Audio Systems: Bad audio quality from my computer

Question
Hi Wayne,

I recently inherited a tape player which I run through a small digital amplifier (lepai lp-2020a+) and it sounds great but when I play something through my computer soundcard it sounds muted and no low end. My friend recommended using a DAC which doesn't make any sense to me (Is not the digital output essentially a DAC?) I'm running NVIDIA high definition audio through my computer. Should I get a better soundcard? Is getting a DAC any way sane?

Thanks,
Theo

Answer
OK - Are you telling me that your're plugging the tape player into the soundcard, and it sounds bad? What exactly does the soundcard and amp have to do with each other?
I guess I'm not 100% clear about how you're trying to run things.

A DAC is a Digital to Analog Converter. Plugging an analog tape deck into a DAC would gain you nothing. That would be like trying to play a CD on a record player...

If you could clarify your aim, I'm sure I can help you out.