• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Simple PC Music Playback

MichaelMcse

MichaelMcse

New Member
Hello,
I was wondering if I needed to do anything else on my PC (later gen Windows 11 laptop) for when playing digital audio. For digital playback, I primarily use Tidal and some downloaded DSD files.

This is the setup:
Laptop connected via USB to
McIntosh C2700 Pre-Amp (DA2 Digital Audio Module) to
Mcintosh Amp

Here's what I've configured:
Installed the McIntosh pre-amp drivers on the PC
Windows 11 Sound / Speaker Settings: set sample rate to 24-bit 385k Hz and "allow apps to take exclusive control".

I was wondering if I needed to do anything else or use any other software to optimize the playback.
Thank you,
Michael
 
Register to hide this ad
damacman said:
And how does it sound?
Click to expand...
It sounds good - though not quite as good as it has before. The sound stage extends wider than the speakers and there is a good separation of instruments that can be "visualized" at different parts of the sound stage.

I worked on speaker placement this last couple of weeks. I put the speakers about a foot further apart to make them about 80% as wide as they are from me (it was a recommendation from Audioholics) and it sounds noticeably better. I think I may have gotten further back over time since the stereo speakers are also used for the home audio. I think I was getting more distance from the TV. I'm about 10 feet from the speakers, which may be a little far for their size. They're MartinLoganEFX.

I think I'm content at this point, but it would be nice to know if there are any other tweaks with the computer.
 
I would not expect the small DAC module in the DA2 to sonically compare to other commercially available DACs.

Consider placing a DAC between the computer and the McIntosh C7200.

I use the McIntosh D100 digital pre-amp/headphone amp/DAC vs. the DAC module in my McIntosh MX151 pre-amp/processor. Why? Well, because it just sounds better due to the ESS Sabre DAC inside the D100. The McIntosh D150 supports DSD & DXD

I'd go PC ===> USB ===> DAC ===> RCA or XLR ===> C7200

Also, continue your search for the best speaker placement.

I am curious...what software are you using on the PC to play the music?

Also...what McIntosh amplifier are you using to power the EFX speakers?
 
Last edited:
Yamaki said:
....
Consider placing a DAC between the computer and the McIntosh C7200....
Click to expand...

That's an interesting idea - I have not considered adding a stand-alone DAC to the system.
At the moment I am just using Tidal for digital - they are streaming more FLAC now. I had a small collection of DSD files that I lost on my previous laptop.

The amplifier is the MC8207 - 7x200 solid state amplifier.

I was looking at the McIntosh product page for DACs and the only product they have listed is the MDA200 - which comes equipped with the DA2. I was doing some research - and I'm not sure but the MCD12000 may be the reference DAC, which includes a SACD/CD player. It's also $12,000 USD :oops:. I can look for a non Mac DAC though. I need to upgrade my cables, so that will probably be my next purchase.
 
Last edited:
The D150 is a legacy product by now but they are still available. The DA2 is not the only DAC chipset McIntosh uses in their products. They did not make a stand alone DAC and I believe their internal DAC chips are made by third parties.

An external DAC with an ethernet connection, such as some of the BlueSound products, can be your digital gateway to online music streaming and your external DAC all in one box. I use a BlueSound Node to stream internet radio & music services such as Tidal. I also use it as the box that streams from my music library on a Synology Network Attached Storage device.

Heck, if you have some CDs you can always rip them to FLAC and store them on your PC or an NAS. To start, you could get an aux USB drive you can plug into your PC for more storage.

Nice amp by the way.
 
Yamaki said:
... An external DAC with an ethernet connection, such as some of the BlueSound products, can be your digital gateway to online music streaming and your external DAC all in one box...

Nice amp by the way...
Click to expand...

That is good food for thought. I like the idea of a solid state external drive if I start to build up a collection of media files. I have a cloud drive I can use for permanent storage and sync and download to the drive for playback.

And thank you - I really enjoy the amp. It has a clean neutral characteristic/sound and is just the sound of the music as they say.
 
Beyond the install of the USB audio driver (Windows machines), I don't think there is anything else to do on the PC side that will optimize the playback.
 
MichaelMcse said:
Hello,
I was wondering if I needed to do anything else on my PC (later gen Windows 11 laptop) for when playing digital audio. For digital playback, I primarily use Tidal and some downloaded DSD files.

This is the setup:
Laptop connected via USB to
McIntosh C2700 Pre-Amp (DA2 Digital Audio Module) to
Mcintosh Amp

Here's what I've configured:
Installed the McIntosh pre-amp drivers on the PC
Windows 11 Sound / Speaker Settings: set sample rate to 24-bit 385k Hz and "allow apps to take exclusive control".

I was wondering if I needed to do anything else or use any other software to optimize the playback.
Thank you,
Michael
Click to expand...

that will physically work to get sound out. If you want to optimize playback that is a whole different arena. You can get into really high-end DACs that will knock your socks off but you may want to consider what sort of budget you have for this before jumping in with both feet.
 
MichaelMcse said:
Hello,
I was wondering if I needed to do anything else on my PC (later gen Windows 11 laptop) for when playing digital audio. For digital playback, I primarily use Tidal and some downloaded DSD files.

This is the setup:
Laptop connected via USB to
McIntosh C2700 Pre-Amp (DA2 Digital Audio Module) to
Mcintosh Amp

Here's what I've configured:
Installed the McIntosh pre-amp drivers on the PC
Windows 11 Sound / Speaker Settings: set sample rate to 24-bit 385k Hz and "allow apps to take exclusive control".

I was wondering if I needed to do anything else or use any other software to optimize the playback.
Thank you,
Michael
Click to expand...
My setup is also based around using a Windows 11 PC which is the source of about everything of I consume from audio to video. I have a substantial archive of music and video I can access from anywhere there is an internet connection via Plex. My PC connects to a DAC via USB C and the DAC is connected to a Fosi ZA3 via RCA connections. For the past 3-4 weeks I have been using a program called PC Equalizer Pro and have found it to be very useful in fine tuning the sound to my liking. It has a lot of options and controls but I mainly use the 20 band equalizer. I like it so much that I felt obligated to pay $20 to update from the free to the Pro version to support the person who created the software. A license lets me put a copy of the program on three PCs. I find the software very useful on a 2.0 system and would likely be just as useful on a 2.1 system. The link to the web site is: https://pcequalizer.com/
 
Last edited:
mcgjohn said:
that will physically work to get sound out. If you want to optimize playback that is a whole different arena. You can get into really high-end DACs that will knock your socks off but you may want to consider what sort of budget you have for this before jumping in with both feet.
Click to expand...
That would be nice, but yeah budget is a factor. I am actually more interested in upgrading the analog components before investing much more into digital - a higher end vinyl player.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom