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Need Advice: What Sound Card? Sound Card vs. External DAC/AMP

post #1 of 10
1/25/09 at 10:10pm
Thread Starter 
I have been reading here for a while, but still don't have answers, so sorry if I missed them.

The sound card on my computer crapped out and now I am looking for a replacement. I was using the onboard Realtek HD audio, and I thought it sounded pretty good using Winamp with Kernel Streaming.

The sound card will be connected to speakers for computer sounds (browser, system sounds, etc.), but I listen to headphones when I am at the computer. I have a NuForce Icon Mobile (IM) I am currently using that as a DAC/Amp for the headphones, but often take it places and would prefer to use a sound card for home computer headphone use.

Does anyone know how the IM sounds compared to the following cards?

Xonar Dx Channel Pcie 24BIT 7.1
Audiotrak Prodigy 7.1
Audiotrak Prodigy HD2
M-Audio Revolution 5.1
Auzentech HDA Digital X-plosion 7.1 DTS
Auzentech, Inc. X-Fi Forte PCI-Express

I was leaning toward the DX or HD2, but have seen the other cards in the price range I am looking. If the IM is a much better option, I will just buy a cheap (maybe $30ish) sound card.

I appreciate your input.
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post #2 of 10
1/26/09 at 3:36am
For headphones, i suggest to go with Xonar Essence STX. It's desinged dedicaed for headphone users and stereo analog out.
There are lots of discussions you can find.


The price tag o the cards in your list differes quite big. What price range you want exactly?
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post #3 of 10
1/26/09 at 3:54am
Thread Starter 
I am looking around $100...here are the prices I have found:
Xonar Dx Channel Pcie 24BIT 7.1 - Amazon - $81, ebay $60
Audiotrak Prodigy 7.1 - ebay - $99
Audiotrak Prodigy HD2 - ebay - $75
M-Audio Revolution 5.1 - ebay - $78
Auzentech HDA Digital X-plosion 7.1 DTS - Amazon - $95, ebay - $62 referbed
Auzentech, Inc. X-Fi Forte PCI-Express - ebay - $99

From what I have found, the Essence STX is around $200.
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post #4 of 10
1/26/09 at 4:11am
if you can't afford an amp in addition to one of those boards, don't get any of them, because having an amplifier makes a huge difference for your hp's (even "easy to drive" 'phones)

the DX is a great board, however it isn't coming with an hp amp

I can't really speak to what the Icon Mobile sounds like, although at $100, I'm guessing its amplifier output is nothing special

I'd suggest, save your money, get something thats a real upgrade, like the Essence STX or a comparable USB solution
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post #5 of 10
1/26/09 at 4:27am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by obobskivich View Post
if you can't afford an amp in addition to one of those boards, don't get any of them, because having an amplifier makes a huge difference for your hp's (even "easy to drive" 'phones)

the DX is a great board, however it isn't coming with an hp amp

I can't really speak to what the Icon Mobile sounds like, although at $100, I'm guessing its amplifier output is nothing special

I'd suggest, save your money, get something thats a real upgrade, like the Essence STX or a comparable USB solution
Yea, I just got the Icon Mobile, but I think direct out from my Fuze sounds better. Actually, I think my Realtek HD sounded better before it crapped out. But I am burning the IM in for 300 hours before I make my final determination.


I know the Audiotrak Prodigy HD2 and the Auzentech X-Fi Forte have headphone amps and will save me $100! So the extra $100 for the Essence STX will make a HUGE difference?
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post #6 of 10
1/26/09 at 4:30am
they have opamps, just like the DX does, and various other cards, they do not have full featured integrated headphone amps like the STX does

the question that would really help me answer this, is, what headphones are you using here?
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post #7 of 10
1/26/09 at 4:55am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by obobskivich View Post
the question that would really help me answer this, is, what headphones are you using here?
Currently I am using Sennheiser IE8s, Phonak Audeo PFEs, and NuForce NE-7s (all IEMs). I plan on purchasing the Denon AH-D2000s in the next few months, which will become my primary headphone.
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post #8 of 10
1/26/09 at 5:05am
then you'll want an amplifier for the D2k's, everything else is IEMs, so the opamps is more than capable (and they'll likely hiss with a full out amp)

the reason I suggest an amplifier for the D2k's is to control them, they aren't hard to get noise into, but to keep it all together, thats another story

that, and they're sensitive enough to pick up distortion and junk (as an IEM user, you're probably used to this, and combatting it)
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post #9 of 10
1/27/09 at 12:55pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by obobskivich View Post
they have opamps, just like the DX does, and various other cards, they do not have full featured integrated headphone amps like the STX does
What is the difference between just having opamps and a headphone amp? What features would I be missing with one of the other cards? The Auzen X-Fi™ Forte 7.1 says it can drive headphones from 16Ω ~ 600Ω.

Quote:
Originally Posted by obobskivich View Post
then you'll want an amplifier for the D2k's, everything else is IEMs, so the opamps is more than capable (and they'll likely hiss with a full out amp)

the reason I suggest an amplifier for the D2k's is to control them, they aren't hard to get noise into, but to keep it all together, thats another story

that, and they're sensitive enough to pick up distortion and junk (as an IEM user, you're probably used to this, and combatting it)
When using my Realtek HD Audio, I did not have any hiss (or computer noises) with my IEMs. The D2000 is a low impedance headphone, so with those, would it really make a big difference? With all the other $$$ I recently spent, I would prefer saving the $100, unless it will really make a big difference.

Oh, and with more burn in my Icon Mobile is starting to sound much better.
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post #10 of 10
1/27/09 at 1:23pm
I have a ASUS p5k with HDMI/TOSLINK outputs straight to my
H/K avr...sounds awesome...better than the reg output from my xfi card. aim for a TOSLINK connection
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