Going from onboard audio --> USB DAC. How to optimize experience?

[crumbworks]

Hey all

 

I'm new to the world of "better audio" in that I just got a DAC... a few hours ago! I wholeheartedly admit I don't have the best hearing, but I am wondering if anyone has tips to get the most of my audio experience?  

 

What I have:

Old Audio Solution: Onboard Audio (Realtek chip on a 7 year old Gigabyte mobo, well before they started having the audio 'electrically separated' etc)

New Audio Solution: FiiO E10K USB DAC

Speakers: Meh, just your standard Logitech Z523 2.1 system (40 watts)

Headphones: Sennheiser HD 428

Most of my music: either the absolute basics (128 kbps or 192 kbps MP3s, some 320 kbps VBR MP3s)

Some of my music: FLAC ~1040 kbps

 

Settings tweaked:

- Go to Playback Devices in Win 7 settings, select the DAC (SPDIF Interface / FiiO USB DAC-E10), Properties, checked all 4 'Sample Rates' and set Default Format from "CD Quality" to "2-channel, 24 bit, 44100 Hz (Studio Quality)"

and

- Downloaded Foobar and the WASAPI output API, and set the program's output to WASAPI (event): SPDIF Interface (FiiO USB DAC-E10) as I was told this lets it "send out the signal bit-perfect" and disables Win' ability to interfere

 

Test I've done (with headphones)

From

Most basic use case (my 128 kbps MP3s, no WASAPI in plain ol' Winamp, through my desktop's front audio on Realtek's sound chipset)

to

A better use case, I think? (1040 kbps FLAC of the same song, played in Foobar with WASAPI enabled, plugged into headphone amp port of the DAC)

 

There is a difference, I guess? It's not by much, if even perceivable. Is it my sub-par hearing, the files, my headphones, or are there other things I'm missing? Consider me a complete audio noob.

 

Thank ya!

Chris

[Guest]

HD 428 cans? Nice. I have a couple of the HD5xx series and they're built like tanks.  That "Sennheiser sound" is right up my ally.  For the sake of my marriage, I need to get a pair of closed-back headphones.  Interesting post... I'm curious to see what the forum suggests to you...

 

[kreechrr]

Where/how was the flac file obtained?

[kreechrr]

I ask to see if it’s possible it’s a lost compressed MP3 file converted to flac or a genuine flac file?

[crumbworks]

"Lossless Audio" section of site.

 

One album's description says

Quality: 974 kbps / 44.1kHz / 2 channels

Source: CD
Encoder: FLAC 1.2.1
Size: 446.57 MB
 

Another says:

Year: 2013 Source: CDDA
R.Date: 05-29-2013 Grabber: EAC Secure
S.Date: 05-22-2013 Encoder: FLAC 1.2.1 Lossless
Quality: 860 kbps Avg 44.1kHz 2 channels

[SSL]

Going from 128kbps to anything better should be pretty obvious. Unfortunately, the Sennheiser HD 400 series headphones are not that resolving or transparent, so this may be part of the problem. The E10K is not exactly going to blow the doors off of resolution either.

 

Sorry to rain on your parade after you've already put money down, but it is what it is.