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Improvement advices with my current setup

post #1 of 5
4/7/11 at 1:31am
Thread Starter 

Hello all,

I would like to ask your help to improve my current computer audio setup.
I've read a lot but there are a few points I would like to clear with your you.
Right now I have a creative Xfi Xtrem music soundcard and an unused Kenwood KRF A4030 receiver.

I've planned to mod my soundcard with a new opamp and capacitor.

1) What I am wondering is, if I buy a high end headphone like a Beyer, 600 Ohms, will my receiver be able to handle it ?
Regarding the specs here: http://manual.kenwood.com/files/B60-4557-00.pdf , I don't know what to look for and cannot find the

answer.

2) I also wonder, if I plug the headphone to the receiver (3.5mm jack on the sound card, to RCA in auxiliary on the receiver),

will the receiver add its own sound signature or just amplify the signal ?

3) I would like to try Dolby Heaphone effects in game, so if I buy an asus soundcard, put DH mode in the driver and plug everything

as previously (Soundcard in 3.5 jack --> Receiver on Auxiliary with RCA --> Heaphone on the receiver) will I get the Dolby

Headphone effect as expected ?

4) Last question, as it's all about balance and regarding my sound card and receiver, is it worth it to go ahead to a high end

headphone or I should look for a cheaper one ? Actually I might like ATH-AD700 sound (clear, detailed and light bass) so it will bypass the amplifier question but will I be able to fully enjoy an ATH-AD1000 for instance with my current setup ? If you have any more adapted suggestion, I am buying it

NB: as you may have notice, I am not a native english speaker so if there are any unclear points, please feel free to ask more explanations.

Thank you.

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post #2 of 5
4/7/11 at 2:01am
Quote:
Originally Posted by hojamie View Post

Hello all,

I would like to ask your help to improve my current computer audio setup.
I've read a lot but there are a few points I would like to clear with your you.
Right now I have a creative Xfi Xtrem music soundcard and an unused Kenwood KRF A4030 receiver.

I've planned to mod my soundcard with a new opamp and capacitor.

1) What I am wondering is, if I buy a high end headphone like a Beyer, 600 Ohms, will my receiver be able to handle it ?
Regarding the specs here: http://manual.kenwood.com/files/B60-4557-00.pdf , I don't know what to look for and cannot find the

answer.

2) I also wonder, if I plug the headphone to the receiver (3.5mm jack on the sound card, to RCA in auxiliary on the receiver),

will the receiver add its own sound signature or just amplify the signal ?

3) I would like to try Dolby Heaphone effects in game, so if I buy an asus soundcard, put DH mode in the driver and plug everything

as previously (Soundcard in 3.5 jack --> Receiver on Auxiliary with RCA --> Heaphone on the receiver) will I get the Dolby

Headphone effect as expected ?

4) Last question, as it's all about balance and regarding my sound card and receiver, is it worth it to go ahead to a high end

headphone or I should look for a cheaper one ? Actually I might like ATH-AD700 sound (clear, detailed and light bass) so it will bypass the amplifier question but will I be able to fully enjoy an ATH-AD1000 for instance with my current setup ? If you have any more adapted suggestion, I am buying it

NB: as you may have notice, I am not a native english speaker so if there are any unclear points, please feel free to ask more explanations.

Thank you.




Asus Xonar DX sound card and Audio Technica ATH-AD700s, It's what I'm listening right this second.

An Audio Technica ATH-A700 would offer more bass, with a little loss in the mid range.

Also you could spend money for an even higher end Xonar.

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post #3 of 5
4/7/11 at 9:18am

1.)  Possibly.

 

2.)  Pretty much anything has its own sound signature.  Whether you like the receiver's signature or not depends upon you.

 

3.)  Absolutely, but it will depend on that receiver's ability to render soundstage.

 

4.)  AD1000 is kind of efficient, it should be good straight out of the soundcard much like A(D)700.  I think you should try the DT990-600 anyway and see if that receiver can handle it.  Another headphone you should consider, if you do not mind a little do-it-yourself, is the Fostex T50RP and trick it out.  It's soundstage is superb.  It will easily make minced meat of any mid-fi headphone (and in many other aspects besides soundstage), and it is very efficient to boot.  Only a higher end headphone like DT990/880-600 would be able to compete with the sound from the modified T50.

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post #4 of 5
4/8/11 at 5:24am
Thread Starter 

Thank you boh for your inputs.

 

I will have en eye on this Fostex, sounds interesting regarding the price. Because I've planned my budget just for the headset so the fostex + stx could be a good combo.

 

I have a last question regarding the opamp mod on the sound card. If I connect the sound card to the receiver, do I need to change the opamp on the soundcard ? I mean in that case the sound will be processed by the receiver and bypass the soundcard opamp ? There is something I miss on that point.

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post #5 of 5
4/14/11 at 12:02am
Thread Starter 

bump

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