Seinheiser 350 SE's

[JoeniiChan]

I need some help. 

 

I bought a new pair of headphones without thinking, my last pair didn't need a sound card, but this one apparently does. I got them today, was super pumped, plugged them in, and the $130 I spent sounded like a tin can. I then realized from a little Googling that I need a sound card. The problem is, an internal sound card is a no-go, so I'm looking for a cheap USB or AMP that will be good enough to power the headphones. 

 

Any suggestions? 

[JoeniiChan]

How do you find out the OHM on a DAC? 

[NannerBeans]

How do you find out the OHM on a DAC? 

The Syba dac/amp should be fine with it. Don't bother with Creative. Their audio stuff is terrible nowadays. Although are you sure your problem is the amp? Have you tried plugging it into the back of the mobo?

[JoeniiChan]

Yeah, I have it plugged into the back, and it sounds weird, like I'm listening it through someone else's headphones. 

[creatip123]

Now that is very peculiar, because looking at the spec, it's 150 ohms 108dB. Shouldn't pose a problem at all. To give an idea, I've tried plugging 300 ohms 103dB HD650 straight to ipad 3, and it worked just fine.

 

Try plugging it to another device, like a smartphone or something. There's a possibility that it's the headset that's faulty, in which case, buying a dac/amp won't do any good.

[creatip123]

well they are 150 ohms so you would probably need some sort of amp to drive them I found this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102069&cm_re=headphone_amplifier-_-29-102-069-_-Product

 

Headphone's ohms or impedance rating is not the determining factor of whether it needs a big amount of power (hence, an external amp) to run properly or not.

 

Here: http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/247570-sennheiser-hd650-hell-yeah-or-hell-no/page-2#entry3408345

[JoeniiChan]

I'm pretty sure it's the the fact that I'm using onboard audio. 

 

At least, that's what most people say who are experiencing the same problem I am. It just sounds really tinny, like I'm listening to headphones inside headphones. I'm just wondering which amp I should buy and if I should just go with the minimum, I really don't feel like blowing over $50 on something I don't need. Granted, some people say it takes time for them to "burn-in", but I honestly think it needs an amp. I'm going to shop around for an AMP or USB sound card, if that doesn't work, I'll probably just ship them back.

 

No use spending $130 plus a $50-$70 amp when I can just buy better headphones and a clip-on mic for around $150. 

[Lauen]

I'm pretty sure it's the the fact that I'm using onboard audio. 

 

At least, that's what most people say who are experiencing the same problem I am. It just sounds really tinny, like I'm listening to headphones inside headphones. I'm just wondering which amp I should buy and if I should just go with the minimum, I really don't feel like blowing over $50 on something I don't need. Granted, some people say it takes time for them to "burn-in", but I honestly think it needs an amp. I'm going to shop around for an AMP or USB sound card, if that doesn't work, I'll probably just ship them back.

 

No use spending $130 plus a $50-$70 amp when I can just buy better headphones and a clip-on mic for around $150. 

Sure you don't have anything to try them on, like a hifi amp or something? some motherboards actually have headphone amps on them too. Check out the Fiio E6 if you absolutely want to buy an amp.

[JoeniiChan]

I checked, I have an ASUS p8Z77-I Deluxe.

[FearMe]

I have the 350 SE's as well, and it's either that I got used to them or that the sound somehow "became better", but they sounded like tin cans to me when I got them too. They sound fine now however. I'm really curious as to how it actually sounds differently now(if I didn't just get used to the canny sound).

[JoeniiChan]

How long did it take for them to "burn in".

 

People mentioned that as well, I'm just kind of ambivalent what I should do. 

[minicale]

I have them they worked fine but my mobo can support 150ohms, only thing I didn't like is the fact they are closed back
.

[JoeniiChan]

Well, apparently my onboard audio should be able to handle it. 

[ShearMe]

Well, apparently my onboard audio should be able to handle it. 

 

Yes, you're probably just not used to the way they sound. What did you use before?

[JoeniiChan]

428s.