The difference between portable and desktop is that the portable is about the size of a I-pod desktops about the size of a brick and they are more delicate for the most part. Since you are plugging it into a laptop I assume your going to be moving it around a fair bit. In this case get a...

As far as desktop amps go I would recommend the Schiit Magni 99$ or if you want to try a really nice tube amp the Schiit Vali 119$. Really don't need to look beyond either of those as they are probably the best you can find for that price and they sound just as good as some 200+$ models out...

Haha that would explain how I missed it then. Right now I'm using a Xonar DX for my DAC and the audio quality on it is really quite nice. Not sure how much of a diff it will make adding a modi as I think they both use the same / similar C-Media chipsets.   Also the Dolby Headphone is verrry...

You know what I didn't know it had the option of optical or USB good to know will add in the future I got the Vali and loving it.

I would probably be getting a really really nice speaker setup if sound isolation wasn't important. Unfortunately I usually game very close to other people so isolation is VERY important to me.     Update ended up getting the DT770 as the Mad Dog's put me over my budget by about 100$ by the...

Yeah basically came to that conclusion myself. The only thing I was worried about was that I herd that their soudstage had slightly more depth than with; I was thinking that I would hear sound in a rectangle shape instead of a perfect circle. However, that seems to be a non factor as I found out...

Have read that post which is great btw. Just asking for people's experience with either on this matter. Leaning more toward the Mad Dog's atm.

Coming down to my final decision before taking the plunge and buying so; I am opening this simple no nonsense poll.   Currents setup for either of these are as follows.   DAC - ASUS Xonar DX > Schiit Vali > Headphone of choice     Vote comment or discuss it's all good here thx

Thanks, and yeah in the future I could probably add an external DAC though I seem to have a hard time finding one that accepts optical in from a sound card.

  THANK YOU SO MUCH (yes caps) :D for clearing this up for me. I always thought that the audio processing from the sound card DAC was where the degradation started and by the time the audio hit the line out on the sound card the damage had already been done. This saves me about 100$ by not...

Humm I guess what I'm really trying to ask here is whether on not using the Xonar DX's optical out to an external DAC / AMP gives me a cleaner signal (internal computer noise) OR if using the Xonar as the DAC and just using a AMP to power the headphones is fine.   The DX is just there for me...

Here this tread might help you out a bit.   http://www.head-fi.org/t/534479/mad-lust-envys-headphone-gaming-guide-update-3-29-2014-ultrasone-hs-15-added-edits

Ok I have 2 basic setups that I have to choose from:   DAC - Xonar DX> Amp (Fiio e17 or Schiit Vali) > Headphones  -- Option 1   or   Xonar DX > Spdif Out > DAC - Fiio e17 > Fiio e09K dock > Headphones  -- Option 2   My questions are as follows:   1. Which amp has the better sound...

Ok I have 2 basic setups that I have to choose from:   DAC - Xonar DX> Amp (Fiio e17 or Schiit Vali) > Headphones  -- Option 1   or   Xonar DX > Spdif Out > DAC - Fiio e17 > Fiio e09K dock > Headphones  -- Option 2   My questions are as follows:   1. Which amp has the better sound...

Thanks this is just what I wanted to hear as this means I have a lot of options on how to connect my headphones. Will probably use the one of the two soundcards as the dac then use either the Fiio E09k or the Schiit Vali for my amp.   Cheers m8 should even be able to get my Mad Dogs now with...

Did some checking on the ATH-A900x's and I remember why I after seeing them before I didn't like them is the wing system. Many many people have stated that they either do not like it for long listen times (2 points of pressure) and the bigger problem of some people who it just does not fit. In...

The ATH-A900X is actually not a bad idea how do you find the floating head pad thing's they kinda put me off a little without knowing how well the feel epically for 8h + listening. What is their sound-stage like compared to the DT770. Also, as far as bass go's cant you tone it down a bit...

First off hello everyone this is my first post and my first foyer into great sound I hope.   I have a budget of around 500$ for this but I am having a bit of problems figuring out what DAC/AMP I should pair up with one of my final two options.   I can get a pair of Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 80...