Computer sound

[Marc Hedge]

Hi
This is my first posting. I can't find anything on this already.

I have just got some monitor 20 speakers for my desk top system. I mostly like classical and analogue and am useing a Nakamichi Amplifier One and a Nakamichi LX-5 cassette deck.

I am wondering if anyone has any ideas for how to raise the speakers to ear height as I have found this is important. My main speakers are floor standers and I know nothing about stands. Should I buy stands and move the speakers off my desk or will raising them be as good and if so how?

Also I like to listen to Live Jazz on U tube and use windows media player. At present I have connected the 3.5 mm jack from the computer into the amp. I am wondering if getting a dac would help? If so do I need a special one for a computer or is any ok? If a dac is the way to go does anyone have a recomendation? Nothing expensive please as I just bought the speakers and am now saving for some new c7 s for my main system. I am thinking second hand on Ebay.

Any advice apreciated
Cheers
Marc

[coredump]

A speaker stands is a must. get a 28" stand. try solid steel filled with atabites.

now, I am also hooking up my laptop to the Amplifier using a USB DAC. Different DAC gives different result. The Bard Audio wireless DAC gives the best result but it requires Line Of Sight which is a pain.

http://www.sgheadphones.net/index.php?showtopic=9119
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f7/best-high-end-dac-361939/

some monitor 20? u mean u brought a few pair??

[Marc Hedge]

Thanks for that.
Hmm Computer dacs are different from hi fi dacs? How about if i use the spdif output on my laptop?
If I take the monitor 20s off the desk the stands would need to be about 39 inches high or about 11 if i keep them on the desk.
No I only have the one pair. I use some to refer to a pair. Also its hard to show the plural as "20s" sounds like a model designation not a plural. Perhaps I will have to learn hifi grammar as well as learing about hi fi.
Cheers
Marc

[coredump]

Thanks for that.
Hmm Computer dacs are different from hi fi dacs? How about if i use the spdif output on my laptop?
If I take the monitor 20s off the desk the stands would need to be about 39 inches high or about 11 if i keep them on the desk.
No I only have the one pair. I use some to refer to a pair. Also its hard to show the plural as "20s" sounds like a model designation not a plural. Perhaps I will have to learn hifi grammar as well as learing about hi fi.
Cheers
Marc

Hi, these DAC are practically the same as those use in HiFi setup; with a additional USB input. Currently, I using a Musiland DAC, with both CDP and laptop connected to the external DAC. I am still trying out the various USB DAC; going to get a Firestone Fubar II DAC soon.

http://www.sonneteer.demon.co.uk/bardusb.htm
http://www.sixmoons.com/audioreviews/sonneteer/bard.html

As for your required height, 39inches, you might want to try wall mount bracket.

[Marc Hedge]

Thanks for that.
I can't use wall brackets as they are against a wall I soundproofed extensively with an airgap and 3 sound deadening materials for the different frequenciess and hanging brackets would defeat its purpose.
I have just got some oldAtacam 724 stands which I will put on blocks to bring up to ear level.
I don't like the look of tube like stands. These go ok with the monitor 20. But i don't like the colour and want to spray them to match. Hope to find the monitor 20 colour code, anyone?
Do you think a DAC will make a significat improvement?
Regards M

[EricW]

Marc:

A DAC will make a considerable improvement, no doubt about it.

An inexpensive, simple and good-sounding solution is the devilsound DAC. The Music Streamer + is similar in concept and is also supposed to be very good. For a bit more coin, the mhdt DACs are superb. The Beresford 7520 gets very good reviews and is inexpensive.

Good luck.

Eric