DT 990 Doesn't Sound as Great as It Should?

[theninja35]

Hi. For Christmas, I received a DT 990 Black 250Ohm Pro. It is a very nice feeling headset and it is extremely comfortable. However, it doesn't sound too much better than my Razer Kraken *gasp* "But Ninja, Razer sucks!" Yeah whatever.

 

I've noticed while listening to Spotify music, that I don't notice a difference, or too much, in sound. All my EDM tracks sound almost the same, but the rock and Michael Buble songs sound a bit better. I can easily tell between the bass, highs, mids, and stuff, which I really like, but there's not a great quality difference, or at least a noticeable difference. Is there something I'm doing wrong? I've got it plugged into my MSI Gaming 5 (Z97) rear audio jack (3.5), as I did with my Kraken. 

 

I do not have Spotify Premium, so it might just be the quality of the music. However, if there's anything that I can change to achieve proper quality, please let me know. I'm hoping to get a FiiO E10k in the future.

 

Thanks.

 

Oh, PS: If I constantly use the free-spin mouse wheel on my G502, will it break faster?

[The Official Czex]

Get a DAC with some kind of decent amplification. That's when you'll notice the difference.

[theninja35]

Get a DAC with some kind of decent amplification. That's when you'll notice the difference.

Yeah, I figured. The FiiO E10k should be enough, right?

[Lays]

Get a DAC with some kind of decent amplification. That's when you'll notice the difference.

 

DAC's aren't amplifiers, amplifiers are amplifiers. 

 

All a DAC is for is converting the signal. 

[Guest]

Hi. For Christmas, I received a DT 990 Black 250Ohm Pro. It is a very nice feeling headset and it is extremely comfortable. However, it doesn't sound too much better than my Razer Kraken *gasp* "But Ninja, Razer sucks!" Yeah whatever.

 

I've noticed while listening to Spotify music, that I don't notice a difference, or too much, in sound. All my EDM tracks sound almost the same, but the rock and Michael Buble songs sound a bit better. I can easily tell between the bass, highs, mids, and stuff, which I really like, but there's not a great quality difference, or at least a noticeable difference. Is there something I'm doing wrong? I've got it plugged into my MSI Gaming 5 (Z97) rear audio jack (3.5), as I did with my Kraken. 

 

I do not have Spotify Premium, so it might just be the quality of the music. However, if there's anything that I can change to achieve proper quality, please let me know. I'm hoping to get a FiiO E10k in the future.

 

Thanks.

 

Oh, PS: If I constantly use the free-spin mouse wheel on my G502, will it break faster?

I use the free spin frequently, just wait for it to slow down when you lock it.

[Fluffinator]

You should check your drivers and make sure there's no EQ settings and check your sound settings in windows to make sure it's set to the highest quality. I had a laptop that made everything sound like crap before because it applied this really weird EQ to it on default before. A Dac/Amp won't improve sound quality.

[Guest]

DAC's aren't amplifiers, amplifiers are amplifiers. 

 

All a DAC is for is converting the signal. 

My SMSL one is only $50 and it's an AMP. It's a really nice value.

[The Official Czex]

DAC's aren't amplifiers, amplifiers are amplifiers. 

 

All a DAC is for is converting the signal. 

 

An amplifier with a USB DAC. Non-analog conversion obviously.

[Fluffinator]

An amplifier with a USB DAC. Non-analog conversion obviously.

Non-Analog conversion? What?

[Lays]

My SMSL one is only $50 and it's an AMP. It's a really nice value.

 

Yes because it's a Dac & Amp combo, not just simply a DAC.

 

An amplifier with a USB DAC. Non-analog conversion obviously.

 

Just saying DAC can be confusing to people if you're also talking about the person needing an AMP, best to say DAC & amp combo, or dac with a separate amp

[The Official Czex]

Non-Analog conversion? What?

 

I mean, non-analog input.

[theninja35]

Yes because it's a Dac & Amp combo, not just simply a DAC.

 

 

Just saying DAC can be confusing to people if you're also talking about the person needing an AMP, best to say DAC & amp combo, or dac with a separate amp

 

 

An amplifier with a USB DAC. Non-analog conversion obviously.

So is the FiiO E10k good for this?

[Lays]

So is the FiiO E10k good for this?

 

 

Yea it'd be fine, another option is the one from SMSL:

 

http://www.amazon.com/SMSL-SD793-II-PCM1793-DIR9001-Amplifier/dp/B00A2QLPJM

[theninja35]

Yea it'd be fine, another option is the one from SMSL:

 

http://www.amazon.com/SMSL-SD793-II-PCM1793-DIR9001-Amplifier/dp/B00A2QLPJM

Is there any major difference between the two?

[SSL]

Get a DAC with some kind of decent amplification. That's when you'll notice the difference.

 

How about no?

 

Yeah, I figured. The FiiO E10k should be enough, right?

 

I advise against wasting money on the captastic Fiio or SMSL combo amp+DAC units; it doesn't sound like you are having any problems with your onboard, so why fix something that isn't broken? DACs sound more similar than different, and the amp sections in the SD793II or E10K are so cheap that they are only marginally better than onboard in terms of quality (if not power).

 

I recommend that you put money into a good amp, like the Schiit Magni 2. I'm not going to guarantee that getting an amp will improve the DT990 over the Kraken at all; it could be that you just can't hear the difference between headphones, or that the difference isn't as great as Razer naysayers would like to believe. But a proper amp will provide the biggest chance of improvement. Putting money into any kind of DAC is plain silly at this price level, when you have a perfectly functional one on your motherboard.

[theninja35]

-snip-

http://schiit.com/products/magni-2 This, correct? It's not too much more, only $99. That's not too expensive, if this is the correct one.

[atrash]

I'd suggest you try listening to higher quality music first instead before splurging money on more audio equipments. Maybe rip something good from your audio CD collection or try anything else from other free popular sites like bandcamp, soundclouds etc. Going from Spotify free to premium is a really different and noticeable experience (sound quality wise) trust me. 

[Jacona]

http://schiit.com/products/magni-2 This, correct? It's not too much more, only $99. That's not too expensive, if this is the correct one.

Yeah that's correct.

Just use your on-board DAC if you do decide to buy it unless you experience some noise. 

[SSL]

http://schiit.com/products/magni-2 This, correct? It's not too much more, only $99. That's not too expensive, if this is the correct one.

 

That's the one. If you go with this, buy directly from Schiit's website, that will get you the best price.

 

I'd suggest you try listening to higher quality music first instead before splurging money on more audio equipments. Maybe rip something good from your audio CD collection or try anything else from other free popular sites like bandcamp, soundclouds etc. Going from Spotify free to premium is a really different and noticeable experience (sound quality wise) trust me. 

 

I think this advice is rather misguided. While music file quality is a concern if someone is listening to music on youtube, or to 128 kbps mp3s from itunes, that shouldn't disguise the abilities of a headphone.

[atrash]

That's the one. If you go with this, buy directly from Schiit's website, that will get you the best price.

 

 

I think this advice is rather misguided. While music file quality is a concern if someone is listening to music on youtube, or to 128 kbps mp3s from itunes, that shouldn't disguise the abilities of a headphone.

 

 

I might have exaggerated a bit there but just saying I can clearly notice the quality difference between the free and premium version using my cheapo Shure earphones and even nokia earbuds. Thats why I only asked him to try other music sources first since he said he only get better experience with rock and ballad songs but not the EDMs. I'm not asking him to get flac quality music or anything. Just something to compare with his music collections. 

[theninja35]

So I downloaded Realtek drivers from the MSI website, for no specific reason, and I think I'm having problems. 

 

It feels really full-in my right ear. My left ear is not as loud/full as my right ear, no matter what sound or source I test. Is there a way to fix this? Should I just uninstall the Realtek drivers?

 

@SSL @Lays @The Official Czex

[SSL]

So I downloaded Realtek drivers from the MSI website, for no specific reason, and I think I'm having problems. 

 

It feels really full-in my right ear. My left ear is not as loud/full as my right ear, no matter what sound or source I test. Is there a way to fix this? Should I just uninstall the Realtek drivers?

 

Sure it's not the headphones or your earz?

[theninja35]

Sure it's not the headphones or your earz?

I think it might be my audio jacks, actually. I plugged it into the back of my motherboard I/O, and it was stronger right. But I plugged it into the front audio jack, and it favo(u)rs the left side.

 

I don't know why it would only start after installing the Realtek drivers, though. Are there any changes or other drivers I should get?

[SSL]

I think it might be my audio jacks, actually. I plugged it into the back of my motherboard I/O, and it was stronger right. But I plugged it into the front audio jack, and it favo(u)rs the left side.

 

Could be. Bad jack, maybe, or internal wiring.

[The Official Czex]

Sure it's not the headphones or your earz?

 

This. The cups are huge, so I sometimes have to center them on my ears.