HI.
I am presently using the creative XMod crystallizer for my laptop audio (Foobar Player) with the Audioengine A2. My collections are 85% FLAC and 15% 320 MP3s. I listen to all sorts of music depending on my mood. I am not really satisfied with the change brought about by the XMod. Though I haven't really tried out any USB DACs I wonder how much improvement will I get using one over the XMod. The XMod upsamples to 24bit but lacks a DAC. I am planning to upgrade to the Audioengine A5+ with the S8 subwoofer in the near future. Can you all guide me on how to go about it, like is it worth investing on a separate DAC like the Audioengine D1 (costs 13500) or the Nuforce UDAC (costs 9900)..PS..I am zeroing down to these two DACs. Budget is strictly below 15k.
In the same time I would also like to know if using an optical input to the DAC would produce a better sound than using the USB (because the above mentioned DACs outputs 24/96 with an USB output but 24/192 with an optical one. And in case it does, what motherboard outputs a good optical? or is it mandatory to add a soundcard capable of optical output with a 24/192.
So here I am, waiting anxiously for your help to satisfy the ears of a computer audiophile.
Cheers guys.
I am presently using the creative XMod crystallizer for my laptop audio (Foobar Player) with the Audioengine A2. My collections are 85% FLAC and 15% 320 MP3s. I listen to all sorts of music depending on my mood. I am not really satisfied with the change brought about by the XMod. Though I haven't really tried out any USB DACs I wonder how much improvement will I get using one over the XMod. The XMod upsamples to 24bit but lacks a DAC. I am planning to upgrade to the Audioengine A5+ with the S8 subwoofer in the near future. Can you all guide me on how to go about it, like is it worth investing on a separate DAC like the Audioengine D1 (costs 13500) or the Nuforce UDAC (costs 9900)..PS..I am zeroing down to these two DACs. Budget is strictly below 15k.
In the same time I would also like to know if using an optical input to the DAC would produce a better sound than using the USB (because the above mentioned DACs outputs 24/96 with an USB output but 24/192 with an optical one. And in case it does, what motherboard outputs a good optical? or is it mandatory to add a soundcard capable of optical output with a 24/192.
So here I am, waiting anxiously for your help to satisfy the ears of a computer audiophile.
Cheers guys.