Probably stupid question but...

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbare 

 

Hello guys,

First and foremost, greetings to you.

Up until now I haven't really been listening to music on more than the average setup (onboard audio, random headphones etc).
However I've decided to take this up a notch, so yesterday I bought a pair of Shure SRH-440.
Now being new to this, I read lots of things about DACs/Amps, and I'm not sure what would be appropriate and what not, so here's the basic rundown:

- I'll be using them for music, all sorts really, but I guess most would be electronic music and pop/hip-hop
- source will be my work laptop, which obviously has a nasty integrated audio ,or my Galaxy S2 phone, depending on which would prove best.
- budget is ~100 GBP / ~150 USD

Now if I'll use the phone, I heard they use a Wolfson DAC which supposedly outputs pretty good sound.
If I use the laptop I'll also need an external USB soundcard (Creative? any alternatives?).

So I'm not sure if I should be looking into buying an external soundcard, and amp (I don't care if it's portable or not), or both.

Could I please have some thoughts?

Cheers!



EDIT: 

Okay. after reading for couple of hours last night, I came to the conclusion that since I'll be listening through a laptop mostly and at times through my phone, best would be to buy either an E7 (DAC for laptop, Amp for phone) or an E17 (DAC for laptop, Amp for phone) correct?

Am I correct in believing that it's rather useless also purchasing an external soundcard? (since the DAC will take care of signal quality)
Would purchasing an external soundcard be an alternative to purchasing a DAC/Amp combo? Are they equivalent?

The e17 is a better upgrade path. And also serves as an ezternal sound card. The e7 is not as recommendes as h e17. I jave the srh440. Works well with pop but not good with hip hop. Anyway, the e17 is probably for u. I bought it. Dont have it yet. I will and can give a more detailed responce when i am home.

I doubt the galaxy uses a wolfson

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbare 

Hello mate, thanks for your answer, regarding the Wolfson, it's official not a rumour - click (there are plenty of references, I'm just too lazy to look).

 

Regarding the headphones, I'm actually really glad you have them as well, I'm still waiting for mine and haven't got a chance to listen to them.

From what I've read around here the E17 will be available again around February.

 

Looking forward to you getting home, cheers.

Ill chek it out later. But watyever the galaxy uses is lesser than the iphones. Anyway. I kinda think the hfi 580s might hve been better for u. I dont have them but the pro700mk2 is also a bassy can that might suit u better. The srh440 in my opinion r too analytical and not fun enough for my tastes. Again, im at classes. I will get home in a couple hours and give u a in depth thing on the amp and external this. What u need to pair it with and etc. i am on my phone right now and dont have luxury to test and other stuff

Ok home now,

The E17 IS an external sound card for laptops and or desktops. with desktops. you can usually pop in a dedicated card. with aptops. you were probably looking at those $20 hifiman DAC's or something. The e17 does that job already and not only as a working but well reviewed DAC, but also a pretty good powered amp(don't wanna say high powered...but this thing packs ...quite a bit of mW....275mW @ 16 Ohms )

Next the wolfson on ur phone. Wolfson is known and my testing with my wolfson equipped devices, do show a bit warmer sound than my cirrus logic one's but that is it. Now.. let's use and example. Ford motor company. it's a reputable company. Everything there is good right and would ust be jolly. IT doens't matter if it's a ford focus or GT Mustang right? This is the same with Wolfson. it's a high end audio leading company.....with a whole series ranging from low quality to high quality. No smartphone on the market that is super mass produced can really beat an iPhone (Nokia is contested but unknown) it's Cirrus Logic's specs and performance and high quality parts are just really good. now i'm a Samsung Fanatic as well. i love Samsung, Apple and ASUS as my top companies. the galaxy also uses high quality parts unlike other phones so that's a +1 for you already. Imagine the Woflson in ur phone to be the ford focus..and the wolfoson in the E17 to be that GT Mustang Shelby with super pimped modded parts. That's the difference between the two.

Now would an dual use product with an amp and DAC make a big difference? With the SRH440's? ...well let's just say this. it makes a difference by making everything more clear and basically a great quality signal. the SRH440's are very analystical. going from one device to another doesn't change the overal enjoyment as much as i find that the clearer devices make the sRH440's analytical qualities less known or subdue them making them actually pleasant :D Think of this as an example. a nagging mom. you know she is right on everything and is just doing that to help you. but is soooo annoying. it's a quality you wnat deep down as you know it's actually good..but gosh..annoying. the E17 will be a device thta muffles that E17. it gives you a better mom that drives home the same good knowledge she wants to give, without maing it sound so harsh.  

Now next onto laptop use. the E17 will be great with a laptop. it features USB,SPDIF, and AUX in :D has higher quality chips and a great amp. the E7 was more of an DAC....with the ability to amp as just that incentive to buy it..the E17 actually like legitiaatley has both.  I would recommend the E17 over the E7. i have bought the E17. but don't own the E7. but as u can see from reviews..no contest from the E7 to E17. if you are spending $89 already....why not make that money you are already spending...count?

Next headphones. i don't know what specific artists you listen to, but don't know if the SRH440's are actually for you. I would sa they are more for pop and rock and eveything else BUT hip hop and mainstream bass heavy music. for that..like i said up top. would get the HFI 580's that i own and love or as others note. i don't hav but have also heard goodstuff about the AT Pro700MK2's. the HIF580 can be found for $118 on BH .

since this is ur first audiophile headphone i think. im ust warn. you ....when you first get this...you will be like......where is the phone number for the return. i said hat when i got my SHR440's also back when i started. your ears..don't know what they have been missing which is what. after about 3 weeks....you notice...oh gosh you notice. it's the end of the 3rd day when u try it with some songs u like..that u go...wow...this is really clear...but all in all.the RH440's are an analytical. studio use headphone...but play the right tracks. and these things are wonderful. just plain wonderful, shure's house sound is just amazing with the vocals and all :D

I don't think i missed anyting? want me to clarify or elaborate any parts (i suck at organizing my thoughts) or any other questions or anything?

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbare 

Mate, all I can say, is that you covered everything, and boy did you make things clear.

Finally I can grasp some concepts that have been making my head numb for a while :)

So then, an E17 it will be, since I'll be able to use it regardless of the sound source (any alternatives maybe in this price range?)

For the bass part, I'm not really affected that the Shure's won't have thumpin bass, I'm fine with a discrete but well contoured one, besides, most music I listen to is electronic, not hip-hop, something like 70% electronic, 20% hip-hop and pop, 10% the rest (like classical etc).

I'll stick with the Shures for now, and I'll give them a proper chance to shine.

Was there any difference after break-in with yours?

me clear? hmm i re read my own post and din't think i made some parts clear

over here. i was trying to drive home the fact that Wolfson also has mid line DAC's and that ur phone probably has one. just being Wolfson doesn't make it god.

"

over here i was trying to tell you that with a good DAC and amp..it makes the SRH440's less analytical and drives everything else fuller and better. ...it's something u deff want. ...no..it DOES NOT MEAN your tracks can be bad quality. They will sound better than if you use a bad one..but omg...the SRH440s....will take a track and spit it back at you if it's poorley mastered or you have a non CD ripped or just a bad copy of it.... 

Any alt for the E17 at this range? As ClieOS said in his review...at this range..nothing is here that offers such price to performance. There are "Better" amps in this range as clieos said..but they are just featureless not as universal amps that would then need you to go out and spend another $200 on a DAC. 

If so then the SRH440's should do you well.... :D it doesn't have thumping  bass but the bas presence is there. audiophile bass though. it isn't think bass but just enough. it's clear and hits. not hard but hits. 

Sticking with the Shure's is a good idea of course. just wanted to tell you of other possibilities. Many love them. they have since after 2009 with their second and succesful attempt at entering the market gained a huge follwoing on head fi

and...oh boy..yes there was... at first there was very little bass..the mids were a bit recessed(vocals sounded a bit far off. not as centered and warm) and...the highs..omg...they were either not bright enough or wayyyyyy too bright (harsh) it takes a while it goes back and forth between harsh highs and not enough and just..goes back and forth in between.

And lastly in case u didnt' get what i meant with the E7.....at this point. i would not go with it.... it's more DAC than amp...it doesn't sound as good (from reviews. i don't have it) and is... $90 USD already.... 

NExt. i have heard rumours that ICS in android supports...digital audio output. i haven't looked into this. but if what i have heard is true. you might be able to bypass both the DAC and amp of the Samsung and......wow...dare i say. use the DAC and amp of the e17.. i have not heard really too many/much about it and in my knowledge is still a rmour..but f this does happen...the E17 should be able to support(i say should..never know) this is just a rumour though. take it with a grain of salt and don't factor this into your purchase. 

Does your computer have an SPDI/F or otpical port? (google it) if it does. the e17 can use that also :D

I recommend CD ripped tracks into lossless. i don't know what lossless format your galaxy supports. FLAC maybe? they are just leagues better (if mastered correctly)

Oh and in case u haven't gotten one yet:

"Welcome to Head-Fi! Sorry about your Wallet!"

We are a friendly community and always love to help :D hope u like it here and hope we helped you. Any sound Science or other general questions? I'm obviously home now and can help you a bit. Read some E17 reviews and stuff. i don't have them yet and can't tell you everything about them. this is a big purchase and i would like u to have peace of mind through self interest and stuff. in case u didnt' know..the e17 sold out in hours online...at most locations :D

Sorry about this double post. HEad fi's commenting system has errors a lot. part of my post wasnt' showing up..here:

I recommend CD ripped tracks into lossless. i don't know what lossless format your galaxy supports. FLAC maybe? they are just leagues better (if mastered correctly)

To plug/use with ur phone. you need a dual male 3.5mm cable. i think it comes with E17. don't quote me on this. you take one end. plug it into where u usually plug headphones into galaxy. and plug the second end intot he 3.5mm input side of the E17 (not the pink plug) then switch settings to AUX

To use with ur pc through USB. you plug one end of usb cord into computer. next end it comes with into E17. it will take a mintue to instal prob. go look in sound options. go to "playback devices" set the E17 as ur default playback device and change the sampling or whatever to 96KHz @ 24Bit. i usually change this dynamically as my song calls for it.....you really don't need to. then change ur E17's menu or input selection to USB. to learn how to do SPDIF just ask

Oh and in case u haven't gotten one yet:

"Welcome to Head-Fi! Sorry about your Wallet!"

We are a friendly community and always love to help :D hope u like it here and hope we helped you. Any sound Science or other general questions? I'm obviously home now and can help you a bit. Read some E17 reviews and stuff. i don't have them yet and can't tell you everything about them. this is a big purchase and i would like u to have peace of mind through self interest and stuff. in case u didnt' know..the e17 sold out in hours online...at most locations :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbare 

Regarding the first part, no worries there, your message got through exactly as you meant it.

I've also remember reading about the DAC part in ICS, we'll see what happens.

But regardless if it happens or not, an E17 will come in handy either way.

I was already set on buying either a soundard or amp/dac but I wasn't sure of what each of them does, but now, after quite a bit of reading and your help it's clear to me that I'll get an E17 as soon as they're in stock :P

 

Regarding the SPDI/F, my home computer does have one, but it's irrelevant, I'll use the headphones at work 99% of the time. My work laptop doesn't have it.

 

 

As for the 2nd post, I do believe I'll save a link to this thread somewhere, so that I'll be able to take a look once I manage to get my hands on that amp.

The losless format will be FLAC by the way, my phone can read it, my laptop can read it, so it's all good there.

 

And thank you for the warm welcome and putting up with my lack of knowledge, much appreciated.

the E17 is basically an external sound card that is portable bring it whatever

The SPDI/F is NOT irrelevant. it will come in handy later on when u start getting better tracks and stuff. it supports 24/192 an advanced format. it will be this little treat feature that your E17 will have once you keep on upgrading and go through stuff. like CLIEOS said. unless you have those tracks..ur really not gonna hear a diff or anything. but it is an advanced format. instructions are here below if you need it in the future

i don't get what you meant by.. "I'll use the headphones at work 99% of the time." the SPDIF is used from computer to E17 and then headphones

haha enjoy your new setup..  turbare. i am glad to help someone in need. Many people PM me after a while with questions. i can answer most general questions and stuff or point you in the right direction. have a ice day Turbare :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbare 

 

What I mean was, that I'll use my headphones when I am at work, so on my work laptop, which doesn't have a SPDIF output 

thank you for elaborating. Turbare, i hope you like your purchase whatever you end up buying. You don't need to respond and we can call this thread over and finished and a job well done  but if you still have additional qeustions. feel free to reply and ask. if you ever have any additional questions. if it's over 1 day from this post(anytime u have any; i get them every now and then) I can do most general questions and point you in the right direction for other stuff usually. Plz send me a PM instead as I will probably not see this thread on my notification list. Have a good one.