First setup

[hnsnsnevil]

I am currently looking into getting  my first better audio setup for use with my computer. I primarily use it for gaming. Currently I am using a a pair of sony xh-1000XM3 powered over the 3.5mm cable with the noise cancelling off when i play with a Rode NT1-A through a Zoom H5 for my game chat.

 

I am looking at upgrading my headphone and audio setup, thinking of trying some open backs so i can save the sonys for when I am travelling. Currently thinking of either a pair of DT990 Edition 250 Ohm, open to the 600 Ohm version but not sure if its worth the increased difficulty to drive especially given the rest of the setup I will discuss shortly, or a pair of 6XX's. 

 

To drive them i am between a schitt Hel, Schitt stack, or maybe going a different direction and getting a focusrite solo so i can clean up my desk a bit and put the zoom H5 away. Not sure what the long term effect on the portable device is from having it plugged in and turned on all the time.

 

Overall I am wondering:

A) how much of an improvement or change will this upgrade bring to my setup functionally

B) What will give me a seamless experience, id like to avoid needing to turn on and off individual components each time I sit down, ideally I will turn on the computer and put on my headphones just like i do today except it will sound better

C) Any components, headphone, audio interface, amp/ dac etc that I am not considering that you think would be a great fit here?

D) Am i wasting a lot of money for this use case and should just go with a low ohm pair of DT 990's that the computer can drive directly?

E) Any comments between the two (3ish) headphones?

 

Edit: Total budget looking to spend $300-500

[Tigerleon]

Your motherboard is most definitly able to drive the 250 ohm verison of the dt 990 pros. I have those with my onboard audio. I don't have an external dac/amp. It works great.

Now, you have to consider that the headphones will get at a greater volume of course with an amp but I don't think it is that necessary.

[Tigerleon]

The 6XXs are also really good. More natrual sounding. But I like the dt 990 pros for gaming.

[The Flying Sloth]

4 hours ago, hnsnsnevil said:

Overall I am wondering:

A) how much of an improvement or change will this upgrade bring to my setup functionally

B) What will give me a seamless experience, id like to avoid needing to turn on and off individual components each time I sit down, ideally I will turn on the computer and put on my headphones just like i do today except it will sound better

C) Any components, headphone, audio interface, amp/ dac etc that I am not considering that you think would be a great fit here?

D) Am i wasting a lot of money for this use case and should just go with a low ohm pair of DT 990's that the computer can drive directly?

E) Any comments between the two (3ish) headphones?

 

I'm going to focus on C, B will flow naturally and the answer to D is no. You do not want to be thinking about schiit and other 'audiophile' hardware if you already have a decent microphone that they aren't compatible with (no, the hel can't power any decent microphones). To me it sounds like you need an audio interface and the best bang for buck at the moment is the Behringer UMC202HD. It will happily power your mic and the designers rate it as able to power up to 250 ohm headphones though the MA400 is a $20 or so headphone amp that has been seen powering 600ohm phones. An interface is designed for reference playback (to use when mixing or recording an artist) so you won't get any of the colouring you might with a high end tube amplifier but in that way it has a similar sound to the schiit gear, just trying to serve the exact audio file to you. 

[hnsnsnevil]

4 hours ago, The Flying Sloth said:

I'm going to focus on C, B will flow naturally and the answer to D is no. You do not want to be thinking about schiit and other 'audiophile' hardware if you already have a decent microphone that they aren't compatible with (no, the hel can't power any decent microphones). To me it sounds like you need an audio interface and the best bang for buck at the moment is the Behringer UMC202HD. It will happily power your mic and the designers rate it as able to power up to 250 ohm headphones though the MA400 is a $20 or so headphone amp that has been seen powering 600ohm phones. An interface is designed for reference playback (to use when mixing or recording an artist) so you won't get any of the colouring you might with a high end tube amplifier but in that way it has a similar sound to the schiit gear, just trying to serve the exact audio file to you. 

It looks like the Behringer is selling for a bit more then the focusrite. What makes it a better bang for the buck buy? Is there something that it does better?

[The Flying Sloth]

41 minutes ago, hnsnsnevil said:

It looks like the Behringer is selling for a bit more then the focusrite. What makes it a better bang for the buck buy? Is there something that it does better?

Amazon prices are borked at the moment because of the human malware, in real prices the 202HD should be about 70USD and the solo about 100USD (you can still view and buy them at these real prices from Thomann).
Having said that, the 202HD has two microphone inputs instead of the single one on the solo and it also has a dedicated headphone amplifier that can run independent of the monitor outputs which the solo lacks. the Scarlett 2i2 is the lowest in the Focusrite range with a dedicated headphone amp and even then it has been known to have trouble powering Beyer 250ohm headphones by some on the forums here.

The gear recommendations in my signature have more info if you want to learn a little more.

Sloth

[hnsnsnevil]

13 hours ago, The Flying Sloth said:

Amazon prices are borked at the moment because of the human malware, in real prices the 202HD should be about 70USD and the solo about 100USD (you can still view and buy them at these real prices from Thomann).
Having said that, the 202HD has two microphone inputs instead of the single one on the solo and it also has a dedicated headphone amplifier that can run independent of the monitor outputs which the solo lacks. the Scarlett 2i2 is the lowest in the Focusrite range with a dedicated headphone amp and even then it has been known to have trouble powering Beyer 250ohm headphones by some on the forums here.

The gear recommendations in my signature have more info if you want to learn a little more.

Sloth

Thanks for clarifying!