Quote: Originally posted by chych Audiophile 24/96 -> ART DI/O -> MG Head It is essentailly an "external soundcard", where the DAC is moved outside the computer. is a high quality audio card required in that chain? i.e. would any low-end consumer soundcard with a digital out...

bump i'd also like to know where you could get those 3 items for ~$300 i know the santa cruz is about $60, the art d/io about $160. so that leaves ~$80 for an amp :/ i'm sure there's cheaper DACs out there though

Quote: Originally posted by acs236 I believe those are just line-outs, meaning that you can't connect them directly to headphones. If you don't want to get an amp, you can hook them to your receiver; or some computer speakers have built in headphone outputs. I don't have a receiver...

this is my first post here, so go easy on me after i get my headphones (dt250-80), i will most likely be upgrading my soundcard. currently I have a SB Live! ... which already outputs massive amounts of hiss on my speakers I am not going to be buying an Amp yet I've searched all over...