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Best Way To Improve Audio On Netbook

post #1 of 10
5/2/11 at 1:33pm
Thread Starter 

Hey, I wanted to ask what my options are for improving audio on my desktop and netbook are. When I'm not listening to portables like my iaudio 7 or sansa clip+ I'm always listening on my desktop or netbook (with expansion port) but they both have terrible stock sound cards. I have Shure SE530s and Sennheiser HD595s and I will soon enough (hopefully) be getting myself some higher-end triple driver custom IEMs.

 

I have yet to own a system that can truly coax the best out of these audio devices and I am not sure I want to invest in a full-size amp. What I'm asking is what the most effective (and cost-efficient) method for increasing the sound quality on my desktop and netbook would be. Since I am always moving between them, I would need to be able to use it for both of my computers.

 

Now I am completely ignorant of the best method to improve sound quality. I know there are DACs, sound cards, and amps but I have never bothered with any before in my life and don't want to blindly throw money on a bad investment. Now I am always listening to music, I don't game much anymore so I don't need to bother with gaming solutions. I just want to know a not too costly method for being able to drive my present and future audio devices that is transferable between my comps. I also want to know and hear that I am driving my headphones and IEMs that much closer to their performance peak. Please help out this ignorant fool with some suggestions and options.tongue_smile.gif  

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post #2 of 10
5/2/11 at 1:59pm

Your best bet would probably be to get a USB DAC/Amp like the FiiO E7. The E7 is a very strong entry level product (~100 USD) and it should have no problems driving the HD595 headphones. Because it is a portal USB device you will be able to take it with and switch it between your desktop / netbook and even use it as amp for your media players. There are of course other products in this price range like the uDAC, but I would strongly suggest looking E7.

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post #3 of 10
5/2/11 at 3:20pm
Thread Starter 

Thank you very much for your reply ABXG. After your help and a little research I have decided to narrow down my options to... 

 

1.Fiio E7

2.uDAC2-HP (uDAC-2 is a little expensive and I don't need the extra connections)

 

Both cost exactly the same to me and both look like a superb DAC/amp in their price point. I have decided that the portability of the E7 is a non-issue since I am listening at my computers 95% of the time. I also don't think I would be using the E7 bass boost functions since I prefer a flatter neutral sound.  Rather, I want to know if anyone has an opinion on which sounds better overall, especially for accurate neutrality and to be used mainly for classical music. Please help me with this decision. 

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post #4 of 10
5/2/11 at 3:47pm
Doesn't matter what kind if laptop you have, spec wise, a USB DAC/AMP will greatly increase your SQ. If I could do it all over again, I'd get the E7 over my uDAC 'cause it can be used with my laptop and iPod. While the uDAC ( any version ) can only be used with something with a USB port.
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post #5 of 10
5/2/11 at 4:36pm

Everything I have heard indicates that the FiiO E7 should be superior to the uDAC2, although you may want to confirm this with someone who has actually listened to both.

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post #6 of 10
5/2/11 at 5:46pm

If you'll be using IEMs, I suggest the E7 over the uDAC.

 

The uDAC has a nice little analog volume knob. Problem is that there is channel imbalance around the beginning of the knob. Since IEMs are sensitive, you'll very often be using that imbalanced lower region with them. But it's fine with most full sized headphones since you'll rarely need to turn it down that low with those. (YMMV. Volume pots are manufactured with a degree of variation. Some will turn out better than others.)

 

The E7 has + and - buttons for volume control rather than a knob. 

 

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post #7 of 10
5/3/11 at 2:01am

The uDAC2 is sold around 130€ around here while the E7 is only 80€. Should I get the E7 without hesitation? Knowing I'll be using both IEMs and full sized headphones (on a laptop). 

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post #8 of 10
5/3/11 at 4:41am

The HD595 are a pretty sensitive headphone, almost as sensitive as some IEMs are.  You might even have channel imbalance with it.  I'd say go for the E7, it's tried and true, and is far more versatile if you ever need to use it as a portable amp.  It can also be paired with the E9 if you feel you need an upgrade some day (if, say, you get a higher-impedance full-sized headphone in the future).

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post #9 of 10
5/19/11 at 6:39pm
Thread Starter 

I have decided that I will probably skip on the customs for now and stick to listening with my HD595s which I vastly prefer to my Shures. This has only brought one final question to my mind.

 

Disregard portability, future upgrading (e7+e9), and the channel imbalance issue of the uDAC. Considering this, which DAC would ultimately provide a higher quality sound with my 595 and would pair more naturally with its sonic qualities, especially for classical music? I want the best amp/DAC bang for buck as possible without changing/ruining the qualities that make me love my 595s.  

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post #10 of 10
5/19/11 at 9:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by juantendo8 View Post

I have decided that I will probably skip on the customs for now and stick to listening with my HD595s which I vastly prefer to my Shures. This has only brought one final question to my mind.

 

Disregard portability, future upgrading (e7+e9), and the channel imbalance issue of the uDAC. Considering this, which DAC would ultimately provide a higher quality sound with my 595 and would pair more naturally with its sonic qualities, especially for classical music? I want the best amp/DAC bang for buck as possible without changing/ruining the qualities that make me love my 595s.  


 

The E7 is apparently quite transparent.  So I doubt it'd "ruin" anything.  If you simply want better output than your netbook, just go for that.  It also can act as a portable amp and has a bass boost function, so consider it an added bonus.

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