Desktop pc + amplifier(cheap one)+ bookshelf speakers(200-400 price range)

I read some conflicting info that I need to add external DAC to it for better signal that should translate to better sound. It's about 100bucks extra. Do I need it ?

p.s. btw I'll most likely get fosi v3 amp. like the design and simplicity. But it's not about amp so mentioning it as an extra.

the dac on modern motherboard is plenty good enough for everything even if you can afford it.

>>105688907 (OP)
lmao this nigga thinks he can be an audiophile in the 200-400 price range
Just buy a fucking pair of active speakers (usb/spdif input).

>>105688907 (OP)
>better sound
Doesn't exist.

>>105688915
you have to be a retard to believe this chinkshit will enhance your audio experience somehow

>>105688907 (OP)
Why does music sound better on my iphone and ipad compared to my thinkpad?

>>105688907 (OP)
A DAC can only reduce the noise, if you have any. They can't make "better sound". And the noise, if you have any, will most likely be from the amp anyway. Diminishing returns hit DACs at $5. But with amps you should spend at least whatever fosi v3 costs where you live.

>>105690440
It will enhance the experience by making speakers produce sound. Cheaper amps will hiss, unless you can find and service some used old-school class A amp, another good option.

>>105688907 (OP)
bros what does this machine do?

>>105690597
It's just a single chip D-class amp. Any pair of active speakers will have the same thing inside.

>>105690651
Clearly not because most active speakers hiss. I'm using it right now, I can put my ear right next to the tweeter and there's still no hiss.

>>105690617
It kills giants with sound, can't you read?

>>105690737
>kills giants with sound,
hmm

>>105690695
Stupid anon.
Most hiss nowadays comes from bad power delivery which also explains why ratings are very hit or miss on this issue.
My active speakers hiss when powered by my pc but are quiet when powered by the laptop.

>>105690780
I think we found the one guy that could benefit from buying a DAC.

>>105690845
and what powers the DAC, retard?

>>105690879
Fairydust and audiophile ferrite cores :D

>>105690879
Any DAC worth its shit filters the power. USB isolators exist too.

>>105690912
So the signal is clean but the active speakers are still powered by the shitty computers power supply? No wonder you guys get scammed all the time. A dac would do shit here.

>>105690932
>active speakers are still powered by the shitty computers power supply?
Wait a minute, you were talking about those shitty usb powered speakers? Holy shit kill yourself.

>>105690945
if it works it works. Depends on the power source. Why even mention USB isolators if its shitty anyways?

>>105690957
Because normal active speakers have external power supplies and if any current were leaking from the PC an isolator would clean it up.
>if it works it works
It doesn't work, you never heard real speakers.

>>105690979
Why suggest a DAC in the first place when im talking about a dirty power supply?

>It doesn't work
I mean they are making sounds that are nice so i guess they do anon. But you measure quality in how much money you are wasting instead i think.

>>105691036
Because I thought you were retarded and called 3.5mm "powering" the speakers, but you were even more retarded than I could ever imagine. This >>105690440 cannot be powered by your PC or your laptop.

>>105691076
>Because I thought you were retarded and called 3.5mm "powering" the speakers
No need to project anon. We all know that you need 2000$ dollar platinum shielded cables to get good sound, its fine. Buy two more DACs while you are at it, it will calm you down.

>>105691127
Enjoy your 300W USB-powered active speaker, anon. You made an informed purchase.

>moar watts = moar good setup

>>105688907 (OP)
Here's what I suggest. And this is just my experience.

Buy a used home theater amplifier - usually called an "av reciever", ~45-60$ but just use it for audio. These are good enough amps for hifi and people set the price low because they are shit for video these days. I use a sony str dg520 I got for free. Very old amps (think 70s/80s) can have blown components, so I wouldn't trust anything super vintage without testing.

Look for used passive hifi speakers in your area and just do some due diligence on the quality - look them up. I found some polk bookshelf ones for 80$. You'll need some thick speaker cable (e.g., 12-16 AWG) to connect it to the receiver. Don't do more than a stereo pair of speakers. Don't do powered speakers, as there's no joy.

EITHER - get an external DAC, and plug it into this amplifier. OR get a high quality 3.5mm cable and run from the PC.

DO NOT SKIMP ON CONNECTORS. 3.5mm/RCA cables, splitters, adapters, tend to be weak links in practice, and degrade sound.

If your onboard motherboard audio is bad you usually hear it as a low constant hum or crackling. That's when things are not 'shielded'. Don't expect to hear higher quality audio from an external DAC unless you hear an obvious problem in your existing audio setup. Are there weird noises? Does it sound worse as it gets louder or quieter?

>>105691524
>DO NOT SKIMP ON CONNECTORS. 3.5mm/RCA cables, splitters, adapters, tend to be weak links in practice, and degrade sound.

>stands in your path

>>105691823
audiophiles will seethe over this
sounds good to me
sounds good to every normal person

>>105688907 (OP)
I had a DAC 10 years ago when motherboard audio out had audible static. Now it doesn't and I couldn't hear a difference with my Audioengine speakers, so I put the DAC in a closet.

>>105690845
only thing we found is you know knowing nothing about everything. i really wish you failures of this board would use IDs so i could filter out your dunning-kruger level shitposts.

>>105693239
i have hdmi to a digital amp and i still have the dumbest and lowest iq monkeys trying to tell me an external dac is somehow better than a direct digital connection. audiophile losers are the most comical of all.

>>105688907 (OP)
You either need a dac or you don't.

How are you connecting your pc to your amp?
If your amp can take a USB/Toslink/w.e. then it already has an integrated DAC.
You could theoretically improve the setup with a multibit DAC, but you likely aren't using a setup that would make use of it at all.

>>105688907 (OP)
Consider a DAC/AMP combo if you wanna save some money. Check out Topping and SMSL. Its chinktech but so is anything else that is affordable. You can even get DAC/AMP/Headphone AMP triple combos.

>>105690780
Wrong. All active speakers have twitter hiss because their internal amps are set to max power while the volume is controlled on the internal DAC. Plus there is no passive frequency filter between the amp and the driver since each driver has its own dedicated AMP. This could be solved through software, but non of the manufacturers give a shit, except maybe on the super high end side of things.

>>105690574
Can't believe I believed retards like you for so many years. I never realised you are just golem that repeat these lies to eachother with no actual experience. The difference between $5 and $80 is unbelievable.

>>105688907 (OP)
Why do you think there is a market for >$1000 DACs? Because people buy them. Why do people buy them? Because they make a difference. The SMSL SU-1 will make a huge difference and you'd be an idiot to invest in speakers and amps without also getting a DAC.

>>105696821
>The difference between $5 and $80 is unbelievable.
No it's not.
http://archimago.blogspot.com/2024/05/high-end-dac-blind-listening-results.html

>>105697396
Flawed methodology and the more expensive DACs still won. All you have to do is actually try it and you'll never say this shit again.

There's no point listening to anyone on the internet until you've tried some stuff yourself so you can compare others' opinions to your own.

>>105697396
>record the sound of a dac
>play the recording with another dac
>pick which of the recorded dacs you like best based on the recording
>"yes, clearly the dac is a very important component"
audiophools are so retarded.

I have an at2005 microphone. Would it make sense to get a DAC for better zoom calls? I want to sound damn good.

>>105691127
>using a USB powered speaker
>acting smug for being fucking poor
You must be brown. Try to find a better job rajesh

>>105696821
>Why do people buy them? Because they make a difference.
I bet it sounds different in the heads of 50 year old guys with hearing loss.

>>105688907 (OP)
audiophile snake oil box

>>105688907 (OP)
DACs are a huge improvement to the sound according to my ears. You can try it out with something inexpensive like the Topping D10s.