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E10 sounds worse than when using realtek.

post #1 of 8
2/3/12 at 5:42am
Thread Starter 

I have AKG 242HD headphones and bought an E10 DAC for them recently. However, when trying them out they seemed to be quality than when I just had it hooked up to my PC using the realtek sound(with the equalizer set on Rock). It can go louder but doesn't have much more bass and everything seems less clear and more muffled. Sort of like having speakers then putting a pillow in front of them. I wasn't expecting a massive boost in performance but have heard the E10 is AT LEAST better than a motherboard. So I don't get it? Am I doing something wrong? Could it be defective or is this what they're like?

Edit: Should have put this in portable amps. Sorry. Can a mod please move it?


Edited by Darklord88 - 2/3/12 at 5:44am
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post #2 of 8
2/3/12 at 6:27am

How does the Realtek compare to the E10 without any equalization on either ?

Edit: even if you do not use any equalization, the onboard audio may possibly "equalize" the sound somewhat as a side-effect of having high output impedance.

 


Edited by stv014 - 2/3/12 at 6:32am
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post #3 of 8
2/3/12 at 6:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by stv014 View Post

How does the Realtek compare to the E10 without any equalization on either ?

Edit: even if you do not use any equalization, the onboard audio may possibly "equalize" the sound somewhat as a side-effect of having high output impedance.

 



I am very pleased with my E10 and I use the Sony laptop sans EQ. My headphone is the Shure SRH 840 and again I do not like heavy bass rather mid bass.

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post #4 of 8
2/3/12 at 8:14am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by stv014 View Post

How does the Realtek compare to the E10 without any equalization on either ?

 

 


 

Realtek sounds like trash with no equalization. Are there any equalization programs I can use with the E10?

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post #5 of 8
2/3/12 at 8:23am

If I were you, I'd just get used to the unequalized sound. The rock equalizer boosts the treble and reduces lower mid-range, which is going to improve perceived clarity but artificially so. Your headphones are probably fairly neutral without it.

 

I remember when I used to use a Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer in my computer, and would listen to music with CMSS-3D and the Crystallizer on. Turning it off would sound like crap. Then I took the time to set up bit-perfect Audio Creation mode, and after I sat down to give it a critical listen I realized there was more detail, it just wasn't thrown into my face anymore because of poorly equalized treble.

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post #6 of 8
2/6/12 at 3:23am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Head Injury View Post

If I were you, I'd just get used to the unequalized sound. The rock equalizer boosts the treble and reduces lower mid-range, which is going to improve perceived clarity but artificially so. Your headphones are probably fairly neutral without it.

 

I remember when I used to use a Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer in my computer, and would listen to music with CMSS-3D and the Crystallizer on. Turning it off would sound like crap. Then I took the time to set up bit-perfect Audio Creation mode, and after I sat down to give it a critical listen I realized there was more detail, it just wasn't thrown into my face anymore because of poorly equalized treble.


 

But you still set it up using Audio Creation mode. I don't have any options to change settings other than bass on/off pretty much. And the bass is no where near the bass I can get on the motherboards setting.

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post #7 of 8
2/6/12 at 9:54am

Leave the realtek equalizer flat with no DSP, and simply use the EQ built into foobar or whatever other audio player you use to handle EQ. Then, you get the same changes no matter what device you output to.  

  

Since you said the flat "no-EQ" realtek sounded horrible, I suspect that the E10 sounds way better than the realtek, but you just really like the particular sound signature you get when you use EQ - more bass or whatever. So use EQ in your player, and you get the quality of the E10 and the customization of the realtek.


Edited by Timestretch - 2/6/12 at 9:55am
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post #8 of 8
2/6/12 at 10:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Darklord88 View Post

But you still set it up using Audio Creation mode.


Exactly. Audio Creation mode was just a mode without fancy equalization and other settings. That's what you have by default with the E10, basically.

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