Maximising sound quality from USB

[Jimbo]

I build all my PCs myself.
I have a monster gaming rig as well for my SIM racing. It allows me to practice circuits before my track days.

However, the requirements are completely different.

Yeah I thought that was probably the case - different PC requirements for music vs gaming. Don't need such good graphics card for music?

I expect the overall performance is a fair bit lower for music PC than gaming from what I have seen?

[CageyH]

Quite a bit lower, as long as you don’t plan to upsample everything with HQPlayer, or similar.

[Jimbo]

Quite a bit lower, as long as you don’t plan to upsample everything with HQPlayer, or similar.

Ah yes HQ player - Digital upsampling flavour of the month? To be fair I have not heard it and by all accounts it does get some great reviews.


I have heard the M-scaler however working with DAVE and that upscaling device really does bring something to the party!

[CageyH]

I don’t use HQPlayer, and the Chord gear is too expensive for my taste/budget.

[Jimbo]

I don’t use HQPlayer, and the Chord gear is too expensive for my taste/budget.

Yes the Chord stuff is way too pricey but it is good. I have had a Mojo, Hugo and Qutest in my system and they have all performed well but not convinced me to part with cash.

I have always been trying to get my hands on DAVE for a listen in my system. I have heard it numerous times in my mates various systems over the past 6 years or so and it can sound stunning for digital. There were times when I really did feel it had crossed the threshold into analogue territory and it convinced me digital could definitely be a viable option but then the price bought me down to earth with a bump!

[CageyH]

My 500w linear ATX PSU purchase has fallen through.
It was a returned unit that got damaged in transit back to HD Plex.

[Jimbo]

My 500w linear ATX PSU purchase has fallen through.
It was a returned unit that got damaged in transit back to HD Plex.

That's annoying.

[CageyH]

Yes, but it is much cheaper this way.