thanks for all your replies ! so if I sum it up: - amp/dac impact only the "meta" sound (soundstage, depth, imaging) not the actual sound signature(treble, bass, medium etc..) - the AE-5 seem to be decent as a dac, but might benefit from a amp - a new headphone is gonna make the more biggest...

ok I see thanks for your answer :) so you think that amp like the schiit magni for example can actually improve the sound quality of my current system ?

it's not onboard it's a dedicated soundcard :smiley:

hello everyone :) currently i've a Hifiman Sundara coupled with a sound blaster AE-5 soundcard. I actually want to upgrade my gears and I would want know what is gonna make the most difference, a new headphone(i'm pretty interested by Audeze LCDs products) or a new combo DAC and headphone amp...

hi :) i plan to buy an amp for my beyerdynamics dt 990 pro - 250 Ohm , I currently have a Sound blaster AE5 sound card to drive it I would know if it's really worth to buy amp ? in comparison with my sound card ? (I plan to buy a little dot mkIII tube amp) andif you have better suggestion...

finally i've buy the STX 1 for save 50$ and buy a good amplifier after (stx I and II have the same DAC the main change was just the amp and other little improvement) , what amp can you advise me ? i have an AKG K701 and Shure SRH840 , i will sell one to buy an amp , i'm not sure if it's better...

i have another question : STX II amp is it really sufficient for the AKG k701 who need a good amp for unleash it's full potential ?

i can have an STX II for the near same price of the STX (10 more dollars xD) , project ember are a good amp ? i don't have see much information on this amp

i see :) but i found around the web the dolby theater technology is very good , the SBX pro studio is more optimized for game ( but i found dolby more natural than sbx but pretty less efficent in positioning the sound) because i'm not a very hardcore multiplayer gamer , i don't need excelent...

after some research i found it's better to have a good DAC , the amp sublime the sound , where dac draw it , a bad input in amp , is bad output with some smooth , but it's still bad , xi-fi hd it's not a "bad" dac , but i think it's better upgrade the soudncard and then after pair it with a good...

thank for your answer :) i hesitate between buy the little dot mk2 amp or the xonar stx II , what is the more important an significant for sound ? the dac or the amp ? i see the stx II have a very good dac and good amp but the mkII is far better (and can be easly upgrade with the change of tube...

wow Oo , that short x) can i have explanation ? x)

Hello, for some day I am looking to upgrade my audio, I have an AKG K701 headphones in my possession and I want to boost it and exploit it better , I already have a external sound blaster xi-fi HD card but I 'love you know, have a little better without either ruined me , i can put max 280...