Since many people on this board may be new to using a computer for discreet surround sound playback, I figured I should post some related information. Most of the information in this thread is related to Windows-based computers.
Lossless Compression for Discreet Surround
For those people who are unfamiliar with audio file compression techniques or for those who think MP3 when compressed audio is mentioned, there is a type of file compression that does not degrade the sound quality of the original music ripped to your computer hard drive. The concept of lossless file compression is very similar to “zip” files where once a file is uncompressed, the output is bit-for-bit accurate when compared to the original “zipped” item before data compression. DVD-Audio uses a lossless compression called Meridian Lossless Packing (MLP). The formats listed below are very similar to MLP, but most are completely free to use.
Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC)
WAVPACK – Hybrid Lossless Audio Compression
Windows Media – Lossless
Lossless Format Comparison
Discreet Surround Player Software
Foobar 2000 (IMHO – The best and most flexible audio player for Windows)
Windows Media Player
WinAmp
Audio Interfaces for Discreet Surround Playback
Being an audiophile and a music producer, I take my playback hardware very seriously. For those first getting into computer based discreet surround playback, you may want to buy the cheapest sound card you can find. As with most things in life, you get what you pay for. You can spend a few hundred dollars and get good sounding results, or you can spend thousands of dollars for the ultimate performance.
I have experience with a few of these audio interfaces, but please research and listen to any audio interface you wish to purchase.
I have also omitted listing any firewire audio interfaces, as there seem to be new ones popping up every week. Companies like Lynx Studio, M-Audio, Echo, MOTU, Metric Halo, RME, Apogee, and PrismSound offer these devices that will range from approximately $300 (M-Audio Firewire 410) to $15,000 (PrismSound ADA-8XR w/ firewire card) with most being in the $700 - $1000 range.
Note: Many new computer motherboards have on-board audio interfaces that offer six discreet channels capable of 24bit / 96k of playback. Using the on-board will allow you to hear discreet surround sound, but usually with not the greatest quality. Most (if not all) on-board sound cards are very noisy (which makes 24 bit audio playback pointless....the S/N ratio of these devices are very poor) due to the inhospitable environment on the motherboard where audio quality must take a back seat to things that make your computer function properly. Any of the options listed below will offer superior quality to the current generation of on-board audio interfaces.
Example “Entry” Level Audio Interface – Desktop <$200
The audio interfaces below are low cost options that are good sounding cards for the money, but do not have all the features an audiophile would think as optimal. The cards in this price range are more “general consumer” and are usually meant to be connected to computer speakers…..note the use of 1/8 TRS connectors on the back of the cards.
M-Audio – Revolution 7.1
M-Audio – Revolution 5.1
Creative Labs – Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic
Creative Labs – Audigy2 ZS
Example “Mid” Level Audio Interface – Desktop $300 - $1000
The audio interfaces below are great sounding interfaces that are more pro-sumer and professional grade audio interfaces. These interfaces will have at a bare minimum of unbalanced outputs on RCA connectors. Most audio interfaces in this category have “break-out” boxes and balanced connections for use with “pro” audio equipment. These can still be used with your existing surround audio systems with the use of the correct cables.
M-Audio – Delta 1010
M-Audio – Delta 1010LT
Echo – Gina 3G
Echo – Layla 3G
RME – Multiface II (must be used with either a PCI or PCMCIA card)
(Note: I am currently using the original Multiface with the PCMCIA card with my laptop at home…I am very pleased with the sound of this system)
Lynx Studio – LynxTWO “Model B”
Example “Top” Level Audio Interface – Desktop > $1000
When you are willing to spend this kind of money, I recommend that you use a combination of a digital audio interface and a separate DA converter box.
Companies like Lynx, Sek’d, and RME offer digital I/O cards that can interface to external professional and audiophile grade DA converters…..these cards alone will be priced similar to the “mid” grade systems listed above. I’ve used both the Sek’d Prodiff 88 (8in/8out AES3) and the Lynx AES16 (16in/16out AES3) cards and both work extremely well.
Companies like Apogee, PrismSound, and dCS make incredible sounding digital to analog converters that are used in many professional recording and mastering studios that should provide the pinnacle of computer based discreet surround sound playback.
If you are looking to go completely computer based, you may want to consider a professional monitor controller with built-in DA conversion. I have experience with using a Lynx AES16 in conjunction with a Grace Design m906 controller and am extremely pleased with the results….I highly recommend this option to anyone.
Grace m906 Monitor Controller
Other General Links
Wavewizard Software – Used for manipulating wav files and much more
Hydrogen Audio – Great audio technology website
Note: This thread will evolve as time goes on and I gather more useful information.
Edit #1 - Added comment about on-board audiointerfaces.
Lossless Compression for Discreet Surround
For those people who are unfamiliar with audio file compression techniques or for those who think MP3 when compressed audio is mentioned, there is a type of file compression that does not degrade the sound quality of the original music ripped to your computer hard drive. The concept of lossless file compression is very similar to “zip” files where once a file is uncompressed, the output is bit-for-bit accurate when compared to the original “zipped” item before data compression. DVD-Audio uses a lossless compression called Meridian Lossless Packing (MLP). The formats listed below are very similar to MLP, but most are completely free to use.
Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC)
WAVPACK – Hybrid Lossless Audio Compression
Windows Media – Lossless
Lossless Format Comparison
Discreet Surround Player Software
Foobar 2000 (IMHO – The best and most flexible audio player for Windows)
Windows Media Player
WinAmp
Audio Interfaces for Discreet Surround Playback
Being an audiophile and a music producer, I take my playback hardware very seriously. For those first getting into computer based discreet surround playback, you may want to buy the cheapest sound card you can find. As with most things in life, you get what you pay for. You can spend a few hundred dollars and get good sounding results, or you can spend thousands of dollars for the ultimate performance.
I have experience with a few of these audio interfaces, but please research and listen to any audio interface you wish to purchase.
I have also omitted listing any firewire audio interfaces, as there seem to be new ones popping up every week. Companies like Lynx Studio, M-Audio, Echo, MOTU, Metric Halo, RME, Apogee, and PrismSound offer these devices that will range from approximately $300 (M-Audio Firewire 410) to $15,000 (PrismSound ADA-8XR w/ firewire card) with most being in the $700 - $1000 range.
Note: Many new computer motherboards have on-board audio interfaces that offer six discreet channels capable of 24bit / 96k of playback. Using the on-board will allow you to hear discreet surround sound, but usually with not the greatest quality. Most (if not all) on-board sound cards are very noisy (which makes 24 bit audio playback pointless....the S/N ratio of these devices are very poor) due to the inhospitable environment on the motherboard where audio quality must take a back seat to things that make your computer function properly. Any of the options listed below will offer superior quality to the current generation of on-board audio interfaces.
Example “Entry” Level Audio Interface – Desktop <$200
The audio interfaces below are low cost options that are good sounding cards for the money, but do not have all the features an audiophile would think as optimal. The cards in this price range are more “general consumer” and are usually meant to be connected to computer speakers…..note the use of 1/8 TRS connectors on the back of the cards.
M-Audio – Revolution 7.1
M-Audio – Revolution 5.1
Creative Labs – Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic
Creative Labs – Audigy2 ZS
Example “Mid” Level Audio Interface – Desktop $300 - $1000
The audio interfaces below are great sounding interfaces that are more pro-sumer and professional grade audio interfaces. These interfaces will have at a bare minimum of unbalanced outputs on RCA connectors. Most audio interfaces in this category have “break-out” boxes and balanced connections for use with “pro” audio equipment. These can still be used with your existing surround audio systems with the use of the correct cables.
M-Audio – Delta 1010
M-Audio – Delta 1010LT
Echo – Gina 3G
Echo – Layla 3G
RME – Multiface II (must be used with either a PCI or PCMCIA card)
(Note: I am currently using the original Multiface with the PCMCIA card with my laptop at home…I am very pleased with the sound of this system)
Lynx Studio – LynxTWO “Model B”
Example “Top” Level Audio Interface – Desktop > $1000
When you are willing to spend this kind of money, I recommend that you use a combination of a digital audio interface and a separate DA converter box.
Companies like Lynx, Sek’d, and RME offer digital I/O cards that can interface to external professional and audiophile grade DA converters…..these cards alone will be priced similar to the “mid” grade systems listed above. I’ve used both the Sek’d Prodiff 88 (8in/8out AES3) and the Lynx AES16 (16in/16out AES3) cards and both work extremely well.
Companies like Apogee, PrismSound, and dCS make incredible sounding digital to analog converters that are used in many professional recording and mastering studios that should provide the pinnacle of computer based discreet surround sound playback.
If you are looking to go completely computer based, you may want to consider a professional monitor controller with built-in DA conversion. I have experience with using a Lynx AES16 in conjunction with a Grace Design m906 controller and am extremely pleased with the results….I highly recommend this option to anyone.
Grace m906 Monitor Controller
Other General Links
Wavewizard Software – Used for manipulating wav files and much more
Hydrogen Audio – Great audio technology website
Note: This thread will evolve as time goes on and I gather more useful information.
Edit #1 - Added comment about on-board audiointerfaces.
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