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Should I look for an amp with (optical) S/PDIF inputs?

post #1 of 24
12/13/11 at 7:32am
Thread Starter 

Ok so here's the story so far, very short: I'm a music freak but also a software developer so I'm doing all my listening at the PC. I wanted to get Asus Xonar but apparently the card is unusable in Windows 7 64 bit (or barely usable). So now I will have to rely on my on-board sound card.

 

Now the problem is that I don't want to take sound from the (already sh1tty motherboard) sound card via a sh1tty stereo jack. That probably means tons of useless noise and interference and I'd be wasting my money on an amp if I go that way.

 

So the only solution, I think (please CORRECT me if I'm wrong), is to use S/PDIF, as that is completely free (??????) of noise problems since the signal is digital.

 

I would then stick that S/PDIF into a nice DAC, preferably with an integrated AMP (any models in a 300$ range?).

 

NOTE: My motherboard only has optical S/PDIF output. I also have a standard S/PDIF output on the motherboard itself, but I'd have to buy a bracket to use it, and I'd rather not. Besides, going optical just seems more forward-looking.


Edited by Axonn - 12/13/11 at 3:26pm
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post #2 of 24
12/14/11 at 3:21am

Bingo!  Least you did your research...

 

come think of it....this was the exact same dilemma I had while perv...playing tomb raider on a PC with headphones on, noise...next thing you know I bought the best headphone Sennhesisser had to offer.


Edited by SP Wild - 12/14/11 at 3:24am
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post #3 of 24
12/14/11 at 11:42am
Thread Starter 

No, no research more than reading various things on this Forum lately and beginning to understand a few more things about high-end audio, which I wasn't very adept at.

 

I am still a bit in the dark.

 

So, any ideas of DACs with optical S/PDIF inputs?

 

Also waiting for more people to confirm that S/PDIF carries no noise/interference and it's just as good no matter what soundcard you got (even if you got on-board sound card). Not that I don't believe you SP Wild! ::- ). But since I'm not in a very good financial situation, I need to be super careful what I buy.

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post #4 of 24
12/14/11 at 2:40pm
I'm using the ASUS Essence STX on Win 7 64-bit. The software side of it has been problem free, the hardware side has been too, but it struggles with my current pair of headphones. Its been great with everything else I've thrown at it though. I'll probably be retiring it tonight though, I got a Burson coming in.
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post #5 of 24
12/15/11 at 12:35am
Thread Starter 

Struggles? What do you mean by that?

 

Will you use your Burson via S/PDIF?

 

I repeat my plea for help: any model recommandations for DAC/Amps with optical S/PDIF inputs and of good quality / which you prefferrably owned / tested?

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post #6 of 24
12/15/11 at 5:19am

http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/NFB12/NFB12EN.htm

 

headphone amp with built in dac, has both optical and coaxial inputs 

 

NFB121s.JPG

NFB122s.JPG

 

 

ibasso d12

http://www.ibasso.com/en/products/show.asp?ID=63


Edited by soymilkftw - 12/15/11 at 5:24am
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post #7 of 24
12/15/11 at 9:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Axonn View Post

Struggles? What do you mean by that?

 

Will you use your Burson via S/PDIF?

 

I repeat my plea for help: any model recommandations for DAC/Amps with optical S/PDIF inputs and of good quality / which you prefferrably owned / tested?


My essence doesn't drive my Sones very well on certain songs. Keeping in mind my musical preferances(last.fm in sig) I'm listening to some very fast, loud, and demanding stuff. It just can't always keep up. It gets a little flat and edgy sounding. Keep in mind that I'm speaking of the Essence > Ultrasone combo here, it plays very nicely on slower less dynamic music, or with any music on less demanding headphones.
The burson arrived, unfortunately DOA. I'll let you know well it does when the replacement shows up. From what I've seen it is a massive performance increase over the Essence, and it should be for the price it goes for.

I'm not sure I would get the NFB-12. Audio-GD is known to get bogged down pretty badly this time of the year, and headphonia's NFB-12 review doesn't make it look very promising.
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post #8 of 24
12/15/11 at 9:48am
Thread Starter 

Thank you! Unfortunately, I can't find them here in Sweden ::- (. That Chinese website is fishy ::- D.

 

Any other models you know, people?

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post #9 of 24
12/15/11 at 11:00am
Thread Starter 

MohawkUS: ack! WTF!? Sheesh.......... quality this days...... *sigh*. I hope your replacement comes gets there soon!

 

I got Sennheiser HD 598 like you had. Got them 2 weeks ago but I'm not satisfied with their bass, that's why I'm going to get some Sony XB 1000 for my DubStep collection. The Sennheiser's are great for my Metal listening though ::- D. Too bad they leak such a horrible amount of sound: it drives anybody around me crazy ::- D. Kind of defeats the purpose of a headphone LOL.

 

I can't find Burson HA 160 DS over here, but I did find Burson HA 160. The price, however, is completely nuts LOL ::- D. I can't afford 900$! Jesus ::- D. It better be good for you! And for that money, DOA? G'damn!

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post #10 of 24
12/15/11 at 11:46am
Theres a risk of getting a DOA with anything, but with a $900 amplifier that is built by hand... is disappointing to say the least. Though it may be the fault of the seller I bought it from, he sent the D model instead of the DS, makes me think I may have gotten a refurb or broken unit, though it doesn't have a scratch on it.
Have you looked at any of the grace units Axonn? The headphonia review says that they have a slightly boosted bass. Not a very forgiving presentation to it, but dubstep usually has good recording quality so that wouldn't be much of an issue.
Edited by MohawkUS - 12/15/11 at 11:50am
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post #11 of 24
12/15/11 at 11:48am

The audio gd site does look kinda sketchy but they are good people.  They are also a sponsor for this website.  Albeit not the best performer, I still think its a solid dac/amp under $300.

 

Have you looked at the ibasso d12?

 

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post #12 of 24
12/15/11 at 1:16pm

Wouldn't a USB out also suits you? I'm using the Nuforce uDAC, computer->USB->DAC, then straight to the uDAC's built-in headphone plug or to your amp.

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post #13 of 24
12/15/11 at 1:43pm
Thread Starter 

I frown upon USB. Don't know why. It doesn't seem... right ::- D. I think S/PDIF is best. As for what kind of S/PDIF.... Optical suits me but I'm worried about jitter (after doing a bit of research). So I may go for coaxial.

 

I looked at iBasso but, as I said, I can't find either of those here in Stockholm (Sweden). So, even if liked any of them... I couldn't buy them.

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post #14 of 24
12/15/11 at 1:55pm
It all depends on the amp, a lot of them cheap out on the USB interface, but when they don't it works just as well as coax. Optical I'm not sure on, a lot of reviewers seem to frown on it, I think it falls somewhere between USB and Coax on most models, but again it relies on the interface.
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post #15 of 24
12/15/11 at 9:35pm

I have an Earforce DSS unit.  It is a USB powered Dolby Headphone processor.  It was cheaper than the Astro Mixamp.  It does its job well: takes optical in from my Xbox 360 or Playstation 3, Dolby 5.1 - 7.1 are accepted.  It does the shimmy and outputs binaural signal to headphones.  Works well for movies and great positioning for games when it's too late to use speakers late at night.  I hook up my PC using the 1/8" analog input.  Lousy, not to mention the analog input gets treated to Dolby PLIIX (must mean "total *****" in Druidic or some such).

 

But I noticed my mobo has an optical out.  So I got the latest drivers and hooked up by toslink.  Big difference in volume and quality, but some crazy echo and a bizarre "collapsing" effect where it sounds like the drums are on top of the rest of the band.  Then I noticed the switch to bypass all Dolby processing and WOW.  For a dinky thing powered by USB it really, really opens up my Shure SRH840s a lot.  A whole lot.  I just ordered a Grado SR225 off eBay and I would've resisted the urge to experiment had I known my cans could sound like this.  Previously the bass was whispery unless I really cranked up the volume, but then cymbals would start getting sibilant not to mention start distoring in a way that made the soundstage melt together.  Now things are clear and crisp with great separation.  The bass is smooth and accurate and I don't need to crank the thing like a jalopy to make it happen.

 

I did some A/B between the s/pdif and the 1/8" input, both with the Dolby bypassed, and the s/pdif is an astounding improvement.  Most likely this has as much to do with the poor quality of the tacked on feature of this device, and I can't speak more technically about things for you guys as my amp experience is pretty weak: Fiio E11, Rolls HA43.  But this little guy, with no actual power supply, is really really impressive.  I saw the thread title and would like to offer an amateur but enthusiastic "Yes, s/pdif seems to be the cat's meow."

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