noob question

[8tE1GH7]

Planning on getting a better audio set-up for gaming, I was thinking on buying the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X headphones. Do I need an amp/dac like the O2+ODAC, or can I just buy a DAC like the Mayflower ODAC stand alone?

Thanks 

[ShearMe]

You need an amp to control the volume of the DAC.

[KaareKanin]

You don't need anything as such, but better components along the whole line will benefit the sound ;-)

[MayflowerElectronics]

Planning on getting a better audio set-up for gaming, I was thinking on buying the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X headphones. Do I need an amp/dac like the O2+ODAC, or can I just buy a DAC like the Mayflower ODAC stand alone?

Thanks

You don't need it, but it will help. If you plan on buying even better headphones in the future it will be a good investment. Depending on your on board audio, I would at-least pick up something, the fiio e10 should be ok.

[8tE1GH7]

You don't need it, but it will help. If you plan on buying even better headphones in the future it will be a good investment. Depending on your on board audio, I would at-least pick up something, the fiio e10 should be ok.

What headphones would you recommend? Does the ODAC Stand alone have a volume knob? How much better is the sound comparing to the ODAC stand alone to the E10? 

[MayflowerElectronics]

What headphones would you recommend? Does the ODAC Stand alone have a volume knob? How much better is the sound comparing to the ODAC stand alone to the E10?

You need an amp to go along with the dac. It's job is to get the signal ready to get amplified, not the do the amplifying itself.

Right now I'm using dt 990 250 ohm and my v3 headphones. HD 600's are okay if you like a flat sound. LCD2's are my favorite headphone, but considering they're 4x the cost of my v3 headphones and are maybe 20% better, I don't think they're really worth it.

[ShearMe]

What headphones would you recommend? Does the ODAC Stand alone have a volume knob? How much better is the sound comparing to the ODAC stand alone to the E10?

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, you need an amp to control the volume of any DAC.

The E10's DAC is marginally worse than the ODAC, but the E10 comes with an amp.

[8tE1GH7]

What the difference between the e10, e17, and the e07k? They all read USB DAC headphone amplifier, what one gives the best sound?

[ShearMe]

The E7k is a portable DAC/amp for use with phones. The E17 is basically an upgraded E7. The E10 has a beefier amp.

I'd suggest you pick between the three based on features and price, and don't worry about which "sounds better" because you probably can't tell the difference.

[MayflowerElectronics]

The E7k is a portable DAC/amp for use with phones. The E17 is basically an upgraded E7. The E10 has a beefier amp.

I'd suggest you pick between the three based on features and price, and don't worry about which "sounds better" because you probably can't tell the difference.

 

But what if he has a "golden ear"  :rolleyes:

[ShearMe]

But what if he has a "golden ear"  :rolleyes:

 

Then he should sell it. 

[8tE1GH7]

I'll probably end up getting the E10 with ad700x headphones, hopefully it will be a better system then my a40s with mixamp.

[MayflowerElectronics]

I'll probably end up getting the E10 with ad700x headphones, hopefully it will be a better system then my a40s with mixamp.

I can garuntee it sounds better in everyway.

[8tE1GH7]

Now I need a mic, Would this work well if I used the monitor mount?

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0ZX0TM1001

[MayflowerElectronics]

Just get a zalman clip on mic and out them on your headphone cord.