I have an older Sony amplifier I want to use for my computer, paired with some sort of speakers. While planning, I’m thinking: should I just use my motherboard’s line out to the amp, or would I be better utilising the S/PDIF header on my mobo to get the audio digitally to the amp?
I’d recommend keeping the signal digital for as long as possible, so you should go through S/PDIF if you are able to. Not only will this reduce the amount of noise/distortion introduce by extra analog components, it’ll also avoid any potential ADC the amp may be doing if it applies any DSP before outputting, which is extremely common in modern hardware.
Seems like digital is the way to go, thanks. And the possible ADC in the amp is also a good call, I’ll check that too when I have it in hand.
You’d like what I did with my current setup. It’s digital all the way, through a DSP, to the DAC. Then 15cm of analog cables connecting the DAC to the amp. All of which happens away from any other signal or power wires.
Motherboard analog audio out is often noisy and generally not great. If you have an easy way to use SPDIF, coax or optical, you’d circumvent all that noise. If your amplifier has SPDIF reclocking, then even jitter would be eliminated. Even without that, chances are e SPDIF will be significantly better than analog out.
Coax is much better
Does it matter if you have reclocking on the DAC side?
You’re right - not really. But coax can carry a much higher bitrate at longer distance at lower cost
Only downside to SPDIF is that it’s limited to 5.1 surround sound, so no 2nd subwoofer or top channel/ up firing speakers. If 5.1 is all you’ll ever need you’ll be fine with SPDIF
Yeah I’m not planning on anything more than 2 speakers and maybe a sub
