Computer Audio Suggestion - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

smoka · 05-05-2008, 06:24 AM

I just put together a Shuttle XPC with built-in sound card (5.1 ch) which can't be removed. Luckily, I also just won a portable amp by Crosroads at the last meet

After pluggin git in to my PC setup, I noticed quite a bit of improvement on my ATH-A900s (more noticable on portable MP3 player setup, but I would not be able to amp at the gym anyways)..

I would like to get any suggestions on sub-$150 amps for my current setup. I can't upgrade my setup (only have 2 pci slots which are in use). Do I need anything else to improve the sound from my setup or just stick with the Crossroads portable amp?

Current Setup:
Generic 5.1 sound-card -->
Crossroads Portable Amp -->
Audio Technica ATH-A900 / Sony MDR-V6

Another question, if I am getting some standard Creative T20 speakers, will they also benefit from an amp?

indikator · 05-05-2008, 11:18 AM

my friend said A900 doesn't benefit much amping it
but you can try ibasso P2

Alpha 1 Omega · 05-06-2008, 04:09 AM

the best thing I can suggest if you have a open pci slot add a sound card and by pass the internal they are so noisy.. If you cant does it have a digtal out that is always a good solution...

GordonFreeman · 05-06-2008, 04:15 AM

Corda 2Move

Meier-Audio

Just what you need.

coredump · 05-06-2008, 05:49 AM

Perhaps one of the DAC/AMP combos. An external DAC would be a big improvement over the on-board sound.

synaesthetic · 05-06-2008, 06:15 AM

I have a similar situation to you; my PC is also a Shuttle XPC and has very limited cardslot space. And the onboard sound is just horrible.

I'd suggest that you do what I intend to do and buy something external. You isolate it from the noise and RFI off the computer's switching PSU that way.