Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Computer Audio › Upgrading my pc's audio ... Needing some advice
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Upgrading my pc's audio ... Needing some advice

post #1 of 39
3/13/13 at 12:14pm
Thread Starter 

Hello Audiophiles ,,,
first of all i am not an audiophile ... but i love high end audio and notice big differences of sound

currently i have x-fi extreme audio and creative t6200 5.1 speakers and aurvana live

thinking about upgrading this setup 

i would buy senn 598 ,,, and i need a good dac to notice a big difference

i wouldn't buy something more than 150$ at any point

so i've downed my researches to this four

creative titanium hd 

creative zx

cretive titanium hd usb

asus xonar d2x ( very cheap in my country )

 

i think the titanium hd would be the best because it is an audiophile sound card but i will still use my old sound card for the speakers

so i am leaning to zx and d2x if there's no big difference in sound .. but if there is my choice would be the titanium hd

zx has also an amp which is a very good thing because i don't have money to buy an amp

my concern about zx is that it is listed in creative website as a gaming sound card although it is 116 dB and using premium components ....
my use is
60% music ... 30% movies ... 10% gaming

the most important thing to me is to produce a good real soundstage ... ( not a fake one like stupid softwares produce dolby and sbx and other stupid stuff )
so 
give me Your opinions ... you would really help me out

Reply

Head-Fi's Best Sellers

post #2 of 39
3/13/13 at 2:13pm

What i can say is, the Sennheiser HD-598 is more for Classical.

 

So if you've never heard one before and don't like classical, don't get it.

Reply
post #3 of 39
3/13/13 at 3:05pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by cssarrow View Post

What i can say is, the Sennheiser HD-598 is more for Classical.

 

So if you've never heard one before and don't like classical, don't get it.

So Could You Suggest Another One In 200$ Price Range ?
Metal , Blues , Some Classical Music

Reply
post #4 of 39
3/13/13 at 3:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tigerdx619 View Post

So Could You Suggest Another One In 200$ Price Range ?
Metal , Blues , Some Classical Music

It will do fine for Blues and some Classical, but for harder hitting Metal, it will sound awful.

 

Some Audio Technicas in the $200 range might do better for metal, but i'll have to see which, as i don't own many in the sub-$500 headphones.

Reply
post #5 of 39
3/13/13 at 3:51pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by cssarrow View Post

It will do fine for Blues and some Classical, but for harder hitting Metal, it will sound awful.

 

Some Audio Technicas in the $200 range might do better for metal, but i'll have to see which, as i don't own many in the sub-$500 headphones.

I listen To Symphonic Metal Only .... Do You Still Advise Me To Switch From Senn We Audio Technica >>> I Thinks Soundstage Is Better in Senn HD598 !
 

Reply
post #6 of 39
3/13/13 at 4:08pm

What do you find lacking with the aurvana live? I've owned the 598's and found them to lack bass. It's there, it just has no punch.

Reply
post #7 of 39
3/13/13 at 5:04pm

Of course sound stage is better on the HD 598, its made for classical.

Just like the HD800, also made for classical and vinyl recordings.

 

Sennheiser has bass frequencies, but you'll feel nothing.

 

Look at the 57+ Headphones Reviewed Topic, and look for the best performance/price ratio headphones.

Then read about each individually until you find one to your liking.

Reply
post #8 of 39
3/13/13 at 11:12pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by cssarrow View Post

Of course sound stage is better on the HD 598, its made for classical.

Just like the HD800, also made for classical and vinyl recordings.

 

Sennheiser has bass frequencies, but you'll feel nothing.

 

Look at the 57+ Headphones Reviewed Topic, and look for the best performance/price ratio headphones.

Then read about each individually until you find one to your liking.

OK Thanks A lot ...

Reply
post #9 of 39
3/15/13 at 9:12pm
Thread Starter 

bump , Anyone ?! Titanium Hd Or Zx

Reply
post #10 of 39
3/16/13 at 7:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tigerdx619 View Post

bump , Anyone ?! Titanium Hd Or Zx


Of those two I'd go with the HD. Do you have access to Asus sound cards?

Reply
post #11 of 39
3/17/13 at 8:35am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by HPiper View Post


Of those two I'd go with the HD. Do you have access to Asus sound cards?

Yes ... But Asus XonarD2X   only ... i know essence stx is very good ,, but i don't want to buy something expensive like that
could you tell me why you prefer The Hd ... cause d2x and creative zx would make things easier to me because of the 5.1 outpot .. if there's not a big difference between them and the HD i would go for on of them ... but if there's i would buy the HD ... i would like to know ur opinion 

Reply
post #12 of 39
3/17/13 at 12:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tigerdx619 View Post

Yes ... But Asus XonarD2X   only ... i know essence stx is very good ,, but i don't want to buy something expensive like that
could you tell me why you prefer The Hd ... cause d2x and creative zx would make things easier to me because of the 5.1 outpot .. if there's not a big difference between them and the HD i would go for on of them ... but if there's i would buy the HD ... i would like to know ur opinion 

 

If you want to use the card to drive headphones directly, then the Xonar D2X is not the best choice, because it has only line outputs.

Reply
post #13 of 39
3/17/13 at 2:12pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by stv014 View Post

 

If you want to use the card to drive headphones directly, then the Xonar D2X is not the best choice, because it has only line outputs.

i think you are saying zx cause it have a built in-amp ?! ... i really like the zx

Reply
post #14 of 39
3/18/13 at 4:37am

I'm kinda in your same situation. Only that my options are the D2X, Titanium HD and Essence STX. And when it comes to headphones, I'm looking mainly at the Sony MDR-1R and the AKG K550 (has to be a closed headphone, otherwise my gf is going to annoy me because of sound leakage).

While the ST/STX has a built in amp that is quiet good, it isn't as good for low impedance headphones (HD 598, Audio Technica, MDR-1R and so on). The same goes for the Titanium HD. Now, from my research it seems that it would be better to get a D2X (very good dac) and combine it with an external amp like the Schiit Magni. Low impedance headphones will sound better than on the ST/STX/Titanium HD and seen that you can get the D2X for a very good price, it should fit your $ 150 budget....and that is including the Magni.


Edited by Element2k3 - 3/18/13 at 4:38am
Reply
post #15 of 39
3/18/13 at 9:37am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Element2k3 View Post

I'm kinda in your same situation. Only that my options are the D2X, Titanium HD and Essence STX. And when it comes to headphones, I'm looking mainly at the Sony MDR-1R and the AKG K550 (has to be a closed headphone, otherwise my gf is going to annoy me because of sound leakage).

While the ST/STX has a built in amp that is quiet good, it isn't as good for low impedance headphones (HD 598, Audio Technica, MDR-1R and so on). The same goes for the Titanium HD. Now, from my research it seems that it would be better to get a D2X (very good dac) and combine it with an external amp like the Schiit Magni. Low impedance headphones will sound better than on the ST/STX/Titanium HD and seen that you can get the D2X for a very good price, it should fit your $ 150 budget....and that is including the Magni.

thanks for reply ... I am thinking now between the d2x and creative zx .... i think you made a good option for me with the d2x ... gonna consider it 

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Computer Audio

Head-Fi's Best Sellers

Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Computer Audio › Upgrading my pc's audio ... Needing some advice