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DAC needed? If so, options?

post #1 of 5
7/14/10 at 3:43pm
Thread Starter 

So I'm using an X-fi plantium and beyerdynamic dt 880's.  I just bought an ASL MG Head MKII tube amp off another user since I was told the 880's would benefit from a tube amp.

 

So far I'm kind of disappointed.  The ASL is probably 10-15% better than my astro mixamp.  Is this because I'm using the x-fi as my DAC?  Would it be better if I added a DAC?  I love x-fi cmss-3d so my x-fi can't be completely taken out of the equation.  If so any suggestions, at least on the semi inexpensive side. :) 

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Gear mentioned in this thread:

Beyer Dynamic DT 880 Premium 600 OHM Headphones
post #2 of 5
7/14/10 at 5:26pm

I dont think a dac would solve your problem

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post #3 of 5
7/15/10 at 12:55am

Yeah, a DAC of higher quality than the one built into your X-fi plantium will most certainly improve the sound quality.

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post #4 of 5
7/15/10 at 5:42pm

Your X-fi is already a pretty good DAC. (hardware wise anyway)  There are lot of settings, conflicts, driver problems, etc than can degrade the sound.  You should go over all the available settings with a fine tooth comb and make sure everything is good.  No downsampling, upsampling, some sound effect you forgot to turn off, etc.  I doubt a better DAC would improve the situation since your X-fi is probably mangling the bitstream somehow.

 

Also try comparing the X-fi > ASL to something else like a laptop > ASL or DAP > ASL and see what sounds better.  If a cheap source sound better than your X-fi then it's probably messed up somehow.  Probably in the software, but the hardware is a possibility too.

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post #5 of 5
7/16/10 at 2:12pm
Thread Starter 

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by maverickronin View Post

Your X-fi is already a pretty good DAC. (hardware wise anyway)  There are lot of settings, conflicts, driver problems, etc than can degrade the sound.  You should go over all the available settings with a fine tooth comb and make sure everything is good.  No downsampling, upsampling, some sound effect you forgot to turn off, etc.  I doubt a better DAC would improve the situation since your X-fi is probably mangling the bitstream somehow.

 

Also try comparing the X-fi > ASL to something else like a laptop > ASL or DAP > ASL and see what sounds better.  If a cheap source sound better than your X-fi then it's probably messed up somehow.  Probably in the software, but the hardware is a possibility too.


switching out of gaming mode to audio creation or entertainment helped an awful lot, even though i already had cmss-3d and everything disabled.
 

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Gear mentioned in this thread:

Beyer Dynamic DT 880 Premium 600 OHM Headphones
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