Audio Set-up

[Suka]

Hello guys,

 

I'm here to ask people's professional opinion on how I should configure my audio set-up.

 

So right off the bat, I have 2 audio outputs. My Audio Technica M50X and some cheap $50 speakers. They are both use the normal audio connector (2.5mm?). My motherboard (ASUS Rampage V Extreme) has a dedicated DAC and AMP in it's isolated PCB. It's great, but I can only connect one thing at a time, and it's really annoying. 

 

I need something that could make my life easier.. I was thinking of buying an external DAC/AMP combo for my headphones, and leave the speakers connected to my motherboard. But if there's a simpler (or cheaper) option, I would like to hear that as well.

 

I look forward to everyone's input.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

My Build: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/vrh8pg

[Majestic]

[That_Random_Guy]

i do something similar to that. have my turtlebeaches plugged into my 3.5 in the back and have an fiio e10k plugged in via usb and have my k7xx plugged into that and have my tv connected via hdmi so sound transfers through that.(3 audio outs in total 4 if you cont my surround sound coming from the tv.) but i also have a program that lets me assign a macro to switch audio outputs. for ex. pres macro 1 and change audio from tv to fiio and press again and get my turtlebeaches 

 

Edit: dont most computers have 2 audio in ports though? 1 in the front of the case and 1 in the back

to my knowledge the m50x arnt that hard to drive could be wrong though

[Suka]

I saw this before, but wasn't sure if any audio quality would be lost. Also wouldn't the sound play from both outputs at the same time using that?

[Suka]

i do something similar to that. have my turtlebeaches plugged into my 3.5 in the back and have an fiio e10k plugged in via usb and have my k7xx plugged into that and have my tv connected via hdmi so sound transfers through that.(3 audio outs in total 4 if you cont my surround sound coming from the tv.) but i also have a program that lets me assign a macro to switch audio outputs. for ex. pres macro 1 and change audio from tv to fiio and press again and get my turtlebeaches 

 

Edit: dont most computers have 2 audio in ports though? 1 in the front of the case and 1 in the back

to my knowledge the m50x arnt that hard to drive could be wrong though

Hmm I see, well the M50x's aren't that hard to run.. When I put it into the back of the I/O, where it connects directly to the isolated PCB, it sounds amazing and gets decently loud, however, when I plug it into the front audio connector, which in-directly connects to the DAC/AMP on the motherboard, it sounds washed out and gets half as loud, that's why I only play audio from the back. 

 

I goggled your DAC/AMP.. How is it, do you recommend?

[Guest]

Presumably the rear jack can be set to headphone out or line out in the motherboard audio drivers. Just use a splitter cable and remember to adjust this setting depending on which output you want to listen with.

[DJfern94]

Hello guys,

 

I'm here to ask people's professional opinion on how I should configure my audio set-up.

 

So right off the bat, I have 2 audio outputs. My Audio Technica M50X and some cheap $50 speakers. They are both use the normal audio connector (2.5mm?). My motherboard (ASUS Rampage V Extreme) has a dedicated DAC and AMP in it's isolated PCB. It's great, but I can only connect one thing at a time, and it's really annoying. 

 

I need something that could make my life easier.. I was thinking of buying an external DAC/AMP combo for my headphones, and leave the speakers connected to my motherboard. But if there's a simpler (or cheaper) option, I would like to hear that as well.

 

I look forward to everyone's input.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

My Build: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/vrh8pg

 

Any loss in quality using a 3.5mm splitter will be negligible. We split signals in studios all the time, for instance I did research taking one microphone in to 8 different microphone pre-amplifiers at the same time, after an 8 way split, the only real loss was a loss in volume.

 

Also yes the sound would be coming out for both the headphones and speakers at the same time, but if you don't want to use the speakers, turn them off, most speakers have an off switch.

[That_Random_Guy]

Hmm I see, well the M50x's aren't that hard to run.. When I put it into the back of the I/O, where it connects directly to the isolated PCB, it sounds amazing and gets decently loud, however, when I plug it into the front audio connector, which in-directly connects to the DAC/AMP on the motherboard, it sounds washed out and gets half as loud, that's why I only play audio from the back. 

 

I goggled your DAC/AMP.. How is it, do you recommend?

I personally love my e10k and for the $70 i paid it was worth it(my headphones were $200 so a $70 amp is justified), but i hear that some peoples complaints with it are that it tones down the bass which could be a deal breaker with some people, not me though. 

 

but if you can get away with a splitter and turn the speakers off like @DJfern94 said then that would be the cheapest way

 

Edit: if all else fails then plug your speakers into the front audio jack and the m50s into the back that way you can sill get your quality out of them

[Guest]

(my headphones were $200 so a $70 amp is justified)

 

I would argue differently. The jump from $200 to $300 headphones can be pretty big, especially when buying used or if there is a deal/drop going on.

 

if all else fails then plug your speakers into the front audio jack and the m50s into the back that way you can sill get your quality out of them

 

Eh, that would depend on line-out being available through the front headers which is less likely given that they are usually intended for headphones.