Would a DAC help me here?

[OPSJono]

So I'm using the onboard audio in my laptop, it's a Dell Insprion 7537.

And I'm using some cheap-o earphones. These ones: Sennheiser-MX-375

 

But there's a bunch of hiss/whitenoise when I have the headphones plugged in.

 

Would it help/completely remove the white noise by getting something like a USB DAC to use with the same headphones?

 

I've been looking at DACs and they seem more expensive than what I would just buy on a whim.
This one seems pretty good from what I've read. FiiO E10K

 

Input/advice welcome.

[darkwizard06]

Yes, USB dac will help with hissing on your headset, because it is an external dac. Digital to analog conversion will happen outside and far from the system.

[Dackzy]

that is a DAC and amp combo, a stand alone DAC would just be a brick unless you got a stand alone amp.

Sure it should fix it, but I would not get a E10K, I would rather go for the Schiit Fulla

[Liam1234]

i replaced the power supply in my computer and than the front panel audio on my case stopped working. and the audio jacks on the mobo itself are awful. i dont know if an amp/ dac would help me here but i dont know what to do.

[KaminKevCrew]

3 hours ago, darkwizard06 said:

Yes, USB dac will help with hissing on your headset, because it is an external dac. Digital to analog conversion will happen outside and far from the system.

This is false. A DAC will do nothing for headphones.

[OPSJono]

4 hours ago, darkwizard06 said:

Yes, USB dac will help with hissing on your headset, because it is an external dac. Digital to analog conversion will happen outside and far from the system.

 

1 hour ago, KaminKevCrew said:

This is false. A DAC will do nothing for headphones.

 

This is why I asked here, there's a lot of contradicting information/opinions floating around on the internet.

 

Anybody got any sources/links for me to read up on to be properly educated in my buying decision?

 

3 hours ago, Dackzy said:

that is a DAC and amp combo, a stand alone DAC would just be a brick unless you got a stand alone amp.

Sure it should fix it, but I would not get a E10K, I would rather go for the Schiit Fulla

The Schiit Fulla doesn't seem readily available in the UK.

Any reason why you would get one over the other?

 

I have heard of Schiit before, they've been spoken about as one of the better audio companies out there. But I almost never see any of their equipment in use anywhere.

[Volbet]

16 hours ago, OPSJono said:

This is why I asked here, there's a lot of contradicting information/opinions floating around on the internet.

 

Anybody got any sources/links for me to read up on to be properly educated in my buying decision?

If you feel like getting really nerdy: http://nwavguy.blogspot.dk/

 

Basically, the hiss can be down to a varity of factors. 

It can be down to a high output impedance of the onboard amp or it can be down to interference on the onboard DAC. 

Either way, an external audio soluion can help.

 

You can also try @SSL's guide to removing interferance

 

 

16 hours ago, OPSJono said:

The Schiit Fulla doesn't seem readily available in the UK.

Any reason why you would get one over the other?

 

I have heard of Schiit before, they've been spoken about as one of the better audio companies out there. But I almost never see any of their equipment in use anywhere.

Well, the Brexit isn't fully realized, so you could try here. 

http://www.schiit-europe.com/index.php/producten/dacs/schiit-fulla-dac-headphone-amp.html

It's sold from a Dutch importer, so there will be no additional import taxes and fees.

 

Schitt is being used by a lot of people, its just that they're mainly seen as a US only manufacture. 

The reason why people recommend Schiit is becuase they usually give the best value for your money. 

Personally, I've always been a bit lukewarm on the Schiit Fulla, since the volume knop is less than ideal. 

[OPSJono]

27 minutes ago, Volbet said:

If you feel like getting really nerdy: http://nwavguy.blogspot.dk/

 

Basically, the hiss can be down to a varity of factors. 

It can be down to a high output impedance of the onboard amp or it can be down to interference on the onboard DAC. 

Either way, an external audio soluion can help.

 

You can also try @SSL's guide to removing interferance

 

 

Well, the Brexit isn't fully done, so you could try here. 

http://www.schiit-europe.com/index.php/producten/dacs/schiit-fulla-dac-headphone-amp.html

It's sold from a Dutch importer, so there will be no additional import taxes and fees.

 

Schitt is being used by a lot of people, its just that they're mainly seen as a US only manufacture. 

The reason why people recommend Schiit is becuase they usually give the best value for your money. 

Personally, I've always been a bit lukewarm on the Schiit Fulla, since the volume knop is less than ideal. 

Thanks for the links!

 

Holy, @SSL's post is thorough. 

 

See what I can do help myself with all that.  

[AnonymousGuy]

I bought a cheap-ish Fiio E10 to clean up the shit audio out of my HP Elitebook that I use for work.    Fiio isn't top of the line, but they're good value and you don't have gear good enough anyways to need better.

[OPSJono]

Thanks for all the replies guys!

 

I remembered at midnight last night that I actually still had an Akai EIE in the loft.

 

So I got that out and brought it to work for the laptop, and I brought my Sennheisier HD598's with me too.

 

I had completely forgot I had my old Interface in the loft when I first made this post.

 

Glorious sound quality while working!