Bleestones
New Member
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2025
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Hello everyone,
I would like to ask for some advice on setting up a desktop audio system. I have a pair of Infinity Reference 1 mk2 passive speakers that I primarily want to use with my PC.
Based on a friend's experience (with a Fosi V3) and what I've read online, I want to avoid amplifying the noise and interference from my motherboard's integrated sound card. For this reason, I'm looking for a stereo amplifier with a built-in DAC (a DAC/Amp combo) that can accept a clean digital signal from my PC via USB.
My intended use case will be:
* Listening to music (from my PC, and from my phone via Bluetooth)
* Watching YouTube videos
* Gaming
(I have a dedicated home theater system for movies, so multi-channel or HDMI ARC features are not required.)
My budget for this purchase is a maximum of €400-€500. My goal is to achieve the best possible sound quality within this budget for my intended use.
Based on my research so far, I've found the following models to be promising:
* Loxjie A40
* Topping MX5
* SMSL AO300
* SMSL AS400
My questions are as follows:
- Which of the devices listed above would you most recommend for my Infinity speakers, and why?
- Are there any other, better alternatives within this €400-€500 budget that I should consider?
- Is it a realistic expectation to build a noticeably clean, dynamic, and enjoyable sound system in this price range?
Thank you in advance for all your advice and suggestions!
I would like to ask for some advice on setting up a desktop audio system. I have a pair of Infinity Reference 1 mk2 passive speakers that I primarily want to use with my PC.
Based on a friend's experience (with a Fosi V3) and what I've read online, I want to avoid amplifying the noise and interference from my motherboard's integrated sound card. For this reason, I'm looking for a stereo amplifier with a built-in DAC (a DAC/Amp combo) that can accept a clean digital signal from my PC via USB.
My intended use case will be:
* Listening to music (from my PC, and from my phone via Bluetooth)
* Watching YouTube videos
* Gaming
(I have a dedicated home theater system for movies, so multi-channel or HDMI ARC features are not required.)
My budget for this purchase is a maximum of €400-€500. My goal is to achieve the best possible sound quality within this budget for my intended use.
Based on my research so far, I've found the following models to be promising:
* Loxjie A40
* Topping MX5
* SMSL AO300
* SMSL AS400
My questions are as follows:
- Which of the devices listed above would you most recommend for my Infinity speakers, and why?
- Are there any other, better alternatives within this €400-€500 budget that I should consider?
- Is it a realistic expectation to build a noticeably clean, dynamic, and enjoyable sound system in this price range?
Thank you in advance for all your advice and suggestions!
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