Leckerton Audio UHA-6S MKI DAC on PC & ASUS Xonar Phobius

I have an Essence STX and it does bypass the soundcard via USB so you don't have to remove it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shini44 

so i am planing to buy Leckerton Audio UHA-6S MKII + OPA627AP on it yet if i wana use it sometimes on the PC so do i have to remove the sound card or the usb plugged amp will bypass the card? or should i link it with the card? which i think is a bad idea since the card also got a built in AMP.

I need to ask a dumb question, if you already have the Asus Phoebus in your PC, can't see why you would need to plug the Leckerton UHA-S6 MKII into your PC?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shini44 

cause i think that this AMP is better :P anyway i need this AMP for portable needs so was just wondering

As the Asus Phobus's headphone jack has a 10-Ohm impedance, low Ohm headphone might benefit from using the UHA-6S.

Any idea on the output impedance of the UHA-6S?

It probably has about 100 Ω output impedance then, as compared to 10.7 Ω on the Xonar STX. It is also less powerful than the Xonar (at least the STX, I assume the amplifier on the Phoebus has similar specs), which is capable of more than 170 mW into 250 Ω. In general, it looks more like a downgrade, other than avoiding the Xonar's digital volume control, and therefore possibly reducing hiss with sensitive headphones, assuming it was audible in the first place.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shini44 

 

the AMP have low gain which will make the IE80 better and i need portable AMP anyway :P

OK, that makes sense, you did not mention the IE80 before.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shini44 

which i think is a bad idea since the card also got a built in AMP.

You can bypass the built-in amplifier on the card by using its line output. In fact, if the UHA-6S does have 100 Ω output impedance, you may even try connecting your IEMs directly to the line output of the sound card.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stv014 

It probably has about 100 Ω output impedance then, as compared to 10.7 Ω on the Xonar STX. 

100 Ω?? If it's anything like its predecessor, the 6S, it will be more like 0.4Ω (Check the specifications tab). The UHA 6S MKII may have lower output power ratings, but for IEMs and portable headphones, it has enough juice. In fact, on high gain, the MK I easily powers my modded T50RPs.

Let's not forget that the 6S is also a DAC that accepts USB and optical inputs, and its performance as a DAC may be better than an onboard soundcard. (YMMV, obvs). 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shini44 

what about if i am also getting Sure 980 headphone?

Do you mean the SRH-940 ? For most headphones, it is generally best to have lower output impedance, but this is one of the few models that actually becomes more balanced from a high impedance source (it adds more mid-bass that the SRH-940 lacks), although it probably still increases distortion. Try it from both, and use whichever sounds better to you.