h264

look into a nice pair of headphones first, that's my advice. Or even better, just keep what you have. Using optical isn't going to dramatically improve your experience, but a nice pair of headphones on even your onboard can be a very big deal indeed.

what motherboard? Most ATX variants of the ALC1150 have optical outputs, so I'm guessing it's a mini or ITX form factor? Are these a USB headset with an optional optical input you'd like to use with this soundcard? I'm not sure that would lead to much improvement over the USB connection. In fact, if it's got a fancy Dolby headphone or other surround protocol that you like built into the headset's drivers, you can usually ONLY use it with USB anyways. Not that you need any of that either, just a thought.

True, but it can help you make sure everything is lined up properly and fits correctly.

You really should get a 3D printer and learn how to use it for prototyping something like this. Hell, note to self for next year: Buy a 3D printer.

right. let's do that. anyways... To the OP, I agree with the other posters, but I'll also add that your onboard is fine unless your headphones/speakers don't get loud enough. There are a lot of answers to questions like these in the FAQ me and a bunch of the "regulars" maintain, so be sure to check that out as well.

foobar supports everything. If it doesn't, there's probably a plugin.

if you want winamp with support, there's always foobar2000. It's basically the same back end and a very ... uhh... customizable front end. Grab the columnsUI plugin and it'll make that part easier.

Correct. You should never transcode lossy codecs regardless. Emo's point is you're not going to convince this guy no matter how many walls of text you post.

headphones and speakers? yes, it's measurable, but not a major difference. anything else? They're hoping the placebo effect takes over.

Maybe I should've added that while USB DACs by theory alone aren't any better than soundcards, in practice it seems most of them fall short of the requirements to be a good "wire with gain" when it comes to modern low impedance high sensitivity headphones. More noise, more crosstalk, more output impedance, and way too much power for headphones designed to be used with portable devices. Sure it'll look nice in your case and for most people sound fine, but if you wanted more ACCURACY in your audio reproduction you're going in the wrong direction. It should also be noted that a lot of USB DACs don't meet these requirements. It's not just soundcards that are the problem to me, it's MOST of the audio devices out there, which is why I recommend so few different items to people who ask me about good audio quality. What I'm sure to many of you seems like product endorsement is really just desperation on my part to find good products at good prices. Once again, in most cases the device you ALREADY OWN, your onboard audio chip, is FINE for most if not ALL sane types of headphones you could purchase. Even if it's only OK, it's still FREE with your motherboard. Now THAT ONE will make head-fi throw a fit if nothing else, but it's true. I won't even start on the real reason I personally hate the accepted list of the best soundcards out there in totality: Drivers.

The AKG K701 has a low 92 SPL sensitivity. Furthermore, it seems to pick up all the noise present in devices I plug it into. If I want to test out an amp, that's usually the headphone I'll plug in first. Certainly it will get loud enough in just about any portable amp, however.

Track day bro

exactly. Or put a 500 hp engine in a Miata.

Like I say in the FAQ they don't make much sense anymore unless there's something wrong with your onboard. Everything a soundcard can do, your onboard can do. We can make hay all day about the differences in design, but the real issue with soundcards is they are redundant in 95% of all cases (the remaining case being as an encoder for multi-channel game audio from a console). For people wanting the most ACCURATE sound, I also note the damping factor is bad when the output impedance of most soundcards is above 10 Ohms, but that difference is minuscule compared to the effect of a good pair of headphones anyways. Components don't mean anything. The overall IMPLEMENTATION of those parts is what really counts! USB DACs aren't necceasarily better, but the solution for most professional ACCURATE gear is in fact, USB or FIREWIRE or some other sort of external interface that reduces the chances of interference. Not to mention makes it much easier to move when necessary. EDIT: Also class 1 USB devices need no special drivers in windows, mac, and linux.

Dear Reader, Ah, ladies and gentlemen, good day to you and welcome to my latest review! My footman will take you coat. There – sit. I’ll wager you are boiling with anticipation at the remarks I have in store for the headphone pictured so cleanly above. Alas, my personal photographer was on vacation, however, so you’ll have to forgive my poor attempts at lighting control. The boutique headphone is a relatively new concept in the hi-fi audio world. Boutique amplifiers and speakers are, of course, written in the glorious ledgers of the history of magazines like Stereophile and scratched into the cavernous walls of rags such as The Audio Critic. The wood-laced and tube-crowned products of audio’s past were coveted by their moneyed owners as some of the pinnacles of modern audio design, no matter the mad ranting of that inglorious Peter Aczel and his disturbing association of scientists and meaningless measurements. Well-designed amplifiers all sound the same? Preposterous! I can tell he’s never heard the sheer slam of a McIntosh or the liquid musicality of a Conrad Johnson. Big players in sound design need not apply in a world where the newcomer’s stellar looking and stratospherically priced new piece of equipment performs to my ears in a way which would only be described as a wonder to behold if the unwashed masses even gleaned the chance to hear such wondrous enlightenment. Ah! The tea has arrived. Then let us begin our exploration of the Audeze LCD-2. Like any product of stellar construction the headphone first draws the eyes to its well-grained, hand-crafted, and polished wooden cups cut from only the finest pieces of either “Caribbean Rosewood” or “environmentally sustainable Bamboo Composite”. Attached to the cups are genuine soft lambskin leather pads. There is no room for imitations at the high end, unless you are a vegan, and then there’s “microsuede”, I suppose. The headband is also a soft and padded piece of lambskin leather with a thick metal band necessary to support the weight of some of the most precise planar magnetic drivers ever to grace the cups of any headphone save the even more glorious LCD-3. However, headphones were not made to be enjoyed merely visually, thus I must unfortunately inform my audience that despite their temptation to indulge in this headphone’s amorous appearance, we should see it to have this headphone fitted to our ears in order to capture its immense musicality. If the audience would mind the ever apparent mass of weight that these headphones inflict upon the unprepared skull, they are rewarded with some of the most accurate dynamics in the headphone world. Rich midrange highlights the angelic strokes of guitar strings and bass hits extend to the rattling pits of your souls deepest desires. High notes float above you as sparks in the cosmos of your mind. Phantasmal orchestras appear before you and play the sweet harmonies of Bache and Beethoven at your command. Pardon? Oh, THAT’s my private orchestra, of course! My apologies for the confusion. In closing, I believe you will find this headphone fulfills all your desires for beautiful audio reproduction and beautiful design all in a single product. It is my sincerest hope that for the less affluent among you there is a chance that, one day, like me, you will gain the chance to listen to this wonderful piece of audio innovation. However, that’s not today, as this one is mine. Not yours. Good day, Snobby McSnobberson P.S.: Shh! h264 here! Just as a note, “snobby” last I heard is broke and living in other people’s houses until he can find another place to rent. Also, the LCD-2 sounds like the HE-500s with the plether pads and is about as heavy. Sure does look nice though. Good thing I got it on the Black Friday special. Also good luck replacing the earpads! I think it’s worthwhile to note that until 2008 the most expensive NON-electrostatic headphones were $500. I think that says it all.

some hybrid tube amps can be very cheap, such as the Schiit Vali, but still sound no better than a solid state amp of equal or lesser value. Also with the Vali it seems you have to re-glue the tubes to the PCB:

Oh yes I forgot about matched drivers. That can mean "balanced" too. Tyll always describes "balanced armature drivers" when he talks about dynamic driver in order to be exact.

Aren't you thinking of balanced amps? Not that those make much more sense except in higher power situations.

"balanced" refers to the fact that both cords that run to both drivers are of equal length and not run to one cup and then around to the other cup. Audiophiles think this matters. It really doesn't.

You can't convince yourself it's EXACTLY what you want if they don't say it in glittering generalities.

That appears to be the latest /g/ headphone guide. They're usually a pretty moderate view of available headphones. Note, however, that Head-Fi founder Jude's "favorite" headphone changes with the seasons, though.

B-B-But it looks so cool and it's all gold and stuff ;_; Unfortunately it may sound that way because we in effect told you that it should and you approached the test expecting to hear it that way. This is why I've been resistant to describe measurements in a cause and effect basis, since just TELLING people the measurement's given effect is enough to make them believe they hear that difference. That's why I depend on people like @Barnacules to notice such differences with no knowledge that they should be there, since I'm affected by those same biases. If anything kills the credibility of any subjective headphone review I ever do, it's that, which is why I shy away from discussing sound quality in specific and colorful ways. This bias is most apparent in forums where one person says a headphone sounds a certain way and then everyone else who listens to the same headphone either approaches it with that information believing the original individual or not, which then shapes their opinions on the headphone one way or another. Most notable is the old head-fi monikier that the Sennheiser HD650 is "veiled", whatever that means.

I think that's my pick for the #1 dumbest computer part ever. I should find one just so I can say I have one, but I believe the original MSRP was $100. Not kidding. http://ixbtlabs.com/articles3/monitor/his-iclear.html http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/25/his-iclear-claims-to-reduce-noise-really-just-fills-an-empty-pc/

COPs is sound over looks. M50s are looks over sound.