A computer contains an internal circuit that converts digital audio signals into analog signals for output — a process known as DA conversion. Usually, we listen to this converted audio through built-in speakers, earphones, or headphones. As a result, the sound quality depends largely on the performance of this internal circuitry and the built-in speakers.
Mac computers generally sound fine as they are (and with a few settings, they can sound even better). Windows PCs, on the other hand, often fall short when it comes to listening to music with proper sound quality. For this reason, I recommend either taking the following steps or downloading the audio files and playing them with an appropriate player.
The simplest way to improve sound quality is to move the DA conversion outside the computer and let a dedicated external device handle it. This is easy to do: just connect a USB-DAC or an audio interface to the computer’s USB port, and then connect your earphones, headphones, or external speakers to that device. With this alone, you can enjoy significantly better audio.
There is a wide price range for such equipment, but for someone like me — who doesn’t have particularly sensitive ears — expensive high-end gear isn’t necessary. I still use an older audio interface, the UR22 by Steinberg (a Yamaha subsidiary), and it’s more than enough. I use an audio interface because I also need MIDI input, but if you simply want to listen, an affordable USB-DAC will do the job perfectly well. If you listen indoors while seated, I recommend headphones or speakers rather than earphones. I mainly use AKG’s K712 Pro headphones for monitoring.
Another option is to connect your PC directly to a TV using an HDMI cable. In this setup, the TV acts as a secondary display, allowing you to use the TV’s built-in speakers, which are often of better quality. Keep in mind that your PC’s resolution may not match the TV’s resolution, so it’s best to set the PC’s display resolution to a value close to that of the TV.