I'm putting together my first HTPC. And this is my first post.
I store my music in flac format, and use Winamp media player. My wife uses iTunes (not lossless).
I like the DacMagic Plus for an external converter and speaker amp because it appears to strike a good balance of quality & cost, and I have very tight space restrictions (so an AV receiver is not a good fit).
My question is this: To listen to my flac files, for my wife to listen to iTunes, and for us to watch blue-rays, can I simply run a cable from my HTPC to the DACMagic Plus, which would convert the signal and power my speakers? Or am I missing something? I recognize that a DAC does not handle the conversion of a digital format file to a digital signal, but isn't that what the audio software (e.g., Winamp) in my computer does?
I don't think I need a sound card, or do I?
I do plan to use an AMD A10-6700 Richland 3.7GHz, 65W; no video card, as I don't play games. But I understand that this CPU should be more than sufficient for a CD/DVD/blue-ray player. Is that right?
I haven't selected a motherboard yet or case or heat sink & fans, but will choose them to balance form factor, in/out ports, size, loudness, cost.
I will also have a TV tuner card.
Clearly, I'm still at the design stage, and still have a lot of learning to do. I appreciate your advice. Thanks.
I store my music in flac format, and use Winamp media player. My wife uses iTunes (not lossless).
I like the DacMagic Plus for an external converter and speaker amp because it appears to strike a good balance of quality & cost, and I have very tight space restrictions (so an AV receiver is not a good fit).
My question is this: To listen to my flac files, for my wife to listen to iTunes, and for us to watch blue-rays, can I simply run a cable from my HTPC to the DACMagic Plus, which would convert the signal and power my speakers? Or am I missing something? I recognize that a DAC does not handle the conversion of a digital format file to a digital signal, but isn't that what the audio software (e.g., Winamp) in my computer does?
I don't think I need a sound card, or do I?
I do plan to use an AMD A10-6700 Richland 3.7GHz, 65W; no video card, as I don't play games. But I understand that this CPU should be more than sufficient for a CD/DVD/blue-ray player. Is that right?
I haven't selected a motherboard yet or case or heat sink & fans, but will choose them to balance form factor, in/out ports, size, loudness, cost.
I will also have a TV tuner card.
Clearly, I'm still at the design stage, and still have a lot of learning to do. I appreciate your advice. Thanks.
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