Best 2.1 Sound Card for PC

[Hemlock]

Hello all,

I have a PC that runs iTunes (for now) to an older Kenwood and then some decent infiniti book shelfs and a sub.

I am curious what the best method for getting music off the PC to the PC is.

the Kenwood only has RCA in's but I am eventually moving up to an amplifier (I don't need surround sound) that will likely have something more advanced, with all the hub bub about HD and HDMI i lost track of Audio advances.

is optical still good?

I am eventuall moving to a custom build Linux Box that will run Flacs so iTunes will no longer be a limiting factor.

thoughts?

p.s. yes I searched

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Never heard of 2.1 sounds cards. I believe there are 2.0 stereo, 5.1 and 7.1 cards. No 2.1.
If you want to add sub, you need to manage bass on 5.1 card or extract bass from full-range 2.0 output with external crossover (on the sub if it does it)
In both cases I'd rec for M-Audio cards, Ether external if you want easier cable management or on laptop or internal pci if you got desktop.

 

[Hemlock]

Never heard of 2.1 sounds cards. I believe there are 2.0 stereo, 5.1 and 7.1 cards. No 2.1.
If you want to add sub, you need to manage bass on 5.1 card or extract bass from full-range 2.0 output with external crossover (on the sub if it does it)
In both cases I'd rec for M-Audio cards, Ether external if you want easier cable management or on laptop or internal pci if you got desktop.

Sorry yes, stereo. I left out a whole chunk of the process.
the Kenwood takes the stereo in and adds the Sub using Stereo 3.

what interface between the PC and Amp/receiver is optimal?

I will be ugrading soon from the Kenwood.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Like I said M-Audio makes very high-quality audio interfaces, both external and internal.
If you want to change your kenwood, you don't want to go to just amp, since you still need pre-amp and bass management.
I don't want to look again, but there few are very good refub Marantz stereo receivers at accessories4less, links posted in other topics on this forum.

 

[sholling]

If you are going to go optical with the new receiver and you have an existing optical out on the PC then I'd just save the money for a new receiver. If the PC doesn't have optical out and you have the budget then I'd look at an HT Omega Claro Plus for its superior stereo DACs. However you won't be using those fancy DACs once you get your new receiver because you'll be using the receiver's DACs.

If the budget doesn't stretch that far then I'd look at an Asus XONAR DS. Newegg has an open box for $40. If memory serves they use the same chipset under different names. Asus bought the rights a year or two ago.

 

[Hemlock]

Like I said M-Audio makes very high-quality audio interfaces, both external and internal.
If you want to change your kenwood, you don't want to go to just amp, since you still need pre-amp and bass management.
I don't want to look again, but there few are very good refub Marantz stereo receivers at accessories4less, links posted in other topics on this forum.

thanks guys

you don't want to look again becuase you'l buy something...

@sholling- I'm not sold on optical, I don't even know why I would need it other than clean transfer I'm guessing.

does it make that much difference?

Is there some other interface I should look at besides 1/8" stereo to RCA? or if I throw down for a good set of monster cables and a 24 bit 96-128 sound card am I missing that much?

I assume that optical needs to be converted at somepoint? i.e. the DAC?

EDITL: as far as budget, less is more...