Sound card for 2.0 system?

explrsport

Senior member
Jun 23, 2001
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Another recent post on here got me thinking....I just purchased a set of Audioengine A5+ 2.0 speakers, and they sound great. I am running them off the Realtek on-board audio of a Dell XPS8500, and I think I am hearing some slight interference when played loudly.

What would be a solid PCIe soundcard to pair with these? Don't care about 5.1, 7.1 sound at all since the speakers just run a standard audio plug.


thanks
 

Sleepingforest

Platinum Member
Nov 18, 2012
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Would you be willing to get a USB DAC/amp or a pure USB amp? By default, USB will receive less interference than a PCI/PCIe card. Plus, there are more choices.
 

explrsport

Senior member
Jun 23, 2001
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I don't mind, if that's the best solution.

So I assume the audio would go USB - DAC - speakers?

The A5+'s are powered and don't need an amp. Input choices are RCA or the usual normal headphone jack style connection.
 

explrsport

Senior member
Jun 23, 2001
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so the speakers plug into the DAC, and the DAC plugs into USB....then I can disable the onboard sound, right?
 

Sleepingforest

Platinum Member
Nov 18, 2012
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Yup. You should see the USB DAC/the speakers as a option when you select the output source in Windows.
 

biostud

Lifer
Feb 27, 2003
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I use a USB DAC to my speaker setup and it automatically route the sound to the speakers.

Try to read some reviews of the DACs before buying.
 

explrsport

Senior member
Jun 23, 2001
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I read some of the reviews on Amazon of the D1....what's the downside? I realize it isn't cheap.
 

Sleepingforest

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Nov 18, 2012
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Here is a in-depth review from Head-fi. Here's one from another site. The second site has an accusation of being a shill in the comments, but that commentator is an idiot, trying to connect a $100,000+ sound system to a $170 DAC.