Before you buy amp and DAC + recommendations.

[Dyonoctis]

I'm aggree with the fact of keeping ppl from getting amp/dac more expensive than the 16/32 Ohm headphone they buyed, but solid-state amp can also color the sound. I have two motherboard: an Asus B85 with a classic audio electronic, and a Z97I-plus, were Asus used nichicon capacitor. the Z97 is more warm and laid-back than my B85.

Even on other website than head-fi i'm seeing a lot of ppl arguig about that one amp being able to smooth the harsh treble of a said can, or another amp to add some brightness to a veiled headphone. Other people are playing with op-amp to tweak the output to their liking.

 

It's only my opinion but if someone get a decent headphone,but don't have one of those  new motherboard with "supremeFx", "crystal sound" "Audio noise guard" "Audio boost" , getting a dac/amp  at 40-60$ won't hurt. When I've buyed my AKG K550 (300$ back then) all I had was a low end laptop with a cheap audio electronic. it's Only when I've buyed a great dac/amp that I've realised that spending 300 $ on Headphone wasn't the stupidiest thing on earth. I was like "those people getting excited for 1000$ headphone are just like those buying HDMI cable at 700 $. Placebo idiot".

 

 

 

 

 

[Dackzy]

3 hours ago, Dyonoctis said:

I'm aggree with the fact of keeping ppl from getting amp/dac more expensive than the 16/32 Ohm headphone they buyed, but solid-state amp can also color the sound. I have two motherboard: an Asus B85 with a classic audio electronic, and a Z97I-plus, were Asus used nichicon capacitor. the Z97 is more warm and laid-back than my B85.

Even on other website than head-fi i'm seeing a lot of ppl arguig about that one amp being able to smooth the harsh treble of a said can, or another amp to add some brightness to a veiled headphone. Other people are playing with op-amp to tweak the output to their liking.

 

It's only my opinion but if someone get a decent headphone,but don't have one of those  new motherboard with "supremeFx", "crystal sound" "Audio noise guard" "Audio boost" , getting a dac/amp  at 40-60$ won't hurt. When I've buyed my AKG K550 (300$ back then) all I had was a low end laptop with a cheap audio electronic. it's Only when I've buyed a great dac/amp that I've realised that spending 300 $ on Headphone wasn't the stupidiest thing on earth. I was like "those people getting excited for 1000$ headphone are just like those buying HDMI cable at 700 $. Placebo idiot".

 

 

 

 

 

You see all the amps I have recommend are what the audio community takes as transparent, meaning they should not add anything and if they do it is so little that most people will not notice it ( except the tube amp). Ohm does not really matter, I have the HE 560 they have a pretty low ohm, but they a bit harder to drive than my k612 and the k612 is a pair of 200ohm headphones. For people who use laptops as their main rig, a dac and amp would help them since they are typically really bad in laptops. This post is all about transparent sound. I am glad that you like the k550.

[Dackzy]

Is there something you guys would like me to add or explain.

[FloRolf]

34 minutes ago, Dackzy said:

Is there something you guys would like me to add or explain.

I saw this one reply you made asking how many People this thread helped.

Why don't you add a Strawpoll down on the main article just asking "was this thread helpfull? yes/no"

If you get enough votes then it'll get a sticky for sure

[Dackzy]

2 minutes ago, FloRolf said:

I saw this one reply you made asking how many People this thread helped.

Why don't you add a Strawpoll down on the main article just asking "was this thread helpfull? yes/no"

If you get enough votes then it'll get a sticky for sure

Good idea  

[SSL]

Finally added a link to this in the gear sticky. I had been intending to copy-pasta the OP over, but I think this makes more sense.

[Dackzy]

1 hour ago, SSL said:

Finally added a link to this in the gear sticky. I had been intending to copy-pasta the OP over, but I think this makes more sense.

Thanks m8

[GamerDude]

Hey guys, I just wanted to share my experience with noise coming from my speakers. I have my KRK Rokit5 G3 hooked up to my Gustard X12 (acting as dedicated DAC, which it is) with a set of Emotiva Balanced Control Freak which I can use to control volume since the X12 has a simply balanced XLR output with no pre-amp stage. 

 

Anyway, whilst playing UT3 and Serious Samn 1st and 2nd Encounters, I'd note a watery, crackling noise from my speakers. I'd not noticed it earlier as I play at pretty low volume, but a recent experiment playing games at higher volume allowed me to hear this......noise. I was confounded, but I did recall the Oppo technicain telling me that my electrical supply is pretty noisy. So, while I was at the local tech mall yesterday, I decided to buy a few pieces of filters/chokes/whatever (see pic below)

 

I'd only to clamp them on the various power cords on my audio chain - Gustard X12, H10, both Rokit5 speakers, my Oppo HA-1, even on the PSU cable (don't think it was necessary, but heck, I had spares). Anyway, the result was almost magical, no more noise! I'd mistook the noise for coil whine and had almost left it at that, but since I was at the mall, I'd decided to give these filters a try. So glad I did!

 

Well, anyway, just wanted to share a positive experience with these thingamajigs.....

[Dackzy]

10 minutes ago, GamerDude said:

SNIP

What? How? What is that even? What cord specifically did it disappear with when you put that thing on?

 

#RealMagic

[GamerDude]

7 minutes ago, Dackzy said:

What? How? What is that even? What cord specifically did it disappear with when you put that thing on?

 

#RealMagic

Yep, Unicorn fart and voodoo magic at play here....

 

But seriously, these badboys are working their magic, I don't hear those annoying noise anymore when I play games....

[Dackzy]

Thanks @Ryan_Vickers and other mods

Oi @SSL I got it pinned  

[SSL]

Boom.

[spwath]

11 hours ago, Dackzy said:

Thanks @Ryan_Vickers and other mods

Oi @SSL I got it pinned  

Great.

 

I guess its mine turn to make a sticky worthy thread

[Dackzy]

8 hours ago, spwath said:

Great.

 

I guess its mine turn to make a sticky worthy thread

good luck, it is going to be hard.

[GamerDude]

'Grats on having this thread stickied, it's about time too!

[Dackzy]

16 minutes ago, GamerDude said:

'Grats on having this thread stickied, it's about time too!

thanks, yeah it took a long time

[Introvert_Monk]

I have a pair of Sennheiser HD 471 headphones that I just bought and that don't interact well with my laptop's onboard sound card. I often hear white noise over my audio when I'm listening to music or watching a video on Youtube, but there's no problem when I'm playing games and my iPhone 5s works fine with them. Should I buy a external sound card or not? If so, what would you recommend to me in the $60-$100 price range?

Please note that I use Razer Surround Pro almost all the time, but I still hear white noise even when I turn it off.

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-471i-Headset-Control/dp/B015Y0WSHS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1468083724&sr=8-2&keywords=sennheiser+hd+471

Sennheiser link: http://en-us.sennheiser.com/around-ear-headphones-stereo-mic-hd-471

[Dackzy]

5 minutes ago, Introvert_Monk said:

I have a pair of Sennheiser HD 471 headphones that I just bought and that don't interact well with my laptop's onboard sound card. I often hear white noise over my audio when I'm listening to music or watching a video on Youtube, but there's no problem when I'm playing games and my iPhone 5s works fine with them. Should I buy a external sound card or not? If so, what would you recommend to me in the $60-$100 price range?

Please note that I use Razer Surround Pro almost all the time, but I still hear white noise even when I turn it off.

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-471i-Headset-Control/dp/B015Y0WSHS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1468083724&sr=8-2&keywords=sennheiser+hd+471

Sennheiser link: http://en-us.sennheiser.com/around-ear-headphones-stereo-mic-hd-471

Schiit Fulla or Fiio k1 and why do you use that software? It just makes the sound a bit muddy and generally lowers the sound quality.

[Introvert_Monk]

17 minutes ago, Dackzy said:

Schiit Fulla or Fiio k1 and why do you use that software? It just makes the sound a bit muddy and generally lowers the sound quality.

I use it because I like having virtual surround in the games I play. It was bundled with my pair of Razer Kraken Pro that I bought last year. Also, no shop from my country sells that card. Please tell me which of the following card you would recommend:

Creative Omni 5.1:    https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Performance-Headphone-Integrated-Microphone/dp/B00EZT7RE4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468085365&sr=8-1&keywords=creative+omni+5.1

Creative X-FI Surround 5.1 Pro:    https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Blaster-Surround-System-SB1095/dp/B0044DEDCA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1468085365&sr=8-2&keywords=creative+omni+5.1 

Asus Xonar U7 7.1:    https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Xonar-U7-Sound-Card/dp/B00CP53ML2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1468085431&sr=8-2&keywords=asus+xonar+u7

P.S.: I don't want to buy from Amazon because it would cost me more than if I were to buy a sound card from a shop in my country.

[Dackzy]

2 minutes ago, Introvert_Monk said:

I use it because I like having virtual surround in the games I play. It was bundled with my pair of Razer Kraken Pro that I bought last year. Also, no shop from my country sells that card. Please tell me which of the following card you would recommend:

Creative Omni 5.1:    https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Performance-Headphone-Integrated-Microphone/dp/B00EZT7RE4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468085365&sr=8-1&keywords=creative+omni+5.1

Creative X-FI Surround 5.1 Pro:    https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Blaster-Surround-System-SB1095/dp/B0044DEDCA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1468085365&sr=8-2&keywords=creative+omni+5.1 

Asus Xonar U7 7.1:    https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Xonar-U7-Sound-Card/dp/B00CP53ML2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1468085431&sr=8-2&keywords=asus+xonar+u7

P.S.: I don't want to buy from Amazon because it would cost me more than if I were to buy a sound card from a shop in my country.

Where do you live? They will all do the job, but do not expect anything amazing and Creative likes to color the sound, so that leaves the Asus one and well is seems okay.

[Introvert_Monk]

2 minutes ago, Dackzy said:

Where do you live? They will all do the job, but do not expect anything amazing and Creative likes to color the sound, so that leaves the Asus one and well is seems okay.

I'm not ok with saying where I live. But thanks a lot for your help and time! I really appreciate it!

[Dackzy]

2 minutes ago, Introvert_Monk said:

I'm not ok with saying where I live. But thanks a lot for your help and time! I really appreciate it!

I meant country not address and all that... but fair enough

[Introvert_Monk]

1 minute ago, Dackzy said:

I meant country not address and all that... but fair enough

I know that you only meant the country, but I'm still not ok even with that. Thanks again! I really do appreciate your feedback!

[Dackzy]

1 minute ago, Introvert_Monk said:

I know that you only meant the country, but I'm still not ok even with that. Thanks again! I really do appreciate your feedback!

okay fair enough, I am glad that I could help you and take care  

[GamerDude]

I think it'd be nice to mention that even the best audio gear in the world would not be performing optimally IF electricity from power outlet is noisy and/or IF EMI (electro magnetic interference) hinders performance.

 

My recent experience with noisy electrical supply and EMI has opened my eyes to the world of ferrite chokes/filters and line conditioners. I used to have weird clicks, watery and static like distortion when playing music and games (more so when I game as the audio distortion would up a notch). Figured it was due to either EMI or 'noisy electricity' and that I could do little to improve it. 

 

With the Ferrite chokes/filters and a Castle line conditioner, these weird audio glitches faded into history, now when I have nothing playing on my speakers, it's quiet unlike previously when I could hear the audio distortion.