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Improve Audio Quality?

SwiiftYz
By SwiiftYz
in Audio
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My current setup goes V-Moda M100 > Astro MixAmp > Creative SoundBlaster Zx.

 

I'm wondering how I could possibly improve my audio quality, I use my setup mainly for gaming but I love listening to music, watching movies etc all whilst at my PC. I don't know much when It comes to the audio side of things so I thought I'd ask here and see if anyone could give me some useful information. I'm all for removing the MixAmp from the setup as It was given to me and I only used it for convenience at the time.

CPU: i7 4770K @ 4.4Ghz | Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme 6 | RAM: 16GB Corsair Vengeance 1600Mhz | GPU: 2x MSI GTX 970 Twin Frozr V 4GB | Case: Corsair Carbide 500R | Storage: 256GB Samsung Pro SSD | NAS: D-LINK DNS320L w/ 2x 3TB WDB | PSU: Corsair HX750 | Display: 27" ROG Swift PG278Q + 27" ASUS MX279H | Cooling: Corsair H100i | Keyboard: Corsair Gaming K70 RGB | Mouse: Razer Deathadder (2013) | Sound: Creative Soundblaster ZX | Headset: V-MODA M100 | DAC:  SMSL SD 793II DAC | Speakers: Logitech Z5000

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Are you sure that you just don't really like the sound signature of the M100...

Before you buy amp and dac.  My thoughts on the M50x  Ultimate Ears Reference monitor review I might have a thing for audio...

My main Headphones and IEMs:  K612 pro, HD 25 and Ultimate Ears Reference Monitor, HD 580 with HD 600 grills

DAC and AMP: RME ADI 2 DAC

Speakers: Genelec 8040, System Audio SA205

Receiver: Denon AVR-1612

Desktop: R7 1700, GTX 1080  RX 580 8GB and other stuff

Laptop: ThinkPad P50: i7 6820HQ, M2000M. ThinkPad T420s: i7 2640M, NVS 4200M

Feel free to pm me if you have a question for me or quote me. If you want to hear what I have to say about something just tag me.

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4 minutes ago, SSL said:

What's wrong with your current setup? What do you hope to improve? What do you want to keep the same? Do you have a budget?

The Astro Mixamp crackles when changing volume, also the power connection is so loose that I can't move it without losing sound completely. I'd like to keep the M100s the same and everything else I'm open to change with. My budget is maybe £200ish.

 

2 minutes ago, AleksaNS said:

Remove youtube as your audio source is first step. (same for almost any online audio media)

I'm already listening to FLAC files mostly and Spotify at 320kbps when I'm out.

CPU: i7 4770K @ 4.4Ghz | Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme 6 | RAM: 16GB Corsair Vengeance 1600Mhz | GPU: 2x MSI GTX 970 Twin Frozr V 4GB | Case: Corsair Carbide 500R | Storage: 256GB Samsung Pro SSD | NAS: D-LINK DNS320L w/ 2x 3TB WDB | PSU: Corsair HX750 | Display: 27" ROG Swift PG278Q + 27" ASUS MX279H | Cooling: Corsair H100i | Keyboard: Corsair Gaming K70 RGB | Mouse: Razer Deathadder (2013) | Sound: Creative Soundblaster ZX | Headset: V-MODA M100 | DAC:  SMSL SD 793II DAC | Speakers: Logitech Z5000

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1 minute ago, SwiiftYz said:

The Astro Mixamp crackles when changing volume, also the power connection is so loose that I can't move it without losing sound completely. I'd like to keep the M100s the same and everything else I'm open to change with. My budget is maybe £200ish.

 

I'm already listening to FLAC files mostly and Spotify at 320kbps when I'm out.

 

So don't use the mixamp. The Zx has a head amp out, right?

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1 minute ago, SSL said:

 

So don't use the mixamp. The Zx has a head amp out, right?

Ahh, correction I have the Soundblaster Z. I don't have the amp unfortunately.

CPU: i7 4770K @ 4.4Ghz | Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme 6 | RAM: 16GB Corsair Vengeance 1600Mhz | GPU: 2x MSI GTX 970 Twin Frozr V 4GB | Case: Corsair Carbide 500R | Storage: 256GB Samsung Pro SSD | NAS: D-LINK DNS320L w/ 2x 3TB WDB | PSU: Corsair HX750 | Display: 27" ROG Swift PG278Q + 27" ASUS MX279H | Cooling: Corsair H100i | Keyboard: Corsair Gaming K70 RGB | Mouse: Razer Deathadder (2013) | Sound: Creative Soundblaster ZX | Headset: V-MODA M100 | DAC:  SMSL SD 793II DAC | Speakers: Logitech Z5000

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2 minutes ago, AleksaNS said:

Use contact spray on volume knob.

I've already tried that, hasn't made a difference. 

CPU: i7 4770K @ 4.4Ghz | Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme 6 | RAM: 16GB Corsair Vengeance 1600Mhz | GPU: 2x MSI GTX 970 Twin Frozr V 4GB | Case: Corsair Carbide 500R | Storage: 256GB Samsung Pro SSD | NAS: D-LINK DNS320L w/ 2x 3TB WDB | PSU: Corsair HX750 | Display: 27" ROG Swift PG278Q + 27" ASUS MX279H | Cooling: Corsair H100i | Keyboard: Corsair Gaming K70 RGB | Mouse: Razer Deathadder (2013) | Sound: Creative Soundblaster ZX | Headset: V-MODA M100 | DAC:  SMSL SD 793II DAC | Speakers: Logitech Z5000

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1 minute ago, SwiiftYz said:

Ahh, correction I have the Soundblaster Z. I don't have the amp unfortunately.

what is wrong with onboard?

Before you buy amp and dac.  My thoughts on the M50x  Ultimate Ears Reference monitor review I might have a thing for audio...

My main Headphones and IEMs:  K612 pro, HD 25 and Ultimate Ears Reference Monitor, HD 580 with HD 600 grills

DAC and AMP: RME ADI 2 DAC

Speakers: Genelec 8040, System Audio SA205

Receiver: Denon AVR-1612

Desktop: R7 1700, GTX 1080  RX 580 8GB and other stuff

Laptop: ThinkPad P50: i7 6820HQ, M2000M. ThinkPad T420s: i7 2640M, NVS 4200M

Feel free to pm me if you have a question for me or quote me. If you want to hear what I have to say about something just tag me.

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1 minute ago, Dackzy said:

what is wrong with onboard?

The difference in quality between the onboard I have and Soundblaster Z is noticeable. I purchased the SBZ before I had this system anyway.

CPU: i7 4770K @ 4.4Ghz | Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme 6 | RAM: 16GB Corsair Vengeance 1600Mhz | GPU: 2x MSI GTX 970 Twin Frozr V 4GB | Case: Corsair Carbide 500R | Storage: 256GB Samsung Pro SSD | NAS: D-LINK DNS320L w/ 2x 3TB WDB | PSU: Corsair HX750 | Display: 27" ROG Swift PG278Q + 27" ASUS MX279H | Cooling: Corsair H100i | Keyboard: Corsair Gaming K70 RGB | Mouse: Razer Deathadder (2013) | Sound: Creative Soundblaster ZX | Headset: V-MODA M100 | DAC:  SMSL SD 793II DAC | Speakers: Logitech Z5000

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1 minute ago, SwiiftYz said:

The difference in quality between the onboard I have and Soundblaster Z is noticeable. I purchased the SBZ before I had this system anyway.

look in my signature for the post about amps and dacs, there are some recommendations in there.

Before you buy amp and dac.  My thoughts on the M50x  Ultimate Ears Reference monitor review I might have a thing for audio...

My main Headphones and IEMs:  K612 pro, HD 25 and Ultimate Ears Reference Monitor, HD 580 with HD 600 grills

DAC and AMP: RME ADI 2 DAC

Speakers: Genelec 8040, System Audio SA205

Receiver: Denon AVR-1612

Desktop: R7 1700, GTX 1080  RX 580 8GB and other stuff

Laptop: ThinkPad P50: i7 6820HQ, M2000M. ThinkPad T420s: i7 2640M, NVS 4200M

Feel free to pm me if you have a question for me or quote me. If you want to hear what I have to say about something just tag me.

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4 minutes ago, Dackzy said:

look in my signature for the post about amps and dacs, there are some recommendations in there.

I will do, thank you.

Can't seem to find half of them on UK Amazon which is typical. I'm guessing I want an AMP/DAC combo then?

CPU: i7 4770K @ 4.4Ghz | Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme 6 | RAM: 16GB Corsair Vengeance 1600Mhz | GPU: 2x MSI GTX 970 Twin Frozr V 4GB | Case: Corsair Carbide 500R | Storage: 256GB Samsung Pro SSD | NAS: D-LINK DNS320L w/ 2x 3TB WDB | PSU: Corsair HX750 | Display: 27" ROG Swift PG278Q + 27" ASUS MX279H | Cooling: Corsair H100i | Keyboard: Corsair Gaming K70 RGB | Mouse: Razer Deathadder (2013) | Sound: Creative Soundblaster ZX | Headset: V-MODA M100 | DAC:  SMSL SD 793II DAC | Speakers: Logitech Z5000

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1 minute ago, SwiiftYz said:

I will do, thank you.

Can't seem to find half of them on UK Amazon which is typical. I'm guessing I want an AMP/DAC combo then?

all the things in there are good. Just get what you want, a amp will be better than the one there is in the combo if they are the same price, but you will most likely not need the power the better amp can give you. You can buy schiit amps and dacs in EU schiit-europe.com if you want to get a schiit amp

Before you buy amp and dac.  My thoughts on the M50x  Ultimate Ears Reference monitor review I might have a thing for audio...

My main Headphones and IEMs:  K612 pro, HD 25 and Ultimate Ears Reference Monitor, HD 580 with HD 600 grills

DAC and AMP: RME ADI 2 DAC

Speakers: Genelec 8040, System Audio SA205

Receiver: Denon AVR-1612

Desktop: R7 1700, GTX 1080  RX 580 8GB and other stuff

Laptop: ThinkPad P50: i7 6820HQ, M2000M. ThinkPad T420s: i7 2640M, NVS 4200M

Feel free to pm me if you have a question for me or quote me. If you want to hear what I have to say about something just tag me.

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19 minutes ago, Dackzy said:

all the things in there are good. Just get what you want, a amp will be better than the one there is in the combo if they are the same price, but you will most likely not need the power the better amp can give you. You can buy schiit amps and dacs in EU schiit-europe.com if you want to get a schiit amp

Okay, thank you. I went for the SMSL SD 793II so I'll see how it goes.

CPU: i7 4770K @ 4.4Ghz | Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme 6 | RAM: 16GB Corsair Vengeance 1600Mhz | GPU: 2x MSI GTX 970 Twin Frozr V 4GB | Case: Corsair Carbide 500R | Storage: 256GB Samsung Pro SSD | NAS: D-LINK DNS320L w/ 2x 3TB WDB | PSU: Corsair HX750 | Display: 27" ROG Swift PG278Q + 27" ASUS MX279H | Cooling: Corsair H100i | Keyboard: Corsair Gaming K70 RGB | Mouse: Razer Deathadder (2013) | Sound: Creative Soundblaster ZX | Headset: V-MODA M100 | DAC:  SMSL SD 793II DAC | Speakers: Logitech Z5000

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