Experienced Head-Fiers - Need your advice

If you decide on that second setup, I'd recommend you get the Essence STX instead of the rDAC if you want to save some money. The rDAC may be technically superior, I'm not sure, but they should sound the same. You could probably go for something even cheaper if you don't need the Essence STX's headphone amp. The Creative Titanium HD for example, if that's cheaper where you are.

Unfortunately I don't know anything about speakers, so I can't help with anything else.

P.S. I used that desktop wallpaper on my computer a couple years ago.

Why not buy a pair of Audioengine speakers + a sub? you'll save money that way. They don't need an amp. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Konstantin1 

 

Yeah I won't need the headphone amp, so Creative is an option. However I don't know how much they have improved with their drivers, there was a lot of stability issues on Windows Vista / 7. 

I take it that you don't think an internal sound card has more noise compared to an external one?

 

Another option I have found out is the DacMagic, it's £199, compared to Titanium HD's £111, and has XLR balanced output. Perfect connection for Adam A5Xs.

 

They do look good, but I'm guessing I will need a pre-amp as well as DAC for the sub?

Cambridge Audio DacMagic? The DacMagic is a very good DAC, and that's a very good price compared to your Essence STX price. Here in the U.S. the DacMagic costs over twice as much. They're coming out with a new product soon, maybe they're dropping prices. It would be a good option for you.

Cheap internal sound cards may be subject to RMI and EMI inside a computer case. The Essence STX and Titanium HD are shielded, and the STX at least is shielded quite well. I'm sure it depends on the computer, but Stereophile measured very impressive noise levels. You'll hit the 16 bit noise floor before you hit the card's noise floor. I have it sitting right between my graphics card and processor, no audible noise no matter how busy the components get.

Whoa how u go from a $1k+ usd  set up to those A2s? For near field you do not need a monster amp to drive speakers even less so if you are pairing amp with efficient speakers. Also u stated you love bass so perhaps a nice 8-10" sub in the mix? Drop by AVS/Whathifi for more speaker suggestions if u willing to splash the cash for good SQ 

Also have a look at superfi since u in the UK hehe

http://www.superfi.co.uk/

I am not saying B&W are bad just (IMO) overpriced for the SQ they belt out

I suppose with a healthy budget the Monitor Audio BX2 is well within range 

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/7983

Mind that the position of the speakers in the room will be essential.  

If you are going to put them on a desk, I'd suggest buying a pair of professional active speakers such as the Adam A5 or A7, or a pair of KRK in the same price range, which were meant to be positioned also on a desk for monitoring and also have external switches on the back to adjust the frequency response of each speaker in case you have to put them in not-optimal position (i.e. one of the speakers in a corner).

I'd suggest to go to a music instruments' store and give them a listen before buying them.

I think the internal sound card will be fine.

One thing: what's the bitrate of the Mp3s you usually listen to? Active monitor speakers are very revealing and if the recordings you are listening to are poor, the result may disappoint you.

Well i would definitely steer clear of boxed/set HTs cos the sacrifice in SQ (for the most part) is just too much to cater for convenience  Hmm do drop by a hifi shop/store and audition stuff u keen on and even bring CD/s matching the genre of music u like and request if using your own CDs to audition those are cool 

Quote:

Originally Posted by trog 

Well i would definitely steer clear of boxed/set HTs cos the sacrifice in SQ (for the most part) is just too much to cater for convenience  Hmm do drop by a hifi shop/store and audition stuff u keen on and even bring CD/s matching the genre of music u like and request if using your own CDs to audition those are cool 

Dear,

Since I, as the OP, am not English mothertongue I would suggest to bear some patience and to mind this while answering!  "1 may not b used 2 such kinda slang 'ritin!" 

Anyway I agree with you, cheap HT-like stuff is rubbish for the most, and I would also avoid sound cards produced by gaming-oriented brands as someone else suggested

I don't know how much auditioning stuff in hi-fi shops would be useful since our fellow's particular listening environment

The Asus Xonar Essence st has excellent specs at a good price I think you should go with that, the amp your looking at is £250 and doesn't list any solid specs just marking bs I wouldn't buy it, the b&w 685 are excellent speakers but hardly a bargin at £400, the Adam A5x have ribbon tweeters , ribbon tweeters are very directional you have to have them ear height facing your ears to get the best sound from them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRG1990 

The Asus Xonar Essence st

I have to agree with this. It does drive most headphones, and the Dac is pretty decent. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Konstantin1 

The MP3s I have are mostly 320 kbs, some VRB and a minority are 128 kbs. What's the lowest MP3 bit rate would you recommend to play on speakers such as Adam A5s / A5Xs, would it be lower for none studio speakers such as B&W 685s?

 

 

I have never done any serious comparison of file formats, because I've never downloaded anything. I've always just ripped my CDs into FLAC. 

But I have a friend, a download-maniac, that after having purchased a pair of earphones on my advice, phoned me to thank me telling me "now I have to download higher quality mp3s because those ligher ones sound so bad in comparison".

For sure I can tell you that consumer Hi-Fi gear is, by design, less revealing and "dynamic" than professional-oriented audio equipment, because the latter is designed to reveal flaws during playback while the first is, conversely, designed to make most things sound good.