Excellent video for any beginner audiophile hifi setup. After many tries of different combinations, I did similar setup. Bought a compact Dell laptop refurbished with RAM, SSd etc for 200 .. bought Yamaha integrated amplifier with USB input, Polk speakers and it's a nice system. Key is understanding we need 3 things .. Source, Amp and Speakers. For source... I highly recommend using a nice old laptop
He's giving a demo of the sound quality of his system...played through your, probably inferior system...which gives you no idea of how his system sounds.
Should make a videos on how to do this and alternatives for none powered speaker setups on pc because this is probably the only video I found on how to do this
Fosi also makes several 2.1 amps designed to add in and run either/or a powered/passive subwoofer which really does a lot when paired with bookshelf or small speakers as far as really opening up the fullness of the music. I have several Schiit set ups for different applications and love their products. I have one of the Loki EQ's and it is a nice little product and sized to fit with a modi sized stack.. I find as I age I keep downsizing and to be honest if I really want to listen to music other than more than a background application I always listen through headphones these days. My main music setup is a Schiit Gungir DAC and Mjolnir 2 hybrid tube amp running balanced out to a set of Sennheiser hd700 cans.
I’ve been enjoying your series on audio equipment. I’ve been thinking about adding a DAC to my computer set up. This video answered a few of my questions. Thanks, Bruce.
The fact that he says that CD quality is 'absolutely fine' shows he has no regard for quality music reproduction and as such, insults most of the people that actually make the music.
@@AnUndisclosedLocation How is "CD Quality is absolutely fine" an insult? I heard that to sound like "You really don't need to invest in a Hi-Res setup unless you really need it"
I am trying to get the same devices for my first setup.. However I have a doubt. Do the cables that are used for connecting between these devices to the laptop needs to be bought separately? Could you please share the specifics?
I have an old business class PC I got for $150 going onto an ifi zen dac into a Sony strdh190 with a pair of SSCS5 speakers and a Sony SACS9 10 inch sub. It's not the most economy set up but I just took my time and pieced it together. I turned the treble up all the way and the bass all the way down and let the sub do all my bass work. The PC has an optical drive to boot.
Hi great vid, i been looking setup like this, can you show how you connect it them, i currently have fiio k5 pro and planning to buy the klipsch speaker as well but dont know how to set it
It's time to demand honest audio power output ratings again. RMS power at 8 ohms with 0.01% THD. Also time to demand the return of frequency controls on our audio gear.
Getting an external DAC and speakers if you are even half way serious about sound quality at your desk is an absolute must. Schiit make the best bang for buck electronics bar none for the desktop but I would love to have seen how you've cabled that setup and whether it's worth investing in other components (SPDIF?) adapters between the source and the amp?
Yes. In my opinion, spending a few extra bucks on decent interconnects is a small price to pay for a marginal improvement in sound quality, don't expect a night and day difference, it may even be more psychological than anything else, but I like knowing I have it, it looks and feels higher quality than the cheap stuff that's included boxed speaker sets or whatever. Twenty or thirty bucks is a small price to pay in this hobby, the pursuit of high-quality audio. Also, I would personally not use SPDIF if I had other options. According to a book I read by an audio engineer, he recommended against it and said Digital Coaxial was better, but nowadays I think everything is USB based, and I have used it to connect to an outboard DAC with good results, it certainly far better than what comes directly off my computer.
nice demo ..just wished you would have played Led Zep instead of that awful contemporary jazz. That stuff sounds so synthetic You have given me some great ideas thanx
Thanks for this, Bruce. I got a shock when I checked the current Amazon price of the Modi 3+ DAC. It's not $100 any more! More like $466.56 CAD. If you have any other suggestions, I'd love to hear.
My 2 cents: hook up your PC with a used receiver from say 10 years old. So much more power and build quality for little money. Add some decent used speakers and you will have an amazing sound.
Hello Good day! This video gave me ideas for building myself a good audiophile setup. I have a question though. I plan on buying myself some DT 1990 pro for my headphones and klipsch the fives for my speakers. I plan to buy the Fiio k9 pro for my dac amp combo (for a cleaner setup) and is it viable for the headphones and the the fives speaker?
A very nice presentation, thank you. I would say I have a good computer. I ran 3 amplifier speakers from my computer but it blew the sound output to my computer. I now only run two speakers at a time and I have had no problem at all. All I want to do is basically run 4 or 5 speakers at a time around the house - nothing professional. What do you recommend I do? I just want some good sounds as I work/play around the house. "Your" little amplifier, would be enough? I will use, only, amplified speakers. If you have time for a short comment I would appreciate it. THANKS, - john P.S. I use 16 gauge wire to connect my speakers and it is really not much of a distance.
Your computer can't do this - it doesn't matter how good it is. Think of the laptop/PC as just a source - "what do I want to listen to?" that is where it's responsibilities end. The answer is (mostly) software. I have your exact same use case and have solved in this way: . Devices connected to the same network ( PC / Streamer / Soundbar / Sonos) either via cable or WiFi (and really don't get hung up on that - WiFi is just as good) . You will need software to be able to send your music to your connected endpoints. You can choose these endpoints from any device that has the software installed and is on the same network as the endpoints. . I use Roon. Yes, it's kinda expensive (10 quid a month) if you don't listen to a lot of music and the list of integrated services (Tidal / Spotify / Apple / local network) is limited but if your devices are supported then it's seamless. I mean that - it's seamless. . Use Case: I wake up and play internet radio through my iPad (wiFi) until I'm ready to go downstairs when I switch the output to my kitchen (music first - coffee second) Sonos speaker. As and when I want to send that music / input to my desk or my listening system, I do so via phone or tablet. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. . Be aware: You're endpoints MUST be Roon Ready in this configuration (to accept the input) . There are other options out there (Bluesound Node is also worth a look) but at some point you have to roll your own. . Decide a budget - do research - tweak accordingly. . Best of luck - there's really good budget options in this video.
plz help I bought a Fosi BT20A pro amp and I’m trying to figure out the best way to connect my source wich is my iPhone 15 and my MacBook Air as well. I have a rca to aux cable that I use to connect the fosi amp to my iPhone 15 with the usb c to aux dongle. Would the shcitt dac be any better than the dac in the apple usb c to aux dongle??? I noticed that the Bluetooth volume on the fosi amp is louder than the rca to aux cable method. Would the external dac be louder than the usb c to aux dac??? I also use Apple Music lossless.
yes....but.....the dac is going to make a huge difference in the quality of the sound. This is true for almost all hardware that incorporates a dac (tv's, phones, computers, ect...). External dacs are a highly recommended upgrade because the quality of most dacs that are incorporated into computers, tv's, etc. is very poor. You can turn your TV into a great hi-fi system using the information provided in this video.
@@t.glenn.marshallplz help I bought a Fosi BT20A pro amp and I’m trying to figure out the best way to connect my source wich is my iPhone 15 and my MacBook Air as well. I have a rca to aux cable that I use to connect the fosi amp to my iPhone 15 with the usb c to aux dongle. Would the shcitt dac be any better than the dac in the apple usb c to aux dongle??? I noticed that the Bluetooth volume on the fosi amp is louder than the rca to aux cable method. Would the external dac be louder than the usb c to aux dac??? I also use Apple Music lossless.
Hi, I want to add a Creative Sound Blaster Z SE card to my desktop pc... I'm just interested in listening to stereo music in the best possible quality. Do you know if it works well for music?
yes, there will be a noticable improvement. The dac used in this video (around the same price point) IMHO is better than the Creative Sound. I've used both and gone down the rabbit hole for a while. I highly recomment the Denafrips Ares II dac. All of the other dacs I've tried improved clarity in the sound but the Denefrips Ares II made me start dancing. It is "musical" and it draws you to the sound and there is never any listening fatigue.
Excuse me for this stupid question but.... If I already have Audio interface Audient id4 mk2, then i don't need a DAC am I right?? and I only need an amplifier like the fosi audio?? how much watts do i need if my woofer is 100 w and my twitter is 20 w ?
I have an edifier 1280t and they are active speakers. Do they still benefit from an external DAC? As far as I know they have thier own amp and dac built-in.
There is no DAC inside the 1280t but there is an amplifier. You have two ways to use them in a system like this. 1. Use the headphone socket on your computer and plug directly in to the speakers. A cable of the necessary type comes with those speakers. 2. Use the USB A or C socket on your computer to plug into a DAC and then into your speakers. This method will cost more but should deliver better sound.
I've got a fair few old laptops with optical drives built in that i plan to use connected to a receiver/amp, would there be any advantage to instead using a dedicated cd player deck plugged into a receiver rather than a laptop?
hi, i have a question, i am trying to do the same as you did with those referance speakers, however im curently using a giant reicever, in order to connect a base to a pc with those speakers, is there any way to do so with a smaller amp like the one you had? also my bass does not have speaker connections but has a line in, its klipse too but most amps dont have a connection for a sub , thats why im using a reicevor
I wish you showed the back connections of these items.
Can you show how the components are connected???
Excellent video for any beginner audiophile hifi setup. After many tries of different combinations, I did similar setup. Bought a compact Dell laptop refurbished with RAM, SSd etc for 200 .. bought Yamaha integrated amplifier with USB input, Polk speakers and it's a nice system. Key is understanding we need 3 things .. Source, Amp and Speakers. For source... I highly recommend using a nice old laptop
He's giving a demo of the sound quality of his system...played through your, probably inferior system...which gives you no idea of how his system sounds.
Should make a videos on how to do this and alternatives for none powered speaker setups on pc because this is probably the only video I found on how to do this
Good video, if you showed the back of these components and the wire connections, it would have been a Great video!
Fosi also makes several 2.1 amps designed to add in and run either/or a powered/passive subwoofer which really does a lot when paired with bookshelf or small speakers as far as really opening up the fullness of the music.
I have several Schiit set ups for different applications and love their products.
I have one of the Loki EQ's and it is a nice little product and sized to fit with a modi sized stack..
I find as I age I keep downsizing and to be honest if I really want to listen to music other than more than a background application I always listen through headphones these days.
My main music setup is a Schiit Gungir DAC and Mjolnir 2 hybrid tube amp running balanced out to a set of Sennheiser hd700 cans.
I’ve been enjoying your series on audio equipment. I’ve been thinking about adding a DAC to my computer set up. This video answered a few of my questions. Thanks, Bruce.
Thanks Randall
The fact that he says that CD quality is 'absolutely fine' shows he has no regard for quality music reproduction and as such, insults most of the people that actually make the music.
@@AnUndisclosedLocation How is "CD Quality is absolutely fine" an insult? I heard that to sound like "You really don't need to invest in a Hi-Res setup unless you really need it"
This video is how I set up my test bench for affordable audio products. I happen to be a big fan of Schiit Audio
I am trying to get the same devices for my first setup.. However I have a doubt. Do the cables that are used for connecting between these devices to the laptop needs to be bought separately? Could you please share the specifics?
Thanks Bruce
I have been thinking about to doing this for some time this was a great help.
Thanks for the information & video, sir. You cracked me up as well... now, I can finally get all my Schiit together.
Thank you for the detailed explanation. Amazing presentation to a basic understanding of wat is necessary for a basic sound system.
I have an old business class PC I got for $150 going onto an ifi zen dac into a Sony strdh190 with a pair of SSCS5 speakers and a Sony SACS9 10 inch sub. It's not the most economy set up but I just took my time and pieced it together. I turned the treble up all the way and the bass all the way down and let the sub do all my bass work. The PC has an optical drive to boot.
Hi great vid, i been looking setup like this, can you show how you connect it them, i currently have fiio k5 pro and planning to buy the klipsch speaker as well but dont know how to set it
if these speakers were not passive. would you still need amplifier or any external staff?
It's time to demand honest audio power output ratings again. RMS power at 8 ohms with 0.01% THD. Also time to demand the return of frequency controls on our audio gear.
Getting an external DAC and speakers if you are even half way serious about sound quality at your desk is an absolute must. Schiit make the best bang for buck electronics bar none for the desktop but I would love to have seen how you've cabled that setup and whether it's worth investing in other components (SPDIF?) adapters between the source and the amp?
Yes. In my opinion, spending a few extra bucks on decent interconnects is a small price to pay for a marginal improvement in sound quality, don't expect a night and day difference, it may even be more psychological than anything else, but I like knowing I have it, it looks and feels higher quality than the cheap stuff that's included boxed speaker sets or whatever. Twenty or thirty bucks is a small price to pay in this hobby, the pursuit of high-quality audio. Also, I would personally not use SPDIF if I had other options. According to a book I read by an audio engineer, he recommended against it and said Digital Coaxial was better, but nowadays I think everything is USB based, and I have used it to connect to an outboard DAC with good results, it certainly far better than what comes directly off my computer.
Would love to hear your personal take on the classic vinyl players. And which ones are still viable for today.
How about the cabling? I’m looking at that DAC and it doesn’t have an usb input
nice demo ..just wished you would have played Led Zep instead of that awful contemporary jazz. That stuff sounds so synthetic You have given me some great ideas thanx
Finally someone is speaking the truth about blue tooth sux for audio.
Thank you brother Boomer Consumer.
How about a new video to reflect what you would choose today for a set up of passive speaker system
thank you
Is there any way to connect subwoofer ? thanks for the video
The Modi3 DAC sells for $358 in Australia right now!! We are so ripped off here!!
Thanks for this, Bruce. I got a shock when I checked the current Amazon price of the Modi 3+ DAC. It's not $100 any more! More like $466.56 CAD. If you have any other suggestions, I'd love to hear.
muy informativo el video , saludos de un nuevo suscriptor de chile, gracias por todo
Can you do a whole home theater set up?
thanks, right now I am concentrating on 2 channel stereo.
@@TheBoomerConsumer How do you think those $99 speakers you reviewed would sound with this setup??
I utilize the Fives with USB B going from computer to speakers. My question is, that itunes on windows doesn't provide the hifi quality.
My 2 cents: hook up your PC with a used receiver from say 10 years old. So much more power and build quality for little money. Add some decent used speakers and you will have an amazing sound.
Great video thankyou
I'm looking for a way to get bypass my Dell desktop internal audio DAC. Are you saying that any USB carries digital audio output ?
Yes
Hello Good day! This video gave me ideas for building myself a good audiophile setup. I have a question though. I plan on buying myself some DT 1990 pro for my headphones and klipsch the fives for my speakers. I plan to buy the Fiio k9 pro for my dac amp combo (for a cleaner setup) and is it viable for the headphones and the the fives speaker?
A very nice presentation, thank you.
I would say I have a good computer. I ran 3 amplifier speakers from my computer but it blew the sound output to my computer. I now only run two speakers at a time and I have had no problem at all. All I want to do is basically run 4 or 5 speakers at a time around the house - nothing professional. What do you recommend I do? I just want some good sounds as I work/play around the house. "Your" little amplifier, would be enough? I will use, only, amplified speakers. If you have time for a short comment I would appreciate it. THANKS, - john
P.S. I use 16 gauge wire to connect my speakers and it is really not much of a distance.
Your computer can't do this - it doesn't matter how good it is. Think of the laptop/PC as just a source - "what do I want to listen to?" that is where it's responsibilities end. The answer is (mostly) software. I have your exact same use case and have solved in this way:
. Devices connected to the same network ( PC / Streamer / Soundbar / Sonos) either via cable or WiFi (and really don't get hung up on that - WiFi is just as good)
. You will need software to be able to send your music to your connected endpoints. You can choose these endpoints from any device that has the software installed and is on the same network as the endpoints.
. I use Roon. Yes, it's kinda expensive (10 quid a month) if you don't listen to a lot of music and the list of integrated services (Tidal / Spotify / Apple / local network) is limited but if your devices are supported then it's seamless. I mean that - it's seamless.
. Use Case: I wake up and play internet radio through my iPad (wiFi) until I'm ready to go downstairs when I switch the output to my kitchen (music first - coffee second) Sonos speaker. As and when I want to send that music / input to my desk or my listening system, I do so via phone or tablet. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
. Be aware: You're endpoints MUST be Roon Ready in this configuration (to accept the input)
. There are other options out there (Bluesound Node is also worth a look) but at some point you have to roll your own.
. Decide a budget - do research - tweak accordingly.
. Best of luck - there's really good budget options in this video.
I missed how you connected the DAC to the computer? Usb, coaxial?
Usb
plz help I bought a Fosi BT20A pro amp and I’m trying to figure out the best way to connect my source wich is my iPhone 15 and my MacBook Air as well. I have a rca to aux cable that I use to connect the fosi amp to my iPhone 15 with the usb c to aux dongle. Would the shcitt dac be any better than the dac in the apple usb c to aux dongle??? I noticed that the Bluetooth volume on the fosi amp is louder than the rca to aux cable method. Would the external dac be louder than the usb c to aux dac??? I also use Apple Music lossless.
Yes, the Schiit Dac will offer a nice improvement over the iphone Dac. Will, it be louder? Possibly, can't answer that for sure though.
Hey, if i dont need a headphone amplifier, can i connect my DAC directly to the fosi amplifier for passive speakers? Thanks :)
Yes you can!
Couldn't you just use the Fosi amp with the passive speakers for your computer through an rca cable or you need the dac?
yes....but.....the dac is going to make a huge difference in the quality of the sound. This is true for almost all hardware that incorporates a dac (tv's, phones, computers, ect...). External dacs are a highly recommended upgrade because the quality of most dacs that are incorporated into computers, tv's, etc. is very poor. You can turn your TV into a great hi-fi system using the information provided in this video.
@@t.glenn.marshallplz help I bought a Fosi BT20A pro amp and I’m trying to figure out the best way to connect my source wich is my iPhone 15 and my MacBook Air as well. I have a rca to aux cable that I use to connect the fosi amp to my iPhone 15 with the usb c to aux dongle. Would the shcitt dac be any better than the dac in the apple usb c to aux dongle??? I noticed that the Bluetooth volume on the fosi amp is louder than the rca to aux cable method. Would the external dac be louder than the usb c to aux dac??? I also use Apple Music lossless.
Just got a klipsh poweted speaker. Would it work with the amp, dac yoi have hear?
Thanks for video. New subscriber here. Can you add a powered sub to what you have here? This would be awesome for my daughters new Omen gaming pc.
Hi, I want to add a Creative Sound Blaster Z SE card to my desktop pc... I'm just interested in listening to stereo music in the best possible quality. Do you know if it works well for music?
yes, there will be a noticable improvement. The dac used in this video (around the same price point) IMHO is better than the Creative Sound. I've used both and gone down the rabbit hole for a while. I highly recomment the Denafrips Ares II dac. All of the other dacs I've tried improved clarity in the sound but the Denefrips Ares II made me start dancing. It is "musical" and it draws you to the sound and there is never any listening fatigue.
Excuse me for this stupid question but.... If I already have Audio interface Audient id4 mk2, then i don't need a DAC am I right?? and I only need an amplifier like the fosi audio?? how much watts do i need if my woofer is 100 w and my twitter is 20 w ?
I have an edifier 1280t and they are active speakers. Do they still benefit from an external DAC? As far as I know they have thier own amp and dac built-in.
There is no DAC inside the 1280t but there is an amplifier. You have two ways to use them in a system like this.
1. Use the headphone socket on your computer and plug directly in to the speakers. A cable of the necessary type comes with those speakers.
2. Use the USB A or C socket on your computer to plug into a DAC and then into your speakers. This method will cost more but should deliver better sound.
I have a dumb question: how do you get the media player to go out the usb and not the headphone jack?
On pc use sound settings and select the DAC for output
I've got a fair few old laptops with optical drives built in that i plan to use connected to a receiver/amp, would there be any advantage to instead using a dedicated cd player deck plugged into a receiver rather than a laptop?
The CD player would have a better DAC. So If you use the PC, make sure to budget for a external day for the best sound.
I have two deferential speakers
1 : 4 ohm 15whatt
2 : 4 ohm 5whatt
How much should be in the amplifer that I want to buy?
Can this be done using a Chromebook? I bought the Lenovo C330 ater watvhing your video on it.
I believe it will with an Intel based Chromebook.
@@TheBoomerConsumer Guess I'm out of luck since the C330 runs on ARM.
Stay healthy and cheers from Philippine!
hi, i have a question, i am trying to do the same as you did with those referance speakers, however im curently using a giant reicever, in order to connect a base to a pc with those speakers, is there any way to do so with a smaller amp like the one you had? also my bass does not have speaker connections but has a line in, its klipse too but most amps dont have a connection for a sub , thats why im using a reicevor
The Boomer using the Modi? Absolutely
Can't beat it for the price!
Can I do without the headphone amp?
No, CD quality isn't absolutely fine and is an utter waste of even half good speakers