What is the best audio transmitter for the PC?

[voodoochild16]

Hi all,
I have a desktop PC that normally uses a regular Aux cable going to my 5.1 surround sound, and I want something that will transmit the sound from my PC to my stereo wirelessly. What is the best wireless audio transmitter out there with the best quality available?. Here is what I've found so far:

http://www.amazon.com/s/***********...&url=search-alias=aps&linkId=3ILQ3NA7LNHY3BIN

But i need the best quality!. Thanks

 

[LouieST]

How about Maplin Wireless PC to Stereo Audio Transmitter?
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[Randy99CL]

Does your receiver have WiFi or bluetooth? That's all you need.

 

[SlitheryDee]

What's the model of the receiver you have? Even if they don't ship with it, some kinds offer wifi or bluetooth dongles you can buy to give them wireless capability. That would probably be the best solution if it's offered.

 

[voodoochild16]

How about Maplin Wireless PC to Stereo Audio Transmitter?
​

I will try this out, thank you.

 

[Deders]

Are you trying to get true 5.1 signals to your speakers? If so you'd need 3 of those transmitters that operate on different frequencies. One for the Front l/r speakers, one for the rear and one for the sub and Centre channels. Otherwise the best you can get would be a stereo signal. even this might not be the best quality.

What model is your stereo/receiver?

Ever since I got my Sony receiver, I've been on the quest for the best audio quality and I've discovered that the sound I get from the Sony decoding an MP3/Flac itself is much better than anything that goes through the Windows Audio stack. It gives a much more refined sound with a better soundstage. The quality you get will depend on how good the decoder is, if your amp even has one. I've heard some truly awful decoders that make high quality MP3's sound as if they were encoded at very low bitrates. In some cases a firmware update has made the same hardware decode the same MP3's at almost audiophile levels.

One of the problems with Windows sound, especially with digital connections, is that it re-samples the audio before sending it out. I find it much harsher and messier in the upper ranges (by comparison) but it does give it a lively edge.

To achieve this I've had to set up a streaming server on my PC which I've directly connected to my receiver via Ethernet. It would also work over Wi-Fi if your amp has it. It's a bit clunkier changing tracks than say winamp, but the difference is well worth it. I can recommend JRiver Media Player which gives you a 30 day trial to see if it is any use for you. It also has other ways of avoiding the windows audio stack using Asio or similar drivers but I still prefer the receiver to decode my music.

 

[mistersprinkles]

Ok.. Here's the thing...

Integrated PC audio sucks. Sound from a soundcard sucks. But not as much as integrated. Wireless audio sucks even MORE. You want to run audio through quality cables, always. Bluetooth does disgusting things to audio.

I suggest you run your PC through a DAC and then run that to your speakers. I don't know of any 5 channel DACs but a stereo DAC is fine and then you can let your stereo output it as a simulated 5.1 signal.

Depending on the quality of your stereo, that will dictate which DAC you should buy. If you have a $3000 integrated amplifier and $7000 speakers, I'd suggest at very least an $850 TEAC UD 501. If you're just running a $500 amp and $1200 worth of speakers you can get away with something cheaper, like an Audioquest Dragonfly, for $140. Or an ARCAM rPAC for $240.

A nice midrange DAC if your system is somewhere in the middle would be the TEAC UD 301 at around $450.

If you're running Windows, you should run your DAC through it's included ASIO driver at the lowest latency you can get away with. There are other tweaks you can do as well. PM me if you are interested.

Depending on how important sound stage and seperation are to you, you should look into a dual mono DAC rather than one that handles the stereo signal through the same circuitry. Those start around $450 though.

 

[voodoochild16]

Ok.. Here's the thing...

Integrated PC audio sucks. Sound from a soundcard sucks. But not as much as integrated. Wireless audio sucks even MORE. You want to run audio through quality cables, always. Bluetooth does disgusting things to audio.

I suggest you run your PC through a DAC and then run that to your speakers. I don't know of any 5 channel DACs but a stereo DAC is fine and then you can let your stereo output it as a simulated 5.1 signal.

Depending on the quality of your stereo, that will dictate which DAC you should buy. If you have a $3000 integrated amplifier and $7000 speakers, I'd suggest at very least an $850 TEAC UD 501. If you're just running a $500 amp and $1200 worth of speakers you can get away with something cheaper, like an Audioquest Dragonfly, for $140. Or an ARCAM rPAC for $240.

A nice midrange DAC if your system is somewhere in the middle would be the TEAC UD 301 at around $450.

If you're running Windows, you should run your DAC through it's included ASIO driver at the lowest latency you can get away with. There are other tweaks you can do as well. PM me if you are interested.

Depending on how important sound stage and seperation are to you, you should look into a dual mono DAC rather than one that handles the stereo signal through the same circuitry. Those start around $450 though.

Yeah I definitely care about quality. My speaker system is just a Yamaha $400 receiver with tall Technics speakers, with small Yamaha speakers to provide sound on the sides of me when sitting in front of the receiver.

So maybe it's 400 watts?, not sure. It definitely beats my earphones or those crappy PC speakers I got with my old Dell.

But anyways, for wireless DAC audio, maybe this would work?:
http://nadelectronics.com/products/digital-music/DAC-2-Wireless-USB-Digital-to-Analogue-Converter

It costs $250.

I think I'd be fine with the first link that was given, this one:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/wireless-pc-to-stereo-audio-transmitter-a24gu

I might try the basic one until I can afford the better one. Unless you might think that I may not need that. I won't need it until the winter time though, because I am in my basement right now and my stereo system is upstairs. Just planning for the future right nowe.