ok so as the topic states i've got a pair of hd650's and need something to drive them currently i was weighing these options

1) get the asus xonar stx card

2) get the fiio e7/e9 combo

3) get an auzentech x-fi forte 

4) get an auzentech x meridian 2g soundcard with an amp (something around 100$)

now im aware this forum looks down on sound cards and stuff which is why im asking for some help

i understand that i need something to hook up the computer (the e7) which i then assume i hook the e/9 to it and then the hd 650's to the e9

now im using this setup for gaming/ music listening and im not sure if the e7+e9 combo is what i need to hook up the headphones + speakers to my computer, if it is then i'll go for them unless there is a better combo (dac +amp) at the price i.e 200$

i currently own nothing concerning audio save the hd 650's and a pair of logitech speakers.

now before people start saying, search the forum, i did. i cant find any other amp/dac combo for 200-250$ or an amp for 100$ that works well with hd650's, which is why im asking if i get the e7+e9 combo, do i need some soundcard or whatnot? or does it connect straight to the pc? or does the combo of a soundcard+e9 my best option?

my personal leaning is towards buying an xmeridian 2g and pairing it with a 100$ amp like the e9, but i'd like some advice from people who have more experience than me.

any help will be greatly appreciated

but isnt that taking a digital note and converting it to analog? isn't that supposed to be bad, like a loss of sound quality or something? wouldnt it be better to go from analog to analog?

the face that it isnt in the computer is extremely appealing to me i must say, though i would like to know if it has the ability to use dolby headphone/cmss3d for gaming since i'll be using it for that as well

ok then, so for me to get proper amplification for my hd650/dt990, can i just add the e7/e9 as a daisy chain  to the sound card and use that for gaming and music and get the best of both worlds? 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Lust Envy 

Hmm, FWIR, adding the E9 to the soundcard's line out is a viable option, though I think the virtual surround options don't work unless you use the Headphone out. Feel free to correct me, as I'm not a PC gamer.

What you CAN do but isn't ideal, is to attach the E9 to the headphone out jack, that way you can keep all the good stuff the soundcard is capable of, with the superior amping of the E9. You would be double amping, but for gaming, its not really noticeable. I used to do the same with my E9 being attached to my Mixamp that way I can keep Dolby Headphone while using my K70x and 600ohm Beyers on my consoles.

Only get the E7 or another DAC if you aren't planning on getting a good soundcard.

In any case, the E9 is immediately usable with a good soundcard, just not certain about DH or CMSS working through a line out.

well since my sound card is a very good one, i guess i wont need an external DAC, 

lets say i would connect the headphone out jack, what would i be connecting the headphones to?  the amp, no? i think im supposed to do that because the x-meridian 2g has no amp, your supposed to amp headphones externally (if necessary, which i do with my hd650/dt990)

whats the supposed drawbacks of "double amping"? (not that i am double amping since my soundcard has no amp)

and on a side note, since i guess i'll need only an amp, the e9 is a good one? i dont need something like the little dot mkiii, right?

though i might still get the e7/e9 combo and just use it for music, while using the soundcard + e9 for gaming
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nova13 

raif89,  I have some of the same questions as you.  I currently run a Xonar Essence STX --> Beyerdynamic Dt880/600ohm.

 

Read this thread, particular my posts and the responses I got, starting mainly on page 2:  http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/537086/beyerdynamic-dt990-600-fiio-e9-respect/15

 

My consensus on double amping - people theoretically think it'll be bad, but in reality, you likely (i think) won't notice the difference, and its worth it to keep the software features for gaming.  I have not yet added the Fiio e9 to my system, I am still deciding.

 

However, several people (and multiple websites) have confirmed for me that the headphone software does not function through line-outs, as the drivers see the line-outs as speakers, and therefore the card does not implement headphone-only software.  I think the ideal situation is to swap between line out and headphone out when listening to music/gaming respectively - although in my opinion this is terribly inconvenient.

 

I can comment for sure that the Essence STX is an ENORMOUS upgrade from onboard sound, and its worth every penny I spent on it.  Is the card driving my headphones properly?  Well, in reality, what the hell does that mean, and how am I supposed to know?  They headphones sound pretty damn good to me, but I came from Grado Sr-80's plugged into onboard sound, so its all fairly relative, now isn't it?  Will adding the Fiio e9 to my system give me an equal improvement?  Not sure.  Maybe other folks here can help me decide....

good thing about the x-meridian, there is no amp!! so i won't be double amping (because there is no amp)

all i need to do is just connect the fio e9 (though atm I'm looking at the schitt Valhalla) to the headphone out and problem solved: a good amp with a good sound card and i get to keep all the goodies of the virtual surround options