PCI Audio Card Needed for Simple 2-Channel Output to Receiver

[burger]

Hello all,

First I'd like thank everyone who helped my select a receiver last year. I was little confused about the different HDMI passthru/upconvert modes and several board members helped explain things for me.

Now that I have the new receiver (Yamaha RX-V663), I'd like to connect it to my computer. I would like to play MP3 files and streaming audio thru the reciever. I do not plan to transmit video, nor do I have any need for surround sound... just MP3's and my wife has a few internet radio stations she likes to listen to.

I've been looking thru a lot of sound cards on NewEgg, and I'm not exactly sure which features that I need. I'm not opposed to buying something expensive if it's worth it, I just want to make sure I'm not wasting money on bells and whistles that won't get used.

Since I do not need surround sound, it seems like any cheap sound card with a digital optical connection would work, right? Am I correct in thinking that I can set the card to "pass thru" and let the receiver handle the processing?

Regarding the sound card's specs, is it worth the extra money for 192 kbps bitrate? Are there any other specs that I should be judging the card on?


Thanks,
Ed

 

[GlocksRock]

If all you need is stereo input to your receiver, just get a 3.5mm to stereo rca cable and use the standard audio output or headphone jack on your PC. No need for a special soundcard unless you want surround sound.

 

[OttoMatic]

Hello all,

First I'd like thank everyone who helped my select a receiver last year. I was little confused about the different HDMI passthru/upconvert modes and several board members helped explain things for me.

Now that I have the new receiver (Yamaha RX-V663), I'd like to connect it to my computer. I would like to play MP3 files and streaming audio thru the reciever. I do not plan to transmit video, nor do I have any need for surround sound... just MP3's and my wife has a few internet radio stations she likes to listen to.

I've been looking thru a lot of sound cards on NewEgg, and I'm not exactly sure which features that I need. I'm not opposed to buying something expensive if it's worth it, I just want to make sure I'm not wasting money on bells and whistles that won't get used.

Since I do not need surround sound, it seems like any cheap sound card with a digital optical connection would work, right? Am I correct in thinking that I can set the card to "pass thru" and let the receiver handle the processing?

Regarding the sound card's specs, is it worth the extra money for 192 kbps bitrate? Are there any other specs that I should be judging the card on?


Thanks,
Ed

Yep, just get whatever one you like that has optical out -- it should be cheap enough. Get a respected name for the best driver support. I have been doing this for years, and have used a couple different sound cards for this purpose. I just send it directly to my preamp.

I wouldn't use analog outputs because they are generally too noise (unless you get a really nice one). The digital out is the way to go IMHO.

Good luck!

 

[scott911]

I take a different view point on the above posts. I agree to go with digital out, but the card's quality is an important consideration - you'll want a design that isolates the sound inside the computer's case, has a very good signal to noise ration, etc.

Compared to the amount of money we pay for various things in this hobby, the cost between a middling and a very good sounds are not that big a deal..

That said - i don't have a recommednation - I'm still looking myself. - sorry.

Here's something you may want to consider though: Get a video card with HDMI out - then make sure your sound card has digital outputs that can add its sound channels to the HDMI. This way, you'll have a convient way to display our audio file interface on a screen in your enterainment room... and of course, can get the audio to reciver as well...

 

[OttoMatic]

I take a different view point on the above posts. I agree to go with digital out, but the card's quality is an important consideration - you'll want a design that isolates the sound inside the computer's case, has a very good signal to noise ration, etc.

There is no SNR rating for passing digital samples around.

 

[alexwakelin]

IMO, you don't need anything too fancy. Many higher end cards are aimed at gamers who want full hardware acceleration which can increase your framrate while gaming.

A lower end soundblaster card should do the trick. For HT use, the ASUS cards a quite nice, but on the pricey side as far as sound cards go.

 

[strube]

I have a high end Auzentech sound card because I use analog output and Shure 530 earphones and can most certainly tell the difference between onboard sound and the soundcard when it comes to analog output. With digital output, however, I cannot tell the difference, and my thought is that there is not enough stuff recorded in 192kbps bitrate to warrant buying the card just for that purpose.

 

[mark620]

I have a question on this subject...

I an looking to do the same thing with the same rec. My pc is about 120 feet(through attic and walls) to my rec..I can't find a dig.cable at that lenth. Is there another cable. Is it possible to do video this way also?

 

[OttoMatic]

I an looking to do the same thing with the same rec. My pc is about 120 feet(through attic and walls) to my rec..I can't find a dig.cable at that lenth. Is there another cable. Is it possible to do video this way also?

I would say that 120 feet is too far. There may be wireless solutions, but I've not used them, and I'm not sure they would apply to video. Try to get your PC closer to your receiver.

 

[burger]

thanks!

Thanks for the replies!

When browsing sound card specs, the sample rate is either 96 khz or 192 khz. Where would I notice the difference in quality?


Thanks,
Ed

 

[OttoMatic]

Hi burger,

No the bitrate of mp3s is not the same as the sampling rate. I'm sure either sound card would work mp3s. The 96 vs 192 kbps sampling rate won't matter either way.

 

[EYEdROP0]

Ive got a question. If he were to get a USB DAC, would the receiver still use the onboard DAC? Or would the receiver just give the USB DAC signal amplification to the speakers?

DAC's are popular in the headphone world. I dont have any experience with them, but I heard they make a difference.

 

[OttoMatic]

Ive got a question. If he were to get a USB DAC, would the receiver still use the onboard DAC? Or would the receiver just give the USB DAC signal amplification to the speakers?

DAC's are popular in the headphone world. I dont have any experience with them, but I heard they make a difference.

The purpose of a USB DAC is to take a digital signal in (via USB) and then convert that signal to analog. Thus, the output of the DAC will be analog and could be sent directly to a preamp or amp.

 

[burger]

Otto,

Thanks a lot for the help! This is probably a really basic question, but what is the use of a pre-amp? I think I own one -- there's a little Recotron box sitting between my record player and receiver. Is that a pre-amp?

Is DAC Digital Analog Converter? At least that's what I'm gathering based on your response.


Thanks,
Ed

 

[OttoMatic]

Otto,

Thanks a lot for the help! This is probably a really basic question, but what is the use of a pre-amp? I think I own one -- there's a little Recotron box sitting between my record player and receiver. Is that a pre-amp?

Hi there,

What you describe between your record player and your receiver sounds like a phono preamp. That's definitely a preamp, but one that has a specific purpose -- it amplifies the signal as well as applies the RIAA EQ curve to the phono output. It's specifically meant to be applied to a phono output.

Usually if someone says "preamp" they are talking about a switching and volume control device. Consider your receiver -- is has a preamp (allows you to select a source such as CD, DVD, etc., and allows you to control volume), it has a tuner (allows you to "tune" radio stations), and it has an amplifier that sends the signal to the speakers (actually, it has two or more amplifiers, but that doesn't really matter).

So, if you take your receiver and remove the "tuner" section, it's called an integrated amp (so same as the receiver, but no radio).

If you then remove the amplifiers (from that "integrated amp"), you have a preamp.

If your preamp handles 5.1 or 7.1 channels, it might be called a "processor" or a "preamp/processor" or a "pre/pro". In all cases, it won't have amplifiers, but it might have a "tuner" to capture radio. In that case, I guess it's still a preamp (or pre/pro) with a tuner, and I don't think that has a specific name. In general, a 2-channel "preamp" won't have a tuner, but a HT "pre/pro" might.

Is DAC Digital Analog Converter? At least that's what I'm gathering based on your response.

Yep.

 

[burger]

Thanks again!

Otto,

Thanks again for the response!

So let's say that I want to use the optical out for most functions, but I'd also like to still have a set of powered speakers on my desk for those times when I just want to hear Windows sounds without blasting them thru my receiver. Would the card work in this fuction, i.e. thru both the analog out and the digital out?

Thanks,
Ed

 

[OttoMatic]

Some do and some don't. I have an older one (PCI based) that does in fact do that. I've more recently been using on-board audio created by Realtek (I think that's it) and it also does both optical and analog out at the same time. I use this method frequently to drive my "main" system as well as my "second zone", which requires an analog signal.

I have another "Soundblaster" card that does NOT perform that way, but it's old; their newer stuff may do both at the same time.

It's hard to know which sound card will actually output analog and digital at the same time. Before I bought my motherboard with the integrated audio, I contacted Realtek and asked them if their onboard audio solution would in fact do that (analog and digital at the same time) and they said "no". When I got the motherboard and it worked, I was happy. But the lesson here is that even the manufacturer (or their representative) may not know what they are talking about when you ask them a question (or perhaps they misunderstood...). Anyway, good luck. If you really get in a pinch, I might be willing to give up that old sound card. I'm not using it, and I'm soon to receive another motherboard with integrated sound -- if it works as I need, I'll give you my old soundcard cheap-cheap (say $10 shipped). PM me if you're interested.