Sandman 2015 年 9 月 8 日 下午 3:43
Should I buy a DAC/Amp?
I've got a pair of Audiotechnica ATH-AD700 headphones. I love these things. Had them for about 6 years I think.

I mainly play games, listen to music, and watch some movies.

I don't hear any type of noticeable interference, but I am using onboard sound with an MSI board I bought about 2 years ago.

With these headphones would I notice a big difference with an AMP or DAC? I feel like if I'm going to go for a dedicated soundcard, which I used to always do, I might as well get an external solution. Onboard sound seems to have gotten a hell of a lot better in the last 5 years, so that's why I ask.

Any thoughts?
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Sandman 2015 年 9 月 9 日 下午 12:37 
Sorry to bump this, but can anyone give their thoughts?
76561198146916803 2015 年 9 月 9 日 下午 12:42 
Most tech heads recommend the DAC/AMP method over an internal sound card. I'm personally going to get the Creative Sound Blaster ZXR anyway. There are plenty of videos on this subject.
Azza ☠ 2015 年 9 月 9 日 下午 2:49 
Nice audiophile open-air headphones...

It's Impedance @ 32 ohms so you don't need an Amp.

Do you have a high-end gaming motherboard with quality builtin audio chipset / dac? If so, what is it?

If not...

If you get internal sound card, consider very high-end or nothing:

Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium HD (might be discontinued now)
or
SBX Pro Studio (ZxR)
or
Asus Xonar

If not...

Consider External MixAMP just for Dolby Digital Surround or DTS upscaling.

---

Check if can cover (or mostly cover) the Frequency Response: 5 – 30,000 Hz
最後修改者:Azza ☠; 2015 年 9 月 9 日 下午 2:54
Sandman 2015 年 9 月 9 日 下午 3:23 
引用自 Azza ☠
Nice audiophile open-air headphones...

It's Impedance @ 32 ohms so you don't need an Amp.

Do you have a high-end gaming motherboard with quality builtin audio chipset / dac? If so, what is it?

If not...

If you get internal sound card, consider very high-end or nothing:

Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium HD (might be discontinued now)
or
SBX Pro Studio (ZxR)
or
Asus Xonar

If not...

Consider External MixAMP just for Dolby Digital Surround or DTS upscaling.

---

Check if can cover (or mostly cover) the Frequency Response: 5 – 30,000 Hz


I have an MSI Z87-G55 board.

Also, I want to get new headphones, but I wanted these exact ones. They're just old. But I can't find them anywhere. These are the best headphones I've ever owned. I heard the ATH-AD700X sucks compared to these.
最後修改者:Sandman; 2015 年 9 月 9 日 下午 3:29
Azza ☠ 2015 年 9 月 9 日 下午 7:55 
引用自 Sandman
I have an MSI Z87-G55 board.

That motherboard has "Sound Blaster Cinema" audio builtin.

Powered by the SBX Pro Studio technologies, you should already get some nice surround (but software generated) and voice enhancement. It has pretty basic settings, but should give a reasonable quality.

Hense why if you want to get a sound card, go high-end audiophonic or not at all. Low to mid range won't beat (or be considered worth it) compared to what's already builtin to the motherboard.

---

I know audiophonics, and can see why you would love those Audiotechnica ATH-AD700 headphones, open wide soundstage with good positioning and quality bass / frequency range. For gaming upon, they should be awesome.

---

Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium HD would of been a sweet spot coupled with them, however unfortunately these best sellers are all sold out and discontinued. I never liked Sound Blaster, till those came around, it was a huge leap up from previous ones.

Consider the others - check into frequency range low and high (close, match, or greater range than your headphones and speakers).

Output Signal-to-Noise Ratio : 124 dB or better.

DAC: Depends on your taste, but probably "Burr-Brown"

You perfered upscaling: SBX Pro Studio, Dolby Digital Surround, or DTS.

Headphones should be able to support standard 32 ohm, even if amped up to 600 ohm. You don't want to force 600 ohms on 32 ohms speakers, else it will be whisper quiet.

Do you perfer internal sound card or an external mixamp?
最後修改者:Azza ☠; 2015 年 9 月 9 日 下午 7:57
videogames 2015 年 9 月 9 日 下午 8:09 
Most of the Audio-Technica line is very sensitive and won't benefit much from an amp. I have an A900 and the difference from the crap ALC892 chip in my motherboard and my Schiit stack is small. There is a bit more clarity and lower noise floor, but that's pretty much it. Your money would be better spent on a nicer pair of headphones instead. That said, if your onboard audio is bad something like a FiiO E10K won't really break the bank, and it'll benefit you if you ever get less sensitive headphones.
Sandman 2015 年 9 月 9 日 下午 8:59 
Azza I used to always buy a soundcard but now it seems that onboard sound has gotten so good that if you want to shell out the $200 for a decent sound card then might as well go with an external amp. So that's why I was considering an external amp.

Videogames, the main reasons I love my ATH-AD700 is the comfort (i can wear this all day long. I even put them on when not listening to music because they feel good), and the wide sound stage I get when playing things like BF4.

I had a Sennheiser PC350 headset back about 10 years ago before I got wise that headphones will always beat headsets hands down. But that Sennheiser was like $300 and these Audiotechnicas were like $100 or so and were just so much better.
Sandman 2015 年 9 月 11 日 下午 10:09 
Can anyone recommend a decent amp with relatively low cost I might benefit from?
Azza ☠ 2015 年 9 月 12 日 下午 12:29 
Asus Xonar series as mentioned before...

Asus Xonar U7 (7.1 Surround) or U5 (5.1 Surround):
https://www.asus.com/nz/Sound_Cards/Xonar_U7/
https://www.asus.com/np/Sound_Cards/Xonar_U5/

For the Asus Xonar U7 specs...
Output Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 114 dB
Frequency Response: 10 Hz to 46 KHz
Sound Processor: 192KHz/24bit
Connection: 3.5 mm jacks, RCA, or S/PDIF out
Audio upscaling: Dolby Home Theater v4
U7 will handle headphones up to 150 Ohms

Pros: Audio quality, build quality, software, versatility, price
Cons: Not as powerful as the Asus Xonar Essense internal soundcards, more mainstream target

---

U5 might not be as good. It's a downscaled version of the same thing, however could be cheaper. Compare price tags vs features.
最後修改者:Azza ☠; 2015 年 9 月 12 日 下午 12:33
Sandman 2015 年 9 月 12 日 下午 1:43 
Azza, videogames mentioned the FiiO E10k. Looks like it gets solid reviews even with low impedance headphones. Do you think it might be a better choice for these Audiotechnicas compared to the Xonar U7?
Azza ☠ 2015 年 9 月 12 日 下午 1:52 
I honestly can't say as I've never used/seen the FiiO E10k to give feedback about it.

E10 has a bass boost for headphones and is an audio company rather than computer one. However, not sure.

FiiO E10K Olympus 2
Output Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >105 dB
Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 KHz
(standard, much worst sound range compared to the U7)
Outputs: 1/8" jacks (What does your headset take 3.5mm? Need a converter?)
Upscaling: I don't know?

I suggest visiting: http://www.head-fi.org/

They have reviews and professional audiophonic users, that might be of much more help. It's where I first started getting into seriously good audiophonic audio on PC (actually sounding like being in a cinema, while gaming in front of the computer). The first ingame shotgun sound from behind, actually freaked me out a bit and had me looking over the shoulder!

Just be warned about audiophonics, it can be an expensive addiction, which makes normal sound like rubbish. Boosting headphones however should be cheaper (than hi-fi speakers).
最後修改者:Azza ☠; 2015 年 9 月 12 日 下午 2:01
Sandman 2015 年 9 月 12 日 下午 2:00 
I bought the FiiO E10k just now. It'll be here tomorrow. Lots of reviews say this pairs perfectly with low impedance headphones, especially Audiotechnicas like AD700s and M50x.
Azza ☠ 2015 年 9 月 12 日 下午 2:01 
引用自 Sandman
I bought the FiiO E10k just now. It'll be here tomorrow. Lots of reviews say this pairs perfectly with low impedance headphones, especially Audiotechnicas like AD700s and M50x.

Let me know how they turn out.
Nordo 2015 年 12 月 6 日 下午 1:59 
How'd the FiiO E10K change your audio? Have the 700x and am always looking to better my set up, does it change the quality much?
Sandman 2015 年 12 月 6 日 下午 2:07 
引用自 ✪Nordo
How'd the FiiO E10K change your audio? Have the 700x and am always looking to better my set up, does it change the quality much?

I returned the FiiO. It wasn't bad, but I just felt like all it did was amp up sound and that's it. I don't think it increased quality a lot.

I replaced it with the Asus Xonar U7 and I like it much better. It did enhance the quality and the drivers and software that come with it are great. It's like an amp and a soundcard with environmental effects and good sound stage built in. I highly recommend it.
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張貼日期: 2015 年 9 月 8 日 下午 3:43
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