What your sound system setup?

Hanuki

Hanuki

Hanuki

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Joined
5 Apr 2011
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279
Location
London, UK
I haven't got nothing impressive to share :( i just have 2.1 logitech speaker setup which are decent and does the job - but I am thinking of progressing my audio system and not a better way of doing by the idea's of the consumers :D
**Additional Pictures would be great ^^
 
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Hmm, I'm not running normal computer speakers, as they cut so many corners, so I'll try and describe how I've got my PC soundsystem.

PC optical out from motherboard ->
Toslink switch (source selector basically) ->
DEQ2496 (Does BSC along with a few small EQ tweaks) ->
DCX2496 (Modded with passive output, as the active stage is nasty. Running as a 2 way active XO with sub channel if I need it) ->
Stepped attenuator volume control ->
2 x TK2050 amps (Modded with high current chokes and better input caps) ->
Event TR8 Studio monitor type speakers (With the active stage bypassed as it's awful)

While it's not exactly a simple setup, once you get the DCX and DEQ tweaked, it's easy to live with, you've just got to turn on the DCX before the amps and away you go. :)
 
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Harmon kardon soundsticks on the pc

then via hdmi from graphics card
Onkyo tx-sr605
Canton cd102 5.1 speakers
 
I have everything connected up to a Sony DAV-DZ260 Surround sound system.

For the room it's in it is more than good enough.
 
Mobo S/PDIF -> Harman/Kardon AVR2550 -> 4x Sony SS-E30 speakers and 1x Eltax Liberty. All in cost me less than £150 so an absolute steal; will get some pictures up at some point ;)

Xonar DG S/PDIF -> Zero DAC/Amp -> whatever pair of headphones I fancy at the time (probably Beyer DT770s or Goldring DR150s).
 
Old skool stereo here, the best kind of audio :D

In order of connection:
> Xonar Essence STX
-- WireCR thick RCA cable
>> NAD C325BEE amp
-- QED Airloc cables
>> Mordaunt-Short MS914i floorstanding speakers

>> Sennheiser HD595
 
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Khaaan! said:
Old skool stereo here, the best kind of audio :D
Click to expand...

Damn straight it is! :cool:

My PC system:

-Asus P5Q SE Plus (optical out)
-S.M.S.L. Mini DAC SD-793
-Shanling PH100 or Xiang Sheng 708B
-Denon D2000, Sennheiser HD 650, Sennheiser HD 580 or Jecklin Float Model 1

I used to have a nice pair of Monitor Audio Silver S1s and a decent stereo amp, but found I used it about once a month if that, so it's gathering dust in my spare room now. :o
 
Atm:

Asus Xonar DX ->
a. Z-2300
b. NS1000

But I'll be getting the Zero DAC/Amp sometime and then the DT770s.
And I'm tempted to get rid of the Z-2300s and get an amp and the Q Acoustics 2020 or Wharfedale Diamond 9.1.
 
Using my motherboard audio, connected via TOSLINK to:
  • Onkyo A5VL amp
  • 2x Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 speakers
My first hi-fi setup... decided I was finally tired of my 2.1 Argos speakers! :D
 
PC is logitech z2300 then the xbox is set up through Denon avr1911 with the Q-Acoustics 1000 cinema pack (5.1) - Excellent value for money setup
 
Just using My creative 7.1's with onboard sound. onboard sound is just as good as any sound card on the new motherboards, so i really dont know why people bother getting sound cards.
 
ALAC files on NAS* > Mac Mini w/iTunes front end > Fisual Pearl mini jack to optical toslink (via the MM's digital out) > Yulong D100 DAC > balanced XLR output > Focal CMS 50 speakers*


*Don't own just yet, but soon! Also thinking of adding a Purity Audio KICAS Caliente headphone amp connected via the balanced RCA outputs of the Yulong to use w/my IEMs, which I'm also looking to upgrade, probably to customs (probably UM Merlin or Miracle) for night time listening e.t.c. The Yulong has a decent built in headphone amp but it's on the bright side of neutral and I'm more a 'warm' guy.
 
very basic setup for me atm

asus xonar dx -> audio technica ath-t500

I'm hoping to have a proper hi-fi setup in the near future.
 
Hi-fi audio gear on the PC is win! PC speakers are no comparison (looking at you Creative/Logitech!)

Creative X-Fi Xtremegamer -----> High quality splitter-------> CA cable -------> Cambridge Audio A1 mk3 --------> Tannoy Mercury F1 Custom

Other side of Splitter -------> Fiio E5 headphone amp ------> Goldring NS1000


All this only cost a modest amount (compared to most audiophile gear) and the sound is stunning. I can only dream what expensive gear must sound like. My setup still blows PC speakers out the water in my opinion.

Oh yeah, and my audio collection is in FLAC. I struggle to tell the difference to 320 kbps mp3, but lower bit rate mp3 becomes increasingly obvious. Since storage is so cheap now, I'd recommend FLAC.
 
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Leeroy123 said:
Just using My creative 7.1's with onboard sound. onboard sound is just as good as any sound card on the new motherboards, so i really dont know why people bother getting sound cards.
Click to expand...

Fair enough if you are using cheaper 2.1/5.1/7.1 PC speakers. Not everyone wants to use cheap PC speakers though. There is a world of difference between on-board audio and a decent sound card, even when using speakers such as the Aego M's, which are still PC speakers, and are still cheap compared to what one might spend on a quality amplifier and separate speakers.
 
To be honest, there was a world of difference between the last onboard audio I actually used (Gigabyte board ca 2004) and the cheapest branded sound card I had at the time (Creative Sound Blaster Live! 5.1). So much more detail, was hearing sounds that just weren't there with the onboard. On rubbish Creative 5.1 speakers as well!

I have an ASUS Crosshair III Formula board now (thanks ASUS!) and it comes with some fairly advanced onboard audio (C-Media based, X-Fi addons) on a separate card. Compared to the £50 X-Fi Xtremegamer that I also have, it's just not close to the same quality, especially in music.

Therefore, I'd really recommend a sound card if you're listening on anything better than the very cheapest PC speakers. However, before I'd recommend a sound card, I'd recommend better speakers! Go onto the auction sites or local listings and look for speakers and amps. You'll be surprised how cheaply they can be picked up. Don't let the age put you off too much either, as long as they're in good condition they last a long time (both amps and speakers). Amps (moreso old ones) can also be repaired without too much fuss, more often than not. Definitely worth making the jump.

What alternatives are there for people pushed on space? Amps aren't small....
 
Code: 
                             >Beyer Dynamtic DT770 Premium or Sennheiser HD555 
USB > Aune DAC/Headphone Amp 
                             >Cambridge Audio A340 > Vibe Alpha 1 Sub > Mordaunt Short Mezzo 2

:)
 
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