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[Varche]

When listening to classical and big band music would there be a noticeable difference in quality of a basic PC onboard sound compared to a basic portable CD radio?

I despair really. My dad used to enjoy listening to Friday night is music night but his regime means he now has to miss it. Being a caring son, I had a look on the web and you can listen to the programme anytime in the following week. He tried it but said the sound isn't as good.

I suppose I could get him a sound card and some 5.1 ,7.1, 2.1 Gti speakers with a base blaster . It will just be something else to go wrong . 

[dbug]

Really depends on sound card spec - on board sound chips on most modern desktops likely to support 5.1 and 7.1.  Sound quality on pcs generally let down by poor/cheap speakers.  A good speaker set up will work wonders

[Kevin Wood]

As said, decent quality can be had from a PC but the speakers are normally the weakest link. The quality you can achieve from a PC is only really limited by the bit rate of the streaming used to deliver the content over the internet. In this case it won't allow Hi-Fi quality to be achieved, but I'd say you could easily better that of a portable radio.

First thing to try would be a good quality set of amplified speakers plugged into the audio output of the PC. It doesn't need to be a 7.1 setup. You'd be better off spending the same money on a better quality 2 speaker system If he already has a Hi-Fi system you can just feed the PC audio output into the auxiliary input of that, of course.

[Rog]

The big question is he really likely to sit at a computer to listen ? Or even if it was streamed to elsewhere will it all be a bit of a faff ?

Could it be that the download itself just isn't too good ? In which case nothing you do will make a huge difference.

[paul_41]

Is your dad in the UK? Don't forget you can get radio stations on freeview and record them on a PVR 

[Varche]

Is your dad in the UK? Don't forget you can get radio stations on freeview and record them on a PVR 

PVR Personal video recorder? Yes he is in the Uk. He has freeview but like most old people it is all a trial. The other day he caught the remote and "TV went faulty" Nephew called in and fixed it instantly. Mrs V has an uncle who went without TV for over a week for the same reason. I think recording would be beyond him sadly. I am going to speak with them on Saturday. I have a vague suspicion that the damned speakers for the PC are on the floor. If so lifting them up will be a start assuming they don't become unplugged. I will suggest recording the freeview radio station. You never know. Thanks for that.

Rog - the download should be good. They have good broadband. My dad spends a lot of time in the computer room with his hobby. 

[paul_41]

My mother had the same problem missing her favorite program and then I realised that you can get it on freeview. I just set it to record the whole series so it records automatically every weekend. All she has to do then is find the recording  . She manages though and I've hooked the PVR to her Hi-Fi so she gets good sound 

[chrisgixer]

Its difficult to change the habits of the older generation. But once they see the light....

[Rog]

Its difficult to change the habits of the older generation. But once they see the light....

My Mum is 90. Got a fairly modern TV, DVD player with freeview. Can't use it. Sits watching nothing. She doesn't understand about selecting different inputs. The technonuts who glibbly say "it's easy, you just . . . . " have absolutely no idea.

[Varche]

Its difficult to change the habits of the older generation. But once they see the light....

Its difficult to change the habits of the older generation. But once they see the light.

corrected for you.

I keep saying that this older generation are the last not to be able to use new technology. I am not so sure as our grey cells go maybe we will be the last and "youngsters" like Tunnie will be saying, "it is dead easy just adapt your PSM to the Ether adapter QVS and stream to your green diode head chip on individual Sky mode" (not forgetting to first select Freesound mode) .