Do I need an amp, DAC, and/or sound card for Audio-Technica ATH A900x Headphones?
Jul 27, 2014 at 6:37 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 15
Vandorix

Vandorix

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Hey guys, I'm just about to buy a pair of Audio-Technica ATH A900x headphones, but I need to know if I should buy anything else to compliment the headphones. Will an amp, DAC, or new sound card be necessary to ensure these headphones are performing as they should? My motherboard is an ASUS Z97 with a Realtek® ALC892 sound card. I will be using these headphones for gaming and music.
 
If you need any more information, don't hesitate to ask.
Thank you so much for your help in advance!
 
Jul 27, 2014 at 11:57 PM Post #2 of 15
vandorix said:
  Hey guys, I'm just about to buy a pair of Audio-Technica ATH A900X headphones, but I need to know if I should buy anything else to compliment the headphones. Will an amp, DAC, or new sound card be necessary to ensure these headphones are performing as they should? My motherboard is an ASUS Z97 with a Realtek® ALC892 sound card. I will be using these headphones for gaming and music.
 
If you need any more information, don't hesitate to ask.
Thank you so much for your help in advance!
Click to expand...

 
In general the ATH-A900Xs do well without a headphone amplifier.
But a headphone amplifier with a very low output impedance might help a little with detail
Schiit Magni, $99 and O2 (Objective 2), $130, both have an output impedance of less then 1-Ohm :)
A Asus Xonar DX or D1 sound card (used, $60) combined with one of those headphone amplifiers, might make a noticeable improvement in audio quality.
 
A FiiO E10K USB/DAC/Amp ($75) might make a noticeable improvement in audio quality, but offer zero headphone surround sound features.
 
Jul 28, 2014 at 12:02 AM Post #3 of 15
Oh, hadn't thought about that. Is there some sort of program or piece of electronics I can get my hands on that can create virtual surround sound in the headphones for games? I know I heard about that somewhere, I just don't know how one would go about doing it.
 
Jul 28, 2014 at 12:06 AM Post #4 of 15
surround sound added to music when listening on headphones is never really my thing so i recommended one with a better sound since you can get surrounded sound as a plugin on some music playing softwares.
 
Jul 28, 2014 at 12:28 AM Post #5 of 15
vandorix said:
Oh, hadn't thought about that. Is there some sort of program or piece of electronics I can get my hands on that can create virtual surround sound in the headphones for games? I know I heard about that somewhere, I just don't know how one would go about doing it.
Click to expand...


Dolby Headphone, found on many Asus Xonar cards, can downmix 5.1 audio into stereo for headphones to create virtual surround. Quite simple to use. Creative sound cards also have that feature, too.
 
Jul 28, 2014 at 1:48 AM Post #6 of 15
Pretty much any sound card will offer virtual surround features, so perhaps that's the best route for you.  Creative sound cards have the most and the best virtual surround features according to those who have extensively compared them to Dolby Headphone (ASUS).  
 
The Creative Sound Blaster Z isn't too expensive, especially when shopping for used ones.  It uses the most recent DSP from Creative which is packed with good features, including perhaps the highest rated virtual surround solution (SBX Pro Studio).  It also includes a headphone amplifier.
 
For what it's worth, I'm using the Audio Technica ATH-A900X with a Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium HD which is one of the best sound cards for pure sound quality, though it has no amplifier.  I'm still loving the combination.  I plan to get an amp soon for it, probably the Little Dot 1+.  But an amp is not a necessity for these headphones.
 
Jul 28, 2014 at 11:06 AM Post #7 of 15
Hey guys, em new to this forum and recently joined so always wanted to learn new stuffs..

I've purchased new Audio Technica ATH-M40x, and totall love the sq and portability..
But when I use them with pc, the output is not upto expectation and very very simple..

So was wandering if anyone can recommend any sound card under 40-50$ to pair with my ath-m40x.?

Any suggestions is whole heartedly Accepted..

PS: Em on a tight Budget.
 
Jul 28, 2014 at 12:33 PM Post #8 of 15
http://www.ebay.com.sg/itm/DAC-DESTROYER-HAND-SOLDERED-USB-DAC-w-LINE-HEAD-OUT-/260882726892
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/696330/fiio-e7-or-hotaudio-dac-destroyer
 
==========
 
(take a read on the above...i have not used them b4. )
 
Jul 28, 2014 at 12:37 PM Post #9 of 15
akki4trespasser said:
Hey guys, em new to this forum and recently joined so always wanted to learn new stuffs..

I've purchased new Audio Technica ATH-M40x, and totall love the sq and portability..
But when I use them with pc, the output is not upto expectation and very very simple..

So was wandering if anyone can recommend any sound card under 40-50$ to pair with my ath-m40x.?

Any suggestions is whole heartedly Accepted..

PS: Em on a tight Budget.
Click to expand...


If you are in the USA them amazon has a Sound blaster omni for $45-53 used which would work very well, Also some times a Sound blaster Z for the same price used.
 
Jul 28, 2014 at 1:45 PM Post #10 of 15
akki4trespasser said:
Hey guys, em new to this forum and recently joined so always wanted to learn new stuffs..

I've purchased new Audio Technica ATH-M40x, and totall love the sq and portability..
But when I use them with pc, the output is not upto expectation and very very simple..

So was wandering if anyone can recommend any sound card under 40-50$ to pair with my ath-m40x.?

Any suggestions is whole heartedly Accepted..

PS: Em on a tight Budget.
Click to expand...

 
Asus Xonar DG or DGX sound card, some places will sell them with a $10 mail in rebate.
 
Jul 28, 2014 at 8:05 PM Post #11 of 15
http://www.ebay.com.sg/itm/251302086491?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
 
using optical/coax input...not usb....check it out.
 
Jul 29, 2014 at 7:51 AM Post #14 of 15
genclaymore said:
If you are in the USA them amazon has a Sound blaster omni for $45-53 used which would work very well, Also some times a Sound blaster Z for the same price used.
Click to expand...


No I live in India, So acc to u these r the best for me.. But they r used one, and amazon in India don't sell used or rebated products..
I'll see the brand new price and will decide..
What bout ur opinion on Asus Xonar DG/DGX which is suggested by later one.

Doesn't that worth it???

purpleangel said:
Asus Xonar DG or DGX sound card, some places will sell them with a $10 mail in rebate.
Click to expand...


I was getting sane recommendation on every other site except head-fi.org, so decided to ask here too.. xD
Does that make an improvement over to my stock Realtek HD 888b/887..??

I mean improvement will be there for sure shot, but is there any noticeable change that I could hear??
 
Jul 29, 2014 at 8:08 AM Post #15 of 15
akki4trespasser said:
Doesn't that worth it???
I was getting sane recommendation on every other site except head-fi.org, so decided to ask here too.. xD
Does that make an improvement over to my stock Realtek HD 888b/887..??

I mean improvement will be there for sure shot, but is there any noticeable change that I could hear??
Click to expand...


I have a realtek 887 and it sounds very lacking with my Q701. Even my $30 sansa clip sounds better. With that said, I believe getting a sound card would make a difference, but whether you can hear it or not is a different story.
 
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