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Thread: soundcard with headphone amp ?

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    DILLIGAF GoNz0's Avatar
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    soundcard with headphone amp ?

    I was about to shell out for a headphone amp as i have modded my pc350 sennheisers headset meaning they are no longer sealed as the pleather earcups have been changed to the velour hd595 ones, they now need more power to get the results, (also bass modded as well)

    i have goven up on the thought of buying a dedicated headphone amp as the x-fi titanium is a bit long in the tooth so i may as well replace that with a better quality card as its had no drivers for more than 2 years.

    thoughts peoples ?

    do i just get the Xonar Essence STX and be done with ?

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    Moosing about! CAT-THE-FIFTH's Avatar
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    Re: soundcard with headphone amp ?

    Quote Originally Posted by GoNz0 View Post
    I was about to shell out for a headphone amp as i have modded my pc350 sennheisers headset meaning they are no longer sealed as the pleather earcups have been changed to the velour hd595 ones, they now need more power to get the results, (also bass modded as well)

    i have goven up on the thought of buying a dedicated headphone amp as the x-fi titanium is a bit long in the tooth so i may as well replace that with a better quality card as its had no drivers for more than 2 years.

    thoughts peoples ?

    do i just get the Xonar Essence STX and be done with ?
    http://nwavguy.blogspot.co.uk/

    If I had the dosh ATM I would be getting an ODAC myself to run thought my headphone amp.

    Have a look at that. There is a DAC and a headphone amp,which you can buy or assemble yourself.

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    Re: soundcard with headphone amp ?

    Even lower end Xonar cards have headphone amps, though obviously the quality gets better as you go up the range.

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    Drop me a PM to remind me as I'm on the road at the mo m8

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    Moosing about! CAT-THE-FIFTH's Avatar
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    Re: soundcard with headphone amp ?

    I still think an external DAC and a dedicated headphone amplifier would be a better combination IMHO - I would look at the webpage I linked to.

    There is a UK distributer for the DAC fully assembled:

    http://epiphany-acoustics.co.uk/our-...ature-usb-dac/

    There is also a matching headphone amplifier fully assembled:

    http://epiphany-acoustics.co.uk/our-...one-amplifier/

    The combination comes to around £200 and will offer decent sound quality IMHO,and certainly reviews seem positive from what I have seen. The amp has got good reviews from places such as Hi-Fi Choice and Hi-Fi World.

    Moreover,the DAC is USB powered and the headphone amp can be powered of AA,meaning if you are travelling,the whole system is powerful.

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    DILLIGAF GoNz0's Avatar
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    Re: soundcard with headphone amp ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Katana1000 View Post
    I did try to PM but apparently your inbox is full

    No worries, hope you see this when you are home, cheers m8
    i did clear some after getting that but im back now.

    Quote Originally Posted by CAT-THE-FIFTH View Post
    I still think an external DAC and a dedicated headphone amplifier would be a better combination IMHO - I would look at the webpage I linked to.

    There is a UK distributer for the DAC fully assembled:

    http://epiphany-acoustics.co.uk/our-...ature-usb-dac/

    There is also a matching headphone amplifier fully assembled:

    http://epiphany-acoustics.co.uk/our-...one-amplifier/

    The combination comes to around £200 and will offer decent sound quality IMHO,and certainly reviews seem positive from what I have seen. The amp has got good reviews from places such as Hi-Fi Choice and Hi-Fi World.

    Moreover,the DAC is USB powered and the headphone amp can be powered of AA,meaning if you are travelling,the whole system is powerful.
    tbh £200 is more than i want to spend, and i had ruled out the USB Dac's it just doesn't do it for me due to the issues you can have in games with none mainstream kit, hence wanting a soundcard then headphone amp, thanks for the links though, looks good in a different situation
    I had been looking at the little dot mk3 as a hybrid valve headphone amp but then decided it may be easier to retire the x-fi and get a current card instead.

    anyway, back to Katana, i bought these http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...ls_o04_s00_i00

    they are the 595 velour ones, genuine senn's and come with the plastic insert all the 3rd party ones insist you use from the original ones that then go and break when trying to bend them into the new ones.

    The volume drops with these on as they are no longer sealed to your head, big big plus is no more sweaty ears!!!!!!!!!!!! but you need a decent amp to offset the volume loss. they just snap on straight out the packet, no messing

    the bass mod guide shows how to take them on and off.

    I dare say after peeling off the pleather you lost the sealed bit anyway

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    DILLIGAF GoNz0's Avatar
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    Re: soundcard with headphone amp ?

    just to add, i have 2 3mm holes for my bass mod, do not drill as you risk letting shavings fall in, instead turn the drill bit round and heat up the other end on a gas ring and melt a hole in, i have decided against a 3rd hole as it sounds bloody fantastic!

    tried cotton wool in there and removed that today, sounds far better without.

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    off a horse and helping your uncle jack off a horse.

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    Re: soundcard with headphone amp ?

    I just picked up the ROG Phoebus today and its great except the drivers are still in beta but damn does that thing put out some seriously brutal sound, playing BF3 and its like an assault on your ears, I think after tonights session I've got Gulf War Syndrome!

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  10. #9
    DILLIGAF GoNz0's Avatar
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    Re: soundcard with headphone amp ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bloodbath View Post
    I just picked up the ROG Phoebus today and its great except the drivers are still in beta but damn does that thing put out some seriously brutal sound, playing BF3 and its like an assault on your ears, I think after tonights session I've got Gulf War Syndrome!
    wtf, thats not on the uk asus site !

    oh well i know what im buying on payday next week

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    off a horse and helping your uncle jack off a horse.

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    DILLIGAF GoNz0's Avatar
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    Re: soundcard with headphone amp ?

    Asus ROG Xonar Phoebus 7.1 PCI Express Soundcard added onto my socket set order from amazon, figured if i paid the extra for an amazon stocked item i can return for refund if i dont like it

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