# Is your computer's audio output hi-fi? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 22, 2013, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-computers-audio-output-hi-fi/648049 "2013-01-22T22:42:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-computers-audio-output-hi-fi/648049/1 "2013-01-22T22:42:49Z")
Most computer setups I see at residential homes have either a laptop, outputting sound thru the laptop speakers, or a desktop with tiny desktop speakers. Both are so far from high fidelity that it saddens my heart. I also find that many people equate computer-sourced sound with terrible fidelity and tinny speakers. They are not aware that most computer sound is very hi-fi as long as you have a good sound system with good speakers or headphones. Or maybe they don’t care. So a poll follows… ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-computers-audio-output-hi-fi/648049/2 "2013-01-22T22:43:54Z")
Woops, didn’t realize that you can’t create a poll in this forum. So just tell me – is your computer connected to a good audio output device or not? And if not, do you care? Me first…all my home/office computers are connected to a good hifi system with good speakers and I wouldn’t have it any other way. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-computers-audio-output-hi-fi/648049/3 "2013-01-22T23:02:24Z")
It depends on which computer… My MacBook… No. My Desktop… No. My Mac Mini media center controller… Yes. It’s connected via optical S/PDIF to my Yamaha 7-channel Amp. ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-computers-audio-output-hi-fi/648049/4 "2013-01-22T23:14:06Z")
My MacBook is connected to a tiny Tripath T-amp, which I built from a kit, and a pair of homemade bookshelf speakers. It’s hi-er fi than most computer setups. If I find the time and inclination I may one day build a version with digital inputs and an active crossover. (And when I say “build”, I mean “assemble components designed by people who actually know what they’re doing”). ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-computers-audio-output-hi-fi/648049/5 "2013-01-22T23:14:52Z")
My main everyday computer, no. It is a laptop with a mediocre sound card. But I do keep a set of headphones near it just in case. But… I maintain a separate computer, an old XP desktop, just for audio purposes. It has a great sound card, which I output to an actual stereo with real speakers. The sound is excellent. I also use it for digitizing old LPs, cassettes, and the occasional radio program. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-computers-audio-output-hi-fi/648049/6 "2013-01-22T23:25:07Z")
I use a nice set of headphones with my PC, so I vote yes. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-computers-audio-output-hi-fi/648049/7 "2013-01-22T23:26:00Z")
At the computer, my main concern is if the built-in speakers work. (And they do.) It is connected via LAN to an Apple TV, and that is connected to the main system with 5.1 channel surround and a real subwoofer. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-computers-audio-output-hi-fi/648049/8 "2013-01-23T00:46:26Z")
Sounds like SDMB-ers aren’t typical computer users, and that’s a good thing! I can’t think of any of my neighbors or clients that have a good setup, or know that it is even possible, but that is probably not a representative sample, either. It’s skewed towards geezers, not young people, and a knowledgeable user wouldn’t have to call me for support! ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-computers-audio-output-hi-fi/648049/9 "2013-01-23T00:57:31Z")
I have a fairly decent Logitech 5.1 speaker system here in the office, about 10% for games and 90% to do DVD soundtrack editing. It’s not audiophile grade but it’s way, way up on the computer speaker spectrum. ---
**Author:** ![gladtobeblazed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@gladtobeblazed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gladtobeblazed)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-computers-audio-output-hi-fi/648049/10 "2013-01-23T03:09:04Z")
I got a pair of M-Audio AV40 speakers and Brainwav HM5 headphones. Not exactly hi-fi but a hell of a lot better than what most of my peers have. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-computers-audio-output-hi-fi/648049/11 "2013-01-23T03:22:54Z")
> [@gladtobeblazed](#): > > I got a pair of M-Audio AV40 speakers and Brainwav HM5 headphones. Not exactly hi-fi but a hell of a lot better than what most of my peers have. I have those same speakers for my desktop. They are surprisingly good considering their size (and the self-contained amp.) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-computers-audio-output-hi-fi/648049/12 "2013-01-23T03:41:31Z")
“How can a computer be hi-fi?” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-computers-audio-output-hi-fi/648049/13 "2013-01-23T03:44:14Z")
I have the computer at home hooked up to the TV via hdmi and use that as a monitor and general entertainment system. The TV is plugged in to the home theater amplifier via RCA cables and all the sound comes through that to my 20-year-old floor speakers. You can pry my old Fisher studio setup from my cold, dead hands, and stay off my lawn! ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-computers-audio-output-hi-fi/648049/14 "2013-01-23T04:07:56Z")
Three computers into a MOTU UltraliteMK3, into a home theater receiver, into 5.1 speakers. Obviously only one of those computers can do surround, the others are stereo (well, 2.1). Are we good? ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-computers-audio-output-hi-fi/648049/15 "2013-01-23T05:23:30Z")
My desktop PC has an RCA S-P/DIF connection to my 5.1 channel receiver, and my Mini Mac has a mind-bogglingly stupid mini-headphone jack optical RCA S-P/DIF connector that goes to a different input on the same receiver. Only someone as demented as Steve Jobs would have thought it was a good idea to use the bottom of a headphone jack as an optical digital audio connector. I’ve managed to break two of the things. As long as you’re coming out of a computer digitally, you can have excellent sound. Just don’t expect to get clean analog audio out of one. ---
**Author:** ![andrewbub](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@andrewbub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewbub)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-computers-audio-output-hi-fi/648049/16 "2013-01-23T06:24:43Z")
i have a soundcard with a headphone DAC built into it outputting to a pair of sennheiser 558 headphones. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-computers-audio-output-hi-fi/648049/17 "2013-01-23T06:26:23Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Woops, didn’t realize that you can’t create a poll in this forum. So just tell me – is your computer connected to a good audio output device or not? And if not, do you care? > > Me first…all my home/office computers are connected to a good hifi system with good speakers and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s not, and I don’t care. My living room TV is a CRT, so that’s about how I stand on the whole “home entertainment system” thing. ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-computers-audio-output-hi-fi/648049/18 "2013-01-23T07:28:23Z")
since win98, I have been running sound through full stereo systems or as I have now a computer speaker system. (Bose) it is a great sounding system. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-computers-audio-output-hi-fi/648049/19 "2013-01-23T07:58:50Z")
Mine’s connected to a NAD amp which in turn runs a pair of pretty nice Yamaha speakers. When I crank it, the entire apartment complex knows about it. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-computers-audio-output-hi-fi/648049/20 "2013-01-23T08:15:08Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Sounds like SDMB-ers aren’t typical computer users, and that’s a good thing! > > I can’t think of any of my neighbors or clients that have a good setup, or know that it is even possible, but that is probably not a representative sample, either. It’s skewed towards geezers, not young people, and a knowledgeable user wouldn’t have to call me for support! I’m sorry, you’re dripping elitism on the floor. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-computers-audio-output-hi-fi/648049.md?page=2)