The Firefly 808U is actually universal (it has firewire and USB), however - I was advised that the Firewire drivers are better that the USB ones (and that turned out to be true). I'm not having any jitter issues (and I'm driving 8 channels )! I know someone else that's using an Apollo interface and several that are using RME or Lynx (most using firewire - some using PCI).