Hi. Something below 100$. Maybe fiio e10 ? It is usb powered. Speakers connected in the back. Headphones on the front and have volume wheel.
 
btw. I love hm5. Just got it and using it with pro-gaming mode on my xonar dg connected throught front panel on my pc in 32-64ohm mode. I think it sounds fantastic. Would I gain anything from getting external soundcard ? (dac+amp on usb)

hiczok said:

  Hi. Something below 100$. Maybe FiiO E10K ? It is USB powered. Speakers connected in the back. Headphones on the front and have volume wheel.
 
btw. I love HM5. Just got it and using it with pro-gaming mode on my Xonar DG connected through front panel on my PC in 32 64-Ohm mode. I think it sounds fantastic. Would I gain anything from getting external sound card ? (dac+amp on usb)

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Did you disable the motherboard's on-board audio, in the BIOS, when you installed the Xonar DG?
Try upping the gain setting to it's highest (<64-Ohm)
 
There is the Creative Labs Sound Blaster Z sound card, has separate amplified headphone jack and line-output jack (speakers).
Better DAC and headphone amplifier, then the Xonar DG.
 
USB will bypass sound card features (like the DG's Dolby Headphone), which does not matter for music.
The Fiio E10K is an external USB-DAC-amp, it's not a sound card and offers zero gaming features
I would assume the E10K would offer some improvement in audio quality, over the Xonar DG, just not sure how much.

ofc I disabled the onboard sound and set amplification to 32-64 level. It sound great. I just wonder if I could have better sound + usability from something on my desk.
 
Sound Blaster Z dont have front jack amplification so it would be even more unusable if I had to go a dig behind my pc.

My xonar dg just died. Any ideas what to get now ? I think i would prefer something external.
Creative xfi hd looks great. Should I get it ?