If your PC doesn't have a digital out then the USB version would be the one to get. Once you have this you should be good to go.
gt
Sorry to be dense, but how can I tell whether I have a digital out? Is it a port on the sound card?
First hifi setup sounds "flat" and disappointing
- Thread starter Kua
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Sorry to be dense, but how can I tell whether I have a digital out? Is it a port on the sound card?
Soldato
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It'll either be an optical output or a coax (looks like a phono connector). If you have realtek and the control panel, that will probably tell you 
It'll either be an optical output or a coax (looks like a phono connector). If you have realtek and the control panel, that will probably tell you
Ugh, sorry, I'm really struggling here. I feel very stupid. Here's a picture of my card:
Is it one of those ports?
I checked the colour coding on wikipedia, but it only seems to mention analogue ports, though it describes the orange one as "speaker out".
Actually even though I know for sure that's the card I bought, the one that arrived has a pink microphone port but no orange port....
Soldato
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Ugh, sorry, I'm really struggling here. I feel very stupid. Here's a picture of my card:
Is it one of those ports?
I checked the colour coding on wikipedia, but it only seems to mention analogue ports, though it describes the orange one as "speaker out".
Actually even though I know for sure that's the card I bought, the one that arrived has a pink microphone port but no orange port....
Nah, your sound card doesn't have digital outputs by the looks of it. Your motherboard probably does though, even my friends 4 year old Dell had a coax output. What motherboard do you have?
Soldato
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It has optical too if you wanted to use that.
As others have said you need to isolate the speakers, and looking at the picture it looks like they maybe too small for the room. The room is cluttered which will absorb sound. To get the best sound you need to prioritise the speakers and position above all else, something which your girlfriend will never understand.
Cant you save up and buy an m-audio 2496? you can get them for about £50 and if it doesnt work out you can sell it on for a little less, and you can have 2 soundcards in your pc, one for music and one for games.
Cant you save up and buy an m-audio 2496? you can get them for about £50 and if it doesnt work out you can sell it on for a little less, and you can have 2 soundcards in your pc, one for music and one for games.
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you've got some stones posting that pic in here, surprised you didn't get blasted
.....positioning *can* make a huge difference to sound, and as rightly pointed out so does stability with bookshelf speakers.the 7510 6/4 is a decent DAC for what is costs (especially 2nd hand) but the newer 7520 is in another league really and is only another £70 + you get the benefit of a nice USB connection and a much better headphone stage - if you could stretch the extra £££ i'd say it's easily worth it.
i've had both and for the money the 7520 is tremendous value, it's a lot more lively than the 7510 through the midrange + deeper bass. i had to tone down my equalizer settings when i plugged the 7520 in because the sound was just too aggressive. give it at least 100hrs to fully burn/bed in as it can sound quite harsh at first.
unless you upgrade to something like a Benchmark DAC for well over £1k down the line i doubt you will do better than the 7520.
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Unfortunately this isn't an issue
. Regarding the clutter, I'm thinking of moving the bookshelf and apart from the monitor and other clutter on the desk there shouldn't be anything between the speakers... Seen as its my bedroom, clutter is unavoidable really >.>I'm not exactly sure what you're proposing here. Having this as well as the Beresford, or as well as my current sound card? I'm pretty sold on the idea of the Beresford 7510, even though marscay is trying to get me to lay more down on a 7520
. Just kidding, the more suggestions the better, I'll weigh it up.The gonads are strong in this one. Just be glad I didn't post a picture of the inside of my PC. Something I'm seriously considering because the insults are bound to get me motivated into exercising good build practices and cable management
.
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Sounds interesting!!!
No doubt this will end up being my next purchase! All my good intentions to try and save always fail!!!
gt
Sounds interesting!!!
No doubt this will end up being my next purchase! All my good intentions to try and save always fail!!!
gt
once you get on that carousel.....
God... tell me about it!once you get on that carousel.....
It's never ending. I remember getting some Senn 555's and thinking these'll be the last i'll ever need. After that i got some 595's and then 650's.
Same for my main HiFi too. Initially sony and mission, then b&o and b&w and finally cyrus and wharfedale. Dread to think what i've spent over the years.
gt
Soldato
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Oh jesus CHRIST... I just had a realisation of how much my perceptions have changed since I got hi-fi equipment. My brother has a Realtek HD onboard kit (not as bad as some of the older onboard stuff, on an ASUS mobo), and some old Creatives I had years ago before the shift to decent equipment. As I'm at the families at the moment I thought I'd listen to some music...and my ears are bleeding
I've had to EQ the realtek to hell just to stop me wanting to cry, it sounds so bad in comparison to what I'm used to I'm actually sitting here watching a NAD 25w stereo amp on the bay now, I'd get a DAC too but I can't afford to spend that, I don't get how he enjoys this!
Holy ****.... This honestly sounds like I'm grating some metal inside my ears on a cheese grater.... There is NO middle, harsh highs and muddy lows, I also had to put on speaker fill to use a terrible center speaker to give any sort of sound stage. *headache inducing*. Never ever buy Creative Itrigues! ANYONE! NEVER! These are so much worse than the JBL creatures my dad uses.
Once you've had good audio you never go back...
Sorry about the offload but good god I don't get how I could have listened to this!
Edit: Got the NAD for £26 inc delivery...bargain (thank god for idiots putting items in the wrong categories haha)...should sound much nicer, even using onboard audio. Still tempted on a cheap optical dac kit though.
I've had to EQ the realtek to hell just to stop me wanting to cry, it sounds so bad in comparison to what I'm used to I'm actually sitting here watching a NAD 25w stereo amp on the bay now, I'd get a DAC too but I can't afford to spend that, I don't get how he enjoys this!
Holy ****.... This honestly sounds like I'm grating some metal inside my ears on a cheese grater.... There is NO middle, harsh highs and muddy lows, I also had to put on speaker fill to use a terrible center speaker to give any sort of sound stage. *headache inducing*. Never ever buy Creative Itrigues! ANYONE! NEVER! These are so much worse than the JBL creatures my dad uses.
Once you've had good audio you never go back...
Sorry about the offload but good god I don't get how I could have listened to this!
Edit: Got the NAD for £26 inc delivery...bargain (thank god for idiots putting items in the wrong categories haha)...should sound much nicer, even using onboard audio. Still tempted on a cheap optical dac kit though.
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You might want to get a Beresford Dac. £110, is also a passive preamp and a headphone amp. Kills Dac's worth £1k+.
Also, you might want a subwoofer... i find they make the stage in home a lot brighter and overally meatier.
Something like a BK elec plate amp + this + make a box.
Also, you might want a subwoofer... i find they make the stage in home a lot brighter and overally meatier.
Something like a BK elec plate amp + this + make a box.
Holding off on the sub for the time being. Don't want to make all my upgrades at once. Not sure its really necessary anyway.
Secondly and most importantly, you are not used to how music should sound. A car stereo, cheap mini hifi and especially cheap spc speakers will sound bassy and tinny. You have jsut never heard midrange before and are having withdrawl symptoms from boomy bass and tinnyness
I'm getting to enjoy the sound more and more. I think this post had it bang on. Though I'm still on the look out for stands. Its difficult because most seem to be designed for low comfy chairs at 60cm. Not raised PC chairs. I'll also be getting a Beresford, when the price is right.
Sounds interesting!!!
No doubt this will end up being my next purchase! All my good intentions to try and save always fail!!!
gt
If you do decide to go ahead with the upgrade gt, do get in touch! Because presumably this would leave you with one 7810 which is surplus to requirements.