swt61 Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 I've got an HP G56 laptop (no digital out), and I'd like an easy (read cheap) solution to route all of my iTunes music into my DAC. My Adcom GDA 700 DAC has toslink, S/PDIF, and AES/EBU, but no USB. Is there an outboard soundcard of some type that would work well for me? Or another solution that is cost effective, as I do plan on getting the Cambridge iPod dock at some point in the near future, and won't need the laptop at that point. I'm not up to date on CPU based music systems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CherryBomb Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 Just get a Music Fidelity V-Link. Those are about $150. Not sure if that is cheap enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CherryBomb Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 Actually, it is selling for $119 right now from Amazon. Hard pressed to beat that if purchasing new: http://www.amazon.com/Musical-Fidelity-MFVLINK-V-Link/dp/B004PH03GU Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellylh Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 (edited) Don't know if it is the best solution but you could get an Airport Express for $99 and wireless stream to the DAC (it has optical out). Works well with itunes. I think it will only handles 16/44 though if you happen to have a lot of high-res stuff. Also, there is a slight lag between when you click on a song on the laptop and when it gets to the DAC. Not usually a problem though (only if I am randomly shuffling through songs trying to find something I'm in the mood for, then the lack of speed can annoy me). If I am listening to a full album, it is not a problem. Edit: The easiest solution is of course, to get an Macbook Air or Mac Mini. Edited October 10, 2011 by shellylh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grawk Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 what shelly suggests is what I'd suggest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recstar24 Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 (edited) I am a airport express user/convert and love the convenience of it. My iTunes library is my primary source of files, and with iPad/iPhone it makes playing music fast and easy. SQ to me seems perfectly fine. Edited October 10, 2011 by recstar24 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morphsci Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 Yep, the airport express is a great idea. If you decide to go another route later you can use the airport express as a wireless bridge, wireless print server, wireless extender, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhjazz Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 An M2Tech Hiface retails at around $199, so not cheap. But it would mean you could go from USB->SPDIF if you have an existing SPDIF cable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Monkey Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 I like the airport express idea. But I also think the HRT Music Streamer II is a decent solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blessingx Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 I love the V-Link and would recommend it normally over APX (though I have three), if you're just connecting a laptop to a DAC, but the APX may even make the Cambridge iPod dock unnecessary as you could use AirTunes with your iPhone (or iPad). Course if you're actually using an iPod with the iPod dock, that wouldn't work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deepak Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 lol person asks for cheap solution for digital out, Head-Case solution: fuck you buy a Mac <3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grawk Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 airport express doesn't require that you use a mac, or even itunes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deepak Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 airport express doesn't require that you use a mac, or even itunes. Yeah I know, my post wasn't serious, I just found it funny as I read your post as agreeing with Shelly's to buy a new computer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhjazz Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 In that case, screw playback, he should hire all the bands and have them perform live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.