[9VARZ]

I've just recently moved to the UK and left behind a hell of a lot of stuff in SG. Now I'm stuck with a laptop with a "less-than-stellar" (read: gross understatement) audio output and am looking for an audio upgrade.

Common sense rules out any form of amplification/sound output using the laptop's integrated sound chip and phonos (the noise irked me terribly when I plugged my Senn. HD555 in). Therefore I would be looking at a USB solution. That means either plugging in a decent sound card and going with a "normal" set-up from there or getting external USB solutions.

After some searching and looking around, I came across this thread on Scythe's relatively new KroCraft Bookshelves and Amp. They seem promising on paper but I would really love to hear from the guys who have had a go at it (albeit with the older amp).

The other option would be this set up from (relatively) lesser known Teufel, a German loudspeaker company.



This one only has one review done so far, which leaves me a little sceptical (although everything looks tempting thus far).

I would be using my setup for music listening (90% of the time) and would like the system to be scalable enough for me to port over to a proper desktop workstation (Win 7 + Linux OS) in the future.

Thus, I would need help from the audio experts here (you guys) to help me decide which of the two should I go for. Or if there are any other recommendations, I would be more than happy to discuss. As always, cost should be kept to a minimum.

Cheers!

[wwenze]

1) Scythe Kro amp has RCA, not USB input, you still connect it to laptop's audio out
2) Price difference between the Teufel and the Scythe is huge
3) Are you planning to use headphones of speakers?

[Knight_Rider]

USB DAC are the norm now.

[9VARZ]

Originally Posted by wwenze

1) Scythe Kro amp has RCA, not USB input, you still connect it to laptop's audio out
2) Price difference between the Teufel and the Scythe is huge
3) Are you planning to use headphones of speakers?

Just noticed about that "error". Thanks for pointing that out!

Indeed the price difference is huge, that's why it's holding me back a little bit now. The Scythe *might* do if I attached, say (for example), an Asus Xonar U1 to it. But external sound is expensive to buy here, regardless Asus or Creative (only 2 "mainstream" brands I trust so far). Adding that in will bring the price difference down to about £30.

If the system allows it, I might plug in my HD555 from time to time but I can't afford using it on "long haul" sessions or my ears will hurt (too hot despite the cool climate here).

Originally Posted by Knight_Rider

USB DAC are the norm now.

Expensive dah! Any other recommendations?

[Don_cross]

Nuforce icon ?

[9VARZ]

Originally Posted by Don_cross

Nuforce icon ?

They seem to have an interesting lineup of products, using RJ45 as audio I/O. Their upcoming uDAC looks rather good on paper (and wallet! ) too. Might just go and audition them today when I head out to town. Hope they sound really good for the money (and I can find them in the first place).

[wwenze]

USB DAC prices... ok lah, prices of DACs range from less than $100 to >$1000, so depends on how much you want to spend.
The expensive part is usually not the USB connection (USB interfaces from Burr-Brown and C-Media are cheaper than soundcards) but the rest of the DAC doing the conversion from digital signal to analogue. So in that sense, it's all DACs are expensive, not just USB ones.

[9VARZ]

Originally Posted by wwenze

USB DAC prices... ok lah, prices of DACs range from less than $100 to >$1000, so depends on how much you want to spend.
The expensive part is usually not the USB connection (USB interfaces from Burr-Brown and C-Media are cheaper than soundcards) but the rest of the DAC doing the conversion from digital signal to analogue. So in that sense, it's all DACs are expensive, not just USB ones.

Agreed. That's why I came in search for some recommendations.

[wwenze]

Originally Posted by 9VARZ

Agreed. That's why I came in search for some recommendations.

Then budget .

(For the entire setup)

[9VARZ]

Originally Posted by wwenze

Then budget .

(For the entire setup)

Anything less than £200 (have to save up 3 months for that already). For SG equiv, I'd suggest about SGD$250~270 max. The lower the better of course. Things here are mighty expensive due to the VAT (like our GST, only 17%) which applies to imports as well (on top of excise duties).

[wwenze]

Originally Posted by 9VARZ

Anything less than £200 (have to save up 3 months for that already). For SG equiv, I'd suggest about SGD$250~270 max. The lower the better of course. Things here are mighty expensive due to the VAT (like our GST, only 17%) which applies to imports as well (on top of excise duties).

Not enough for a decent full set up, quite hard for amp + speakers even,

I'd forgo getting a DAC first and go for amp + speakers. Then when I have the money, a DAC.

Try looking in the neighbourhood 2nd-hand store for good offers.

[Don_cross]

with that budget you will have to look towards the chinese brand DACs and still you will not have any decent cash to spare for the speaker or amp. What wwenze suggested will be the lesser painful path with the most value.

Are you listening to your music through anything other than your HD555 or laptop speakers currently?

[9VARZ]

Nothing else. Just the laptop speakers alone. Thankfully these are Altec Lansing ones which can produce a fairly decent sound (as compared to plugging in the HD) because somehow noise and all the other funny things are filtered out. No low ends, though, which any of us would have expected. Looks like I'll have to revise my budget a bit then. I would go with wwenze's suggestion for now. Amp and speakers first (preferably USB too), DACs later.

[nakedtoes]

is there a limitation to USB audio of 16bit only?

[9VARZ]

Originally Posted by nakedtoes

is there a limitation to USB audio of 16bit only?

Don't really get your question. Care to rephrase that?