Soundcard/amp for headphones

[Mr Technician]

I recently purchased a pair of Audio Technicia ATH-M40x's which are a big improvement over my aging Turtlebeach PX22s. However, I noticed that the bass is not nearly as good as on my PX22's, which has a preamp with bass and treble controls. It also has an additional input and its own soundcard, which allowed me to control the volume of discord and games/music separately. I'm also noticing that the ATH-M40x's block a lot more sound than my old Turtlebeach, so I'd like to have an input for monitoring my blue yeti mic so I can hear myself again. So to recap, I'm looking for a combination soundcard/mixer:

 

• Soundcard (USB) with bass and treble controls (and volume, of course)
• Two inputs so I can output from my internal sound card as well as my microphone monitor output (the former would need volume adjustment but the latter wouldn't)
• A single output for the headphones.

Let me know if this isn't clear. Thanks!

[The Flying Sloth]

This isn't going to be easy and I'll explain to you why,

If your microphone was an XLR microphone like is usually recommended here I could easily suggest the Behringer MA400 as it allows for you to monitor your mic as well as being a headphone amplifier in its own right but yours isn't, it's USB meaning that it sends a digital signal to your PC making zero latency monitoring impossible unless you're using the headphone output built in to the microphone. If you're using that output you can't use an external sound card (besides, they're not recommended).

If you want to modify the bass and treble get EqualizerAPO and make your EQ adjustments there, you don't need a hardware EQ. The M40x are much preferred over the M50x for their tamer, more natural bass response so your enjoyment of exaggerated bass really should have drawn you to the M50x instead.

So there, use the headphone output on your mic and EqualizerAPO and you're gucci, if you're still set on hardware options that will be a lot more expensive.

 

[rice guru]

If you need more bass I would reccomend changing the pads to zmf cowhides or if you want to save money the angled hm5 leather pads are good increases bass and Soundstage

[Mr Technician]

14 hours ago, The Flying Sloth said:

This isn't going to be easy and I'll explain to you why,

If your microphone was an XLR microphone like is usually recommended here I could easily suggest the Behringer MA400 as it allows for you to monitor your mic as well as being a headphone amplifier in its own right but yours isn't, it's USB meaning that it sends a digital signal to your PC making zero latency monitoring impossible unless you're using the headphone output built in to the microphone. If you're using that output you can't use an external sound card (besides, they're not recommended).

If you want to modify the bass and treble get EqualizerAPO and make your EQ adjustments there, you don't need a hardware EQ. The M40x are much preferred over the M50x for their tamer, more natural bass response so your enjoyment of exaggerated bass really should have drawn you to the M50x instead.

So there, use the headphone output on your mic and EqualizerAPO and you're gucci, if you're still set on hardware options that will be a lot more expensive.

 

I might consider switching to an XLR mic if I could sell my Yeti. Would it not be possible to run the zero latency output of my mic back into an input somewhere else? Or would that cause other issues.

 

The M40x has free returns on Amazon until July 9th, so I'm open to buying the M50x instead and returning these. The M40x do sound good in general and I notice fine details in the music but the bass is definitely lacking. I can try EqualizerAPO and see if that helps. The M40x are also a little smaller than I'd prefer, and I believe the M50x have 45 mm instead of 40 mm drivers.

 

As far as using the output on the yeti, I think the integrated soundcard on my motherboard is better than whatever the output on the yeti does.

[The Flying Sloth]

2 hours ago, ThatFlashCat said:

I might consider switching to an XLR mic if I could sell my Yeti. Would it not be possible to run the zero latency output of my mic back into an input somewhere else? Or would that cause other issues.

As far as using the output on the yeti, I think the integrated soundcard on my motherboard is better than whatever the output on the yeti does.

There is no way for you to achieve Zero latency monitoring on your current setup without listening through your Yeti, the simplest solution is for you to do that and modify the EQ with EnqualizerAPO

[Mr Technician]

On 6/10/2020 at 3:49 PM, The Flying Sloth said:

There is no way for you to achieve Zero latency monitoring on your current setup without listening through your Yeti, the simplest solution is for you to do that and modify the EQ with EnqualizerAPO

Right, but why couldn't I mix the monitoring output from my yeti with an output from my computer, and then run that into my headphones?

[The Flying Sloth]

It will have latency,you don't want that.

[Mr Technician]

4 hours ago, The Flying Sloth said:

It will have latency,you don't want that.

I understand that there will be latency if I monitor in software, but this is what I'm talking about:

 

The external soundcard/internal combo would be optional but it's an idea.

[The Flying Sloth]

At that point you might as well just plug the headphones into the Yeti, you're overthinking this.

[Mr Technician]

On 6/16/2020 at 8:42 PM, The Flying Sloth said:

At that point you might as well just plug the headphones into the Yeti, you're overthinking this.

Maybe, but then I wouldn't have a physical volume adjustment for games/music and a separate one for discord. Keyboard controls are a pain.

[Mr Technician]

Anyway, I do want to return the M40x's and get something more comfortable.

[rice guru]

7 minutes ago, ThatFlashCat said:

Anyway, I do want to return the M40x's and get something more comfortable.

Try takstar pro 82s

[Urumiko]

Right.. if you really.... reeeealy wanted to do it which i dont really recommend...

do exactly what you suggest plug an XLR mic in to a mixer such as a behringer xenyx 802,  to make use of the preamp, send that to your PC line input via FX send or AUX output. Then feed outputs from the PC in to the mixers line ins. Plug your headphones in to the mixer.
There is a risk you will get ground noise issues.

intermediate Sound cards designed for music production will allow you to internally feed the mic back to the headphones using direct monitoring.
but once you start trying to create headphone mixes the price goes up and you lose physical controls.

There are also headphone amplifiers designed for musician use that will allow you to blend in your  mic signal with a stereo feed.
 

It all seems like a lot of effort and money VS just setting your levels correctly in each program and switching to open back headphones.

[Mr Technician]

16 minutes ago, Urumiko said:

Right.. if you really.... reeeealy wanted to do it which i dont really recommend...

do exactly what you suggest plug an XLR mic in to a mixer such as a behringer xenyx 802,  to make use of the preamp, send that to your PC line input via FX send or AUX output. Then feed outputs from the PC in to the mixers line ins. Plug your headphones in to the mixer.
There is a risk you will get ground noise issues.

intermediate Sound cards designed for music production will allow you to internally feed the mic back to the headphones using direct monitoring.
but once you start trying to create headphone mixes the price goes up and you lose physical controls.

There are also headphone amplifiers designed for musician use that will allow you to blend in your  mic signal with a stereo feed.
 

It all seems like a lot of effort and money VS just setting your levels correctly in each program and switching to open back headphones.

Yeah, I think I over-complicated matters with my original idea, oh well. I'm thinking of getting some bose so I can use them wirelessly and with noise cancelling when I want to: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RM8WQ8G/?coliid=I7SC035W067CW&colid=3J746E29EX22K&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

[Mr Technician]

I purchased the Sonys and I'm honestly not impressed. I realized I had gotten used to the clarity of the M40xs, so I'm going to send the Sonys back and get better ear covers for the M40x's. However, I'm a little concerned that this will negatively affect the sound quality. Any ideas? @rice guru @The Flying Sloth

 

I found these two on amazon: 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZGGG3KY/?coliid=I25G4Y7JY1LJFK&colid=3J746E29EX22K&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MFDT894/?coliid=I1P45WLDJ5QIXO&colid=3J746E29EX22K&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

[rice guru]

1 hour ago, ThatFlashCat said:

I purchased the Sonys and I'm honestly not impressed. I realized I had gotten used to the clarity of the M40xs, so I'm going to send the Sonys back and get better ear covers for the M40x's. However, I'm a little concerned that this will negatively affect the sound quality. Any ideas? @rice guru @The Flying Sloth

 

I found these two on amazon: 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZGGG3KY/?coliid=I25G4Y7JY1LJFK&colid=3J746E29EX22K&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MFDT894/?coliid=I1P45WLDJ5QIXO&colid=3J746E29EX22K&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

they could definitely end up netavely impacting sound if thats ow you personaly end up perceiving  it . in my experience going with the thincker brainwavz or dekoni pads really made them more fun enjoyble headphones while increasing bassquantity, soundstage and not really affecting the rest of the sound signature too much. one thing you will notice is the bass becomes more forward and become more of a bit of a focus to the sound when going with a hm5 or a zmf pad . I would go with these if you dont wanna spend too much.  great thing with amazon is if you still not impressed you can return it.  https://www.amazon.ca/Brainwavz-Angled-Memory-Foam-Earpad/dp/B00ZY8PGJI/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2YULPY7336PBJ&dchild=1&keywords=brainwavz+hm5+angled+earpads&qid=1593408896&sprefix=angled+hm%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-1

[Mr Technician]

19 hours ago, rice guru said:

they could definitely end up netavely impacting sound if thats ow you personaly end up perceiving  it . in my experience going with the thincker brainwavz or dekoni pads really made them more fun enjoyble headphones while increasing bassquantity, soundstage and not really affecting the rest of the sound signature too much. one thing you will notice is the bass becomes more forward and become more of a bit of a focus to the sound when going with a hm5 or a zmf pad . I would go with these if you dont wanna spend too much.  great thing with amazon is if you still not impressed you can return it.  https://www.amazon.ca/Brainwavz-Angled-Memory-Foam-Earpad/dp/B00ZY8PGJI/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2YULPY7336PBJ&dchild=1&keywords=brainwavz+hm5+angled+earpads&qid=1593408896&sprefix=angled+hm%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-1

I'm not complaining if it adds some bass and doesn't affect the clarify of the mids and highs (which are quite excellent now that I've taken some time to use these headphones).

[Mr Technician]

On 6/29/2020 at 8:17 PM, ThatFlashCat said:

I'm not complaining if it adds some bass and doesn't affect the clarify of the mids and highs (which are quite excellent now that I've taken some time to use these headphones).

I bought a pair of these https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MFDT894/?coliid=I1P45WLDJ5QIXO&colid=3J746E29EX22K&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it&tag=linus21-20 and so far have mixed feelings. The soundstage has definitely increased but has made the highs and mids seem distant, I'm not sure about the bass yet. @rice guru

[rice guru]

9 minutes ago, ThatFlashCat said:

I bought a pair of these https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MFDT894/?coliid=I1P45WLDJ5QIXO&colid=3J746E29EX22K&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it&tag=linus21-20 and so far have mixed feelings. The soundstage has definitely increased but has made the highs and mids seem distant, I'm not sure about the bass yet. @rice guru

Ah. If reason why I specifically reccomended the angled pads. The angle they have directs the sounds directly to your ears but still a chance you might not be Into it

[Mr Technician]

1 minute ago, rice guru said:

Ah. If reason why I specifically reccomended the angled pads. The angle they have directs the sounds directly to your ears but still a chance you might not be Into it

Right, well the ones I bought have free returns so I may be doing that and trying the angled pad ones. I'll probably have this figured out by the end of the summer. 

 

[rice guru]

3 minutes ago, ThatFlashCat said:

Right, well the ones I bought have free returns so I may be doing that and trying the angled pad ones. I'll probably have this figured out by the end of the summer. 

 

Lol yeah padrolling can be a joy and a pain at the same time