[jmenorton]

Hi, my current xbmc setup goes, Acer Revo R3700 - Samsung LCD TV(via headphone socket on TV to RCA ON Amp) - Pioneer A300R Precision amp - Tannoy F1 speakers. Just wondered if a cheap older dacmagic DAC (seen them going on ebay for around £50) would improve sound quality? Also how would it be connected into my system, the Dacmagic 2 doesnt have USB.

[r1lee]

first the noise in the computer is horrendous when it comes to sound quality. You want to remove that out of the system and probably into something like this.

http://www.musicalfidelity.com/products/...nk-192.asp

feed this directly into your receiver/processor/pre-amp and go from there. If you still don't like the sound, add a DACMagic or another Dac to the mix.

[jmenorton]

Would one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cablesson%C2%AE-...190&sr=1-2 Do the same job? Connected from the optical out on the TV to the amp. Or even from the Optical out on the Pc (rather not as its on the front of the pc and would look abit cluttered) HTPC is connected to TV via HDMI for both audio and video. TBH never noticed any noise when comparing Flac to CD.

[live4ever]

I have problems with 24 bit stuff (Sony TV HDMI connection) won't playback or re-output it - not sure if your Samsung is the same (or if you have much 24 bit music).