The Fit-PC2 as a high-end audio PC

[Ryelands]

Some forum members might be interested in this report on using the Fit-PC2 in a high-end PC-audio replay system:

http://cplay.sourceforge.net/pmwiki.php?n=CMP.Headless

For background, see:

http://cplay.sourceforge.net/pmwiki.php?n=CMP.01WhyPCs

and the cPlay site as a whole. It took a while to work round some of the inevitable compromises due to the Fit-PC2's size but, that done, results are proving excellent. (Thanks to Ben on Fit-PC's UK support desk for his help.)

Dave

[kuno]

Hi Dave,
unfortunately the links do not work anymore

As I intend to use the fit as the center piece of a car pc/audio system I am very much interested in the audio quality of the built in D/A.

thanks for feedback
kuno

[Ryelands]

Ah. The site owner moved it a week or two back - sorry for any inconvenience. The new links are:

http://www.cicsmemoryplayer.com/index.p ... P.Headless

and

http://www.cicsmemoryplayer.com/

I'm not sure that the information there is pertinent to in-car audio (I disable the audio in BIOS) but thanks for your interest anyway.

[per]

Hi Y'all

For best hi-fi audio at home, in a car, or on a boat, etc. get a bantam T-amp. Not only is it comparable to or better than most 1000 euro + amps, it is also extremely cheap.

You can go for a standard 3.5 audio cable model, or a DAC/USB version.

http://www.templeaudio.net/index.html

(I have no connection with this company)

Cheers,
Per

[kuno]

Does really no one use the fit PC as the main audio source?
I am really interested in knowing more about the experienced quality of the analog output of the fit PC.
If the analog audio quality is similar or identical to my mac-mini (last generation PowerPC) then it will definitely make it into the system but audio is a real killer when i am looking for the fit.
If it is more like my experience with laptops, where some sort of ringing can be heard in the background then it will not make it.

Any feedback on this would be highly appreciated.

kuno

[per]

Hi Kuno,

I use it as my main audio source, and I can assure you that it is fantastic.

The Intel HD audio is possibly a well kept "secret", read about it here:
http://www.intel.com/design/chipsets/hdaudio.htm

Don't use the audio drivers shipped with the fit-PC2, but use instead the default drivers installed by Windows 7, they are brilliant.

If you couple this with the Bantam T-amp I referred to previously you have a hifi setup that is hard to beat.

Cheers,
Per

[kuno]

Hi Per,

this is the sort of information I was looking for. I assume when you are using it together with the stated amp (I hope the analog version and not the USB version) you really care for good quality. At home I am using schäfer & rompf as motor for the speakers.
for my intended application as car pc I 'only' need reasonably good quality as the environment is already noisy.
However I intend to use it with Ubuntu, so I have to find suitable decoders there, what should not be a real problem. W7 is in my opinion not really suitable for my intended use in car due to the boot time, but that's another discussion . First I intended to use the mac mini, but there as well boot time is the key.

kuno

[d529518]

Am looking at fitPC for use as high-end audio also. I wish to get uncompressed digital audio out a USB port, into a DAC, then into my existing MacIntosh power amp (then to Martin Logan speakers). Has anyone done this? Does anyone know of good quality USB DAC (without integrated power amp) that would work well with the FitPC?

--
rocchio

[Ryelands]

Has anyone done this?

Yes - it's become routine. I haven't used a CD player for some years now: carefully set up, the PC is typically far better. Though, obviously, it works only with USB DACs, the Fit-PC makes an outstanding audio player.

For a good introduction to using computers for audio playback, see:

http://www.thewelltemperedcomputer.com/index.html


Does anyone know of good quality USB DAC . . .

There are literally dozens ranging from cheap but excellent value to silly money. See, for starters:

http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/usb_d ... out_e.html.

HTH

Dave

[advid]

I wish to get uncompressed digital audio out a USB port, into a DAC, (...)

(...) I haven't used a CD player for some years now: carefully set up, the PC is typically far better. Though, obviously, it works only with USB DACs, the Fit-PC makes an outstanding audio player.

Can anyone tell me: why should we use an USB DAC when we have SPDIF output on FitPC2i and SPDIF input on Hi-Fi ?


Here is what I plan for my remote music player :

NAS with FLAC files <-- eth 100 --> FitPC2i Linux <-- SPDIF --> CD Player DAC <-- analog RCA --> Amplifier
And for control : Clementine player in vncserver on the FitPC2i, controlled by an other PC. Later: Clementine with IR remote (IR dongle needed for FitPC2i, I know where to buy Linux compatible one).

Please, do you have any comment ? Am I missing something ?