Help with audio

[cederwood]

hi there folks,

 

I am in the proces of upgrading/changing my current ATX system to an ITX system.

Now ive already ordered a new processor (4570) and am looking for a good motherboard.

Currently i am using a Hyperx Cloud headset in combo with a asus DG.

Since there is simply no room for this card in my next build, i will have to look for an alternative.

Or do you guys know an itx motherboard that has a decent enough audio chip?

Reviews of the Hyperx Cloud suggest that you should pair it with some kind of soundcard/dac amp.

do you guys have any suggestions, i am kind off at a budget  

 

been looking at the Fiio E10K, but it's price is quite steep for me,

so will it be worth it?

 

love to hear from you guys!

 

Marinus

[ZetZet]

Fiio E10K is about as cheap as I would go, but then I wouldn't buy a dac/amp for gaming headphones. Realtek alc892 is decent. https://www.alternate.nl/ASRock/H97M-ITX-ac-socket-1150-moederbord/html/product/1141505?tk=7&lk=9435

 

this has realtek alc1150 which is about as good as you get. https://www.alternate.nl/ASRock/Z97E-ITX-ac-socket-1150-moederbord/html/product/1141498?tk=7&lk=9435

[Guest]

Hold off on the E10K until you can test the audio from your motherboard. It may be acceptable. If not, the Fiio would be an option, also the Schiit Fulla or SMSL SD793-II.

[cederwood]

yeah well, its kinda half a gaming headset, it's a rebranded qpad headphone, with a mic glued to it, i believe it's a 60 ohm one. 

i am now even more in doubt, do i go for the motherboard i was originaly going for: http://tweakers.net/pricewatch/385582/asus-h97i-plus.html, see how that handels the audio,

and then probably need another solution,

 

or am i going to take the risk on realtek, get a more expensive one like: http://tweakers.net/pricewatch/379680/msi-b85i-gaming.html, sollely for the audio chip, even tough the connector layout sucks and the 25$ price increase 

 

or do you guys have any other suggestions?

[KaminKevCrew]

Realtek makes very competent onboard audio solutions. I would even say that many of their chips are better than the stuff that asus puts into its supremeFX chips. I would stick with the motherboard that you have already chosen. 60 ohms is not that much, and regardless, the impedance has almost nothing to do with how hard a given headphone is to drive. You should be totally fine with the headset that you have. I don't think you'll need anything like the fiio E10k or anything of the sort. You should be just fine with the first motherboard!

[joaosambro]

recommendations on a gameset head set for DXb

[KaminKevCrew]

recommendations on a gameset head set for DXb

What? what does that even mean?

[cederwood]

Realtek makes very competent onboard audio solutions. I would even say that many of their chips are better than the stuff that asus puts into its supremeFX chips. I would stick with the motherboard that you have already chosen. 60 ohms is not that much, and regardless, the impedance has almost nothing to do with how hard a given headphone is to drive. You should be totally fine with the headset that you have. I don't think you'll need anything like the fiio E10k or anything of the sort. You should be just fine with the first motherboard!

first, let me thank you for your reply, i really appriciate it,

 

ok, so you think the alc 887 is good enough, do you think i will hear any difference with the alc 1150?

 

because i am now at a point where i can get a msi one with 1150 and audio boost (the z87 i gaming) for the same price as the asus h97iplus, (which layout i do heavily prefer over the msi's connector's on the top side)

[KaminKevCrew]

first, let me thank you for your reply, i really appriciate it,

ok, so you think the alc 887 is good enough, do you think i will hear any difference with the alc 1150?

because i am now at a point where i can get a msi one with 1150 and audio boost (the z87 i gaming) for the same price as the asus h97iplus, (which layout i do heavily prefer over the msi's connector's on the top side)

I think that the port layout is going to be more important to you. If anything, I would say that the different Realtek chips have different featured rather than different sound.

[cederwood]

I think that the port layout is going to be more important to you. If anything, I would say that the different Realtek chips have different featured rather than different sound.

ive just found the perfect bord for me: msi z97i ack

 

it has the looks, the layout and the alc1150 sound chip, in combo

with some kind of msi chip. reviews say its a great sound card/chip,

 

only point is its steep price,

so i will try to look for it on ebay

and/or in discount.

 

ty very much for your help, i really appriciate it!