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Sennheiser HD 650 Set-Up

post #1 of 6
1/15/12 at 5:14pm
Thread Starter 

Hello,

 

I'm relatively new to the whole high-end headphone market, however I now own a pair of Sennheiser HD 650 headphones. I also just recently purchased a Graham Slee Novo Amp through the forums here.

 

My question is this:

 

I do most of my listening from my computer at this time, and I am wondering what the best way to hook this system up would be?

 

I built my computer myself, it uses an ASUS P8P67Pro ATX Motherboard with onboard Audio which is described as:

 

DTS Surround Sensation UltraPC
DTS Surround Sensation UltraPC delivers exceptional 5.1 surround experience through the most common PC audio setups - your existing stereo speakers or headphones.

 

From what I've read here the audio is only as good as what you are running it from. Since this is an onboard sound card, would it be beneficial for me to upgrade to a stand-alone Sound Card?

 

 

Also, is a mini-to-RCA (headphone output to Stereo sound for the back of the amp) my best output setup for interconnect cables? Or should I go RCA-to-RCA?

 

I was looking at Milian Acoustic Cables Silver Plated OFC cables either way, if a recommendation could be made here in the place of those, please let me know.

 

 

I would appreciate any knowledge you can give me.

 

Thanks

 

Andro

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post #2 of 6
1/16/12 at 5:46am
Thread Starter 

bump.

 

please if anyone can give recommendations it would be appreciated. I am really new to this, and I would like to get this set up right the first time around.

 

Thanks,

 

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post #3 of 6
1/16/12 at 6:44am

Andro--

 

There are many ways to get your signal out of the computer and into your amp,

and many ways to think of it. The better the sound card the better. There are

very good internal sound cards and various external audio interfaces with 

audio inputs and outputs. 

 

Or you can think into audiophile terms, and think of a DAC to convert 

the digital signal to an audio signal. These usually take the signal

from a USB or firewire port.  Look CASH List on Computer Audiophile.

It will give you a place to begin.

 

Don

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post #4 of 6
1/16/12 at 7:50am
Thread Starter 

What would be a good DAC for Sennheiser HD 650's with a Graham Slee Novo Amp?

 

Thanks,

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post #5 of 6
1/16/12 at 3:10pm

I'm using the same motherboard and the optical output 24/192 to an Emotiva XDA-1 DAC and a pair of thier XPA-1 amps. Sounds pretty good to me. Using HD 650 headphones with a Creek headphone amp and the RCA outputs on the XDA-1.  If I bought a DAC I'd make sure it had Optical and Coaxial inputs not just USB.

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post #6 of 6
1/16/12 at 3:17pm

I also connected the Creek amp directly to the mini audio output on the motherboard and thru a Creative SB X-F1 soundcard and both sounded like #%@. The optical out to a DAC is the way to go.

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