You could also be getting noise from the computer itself.   I have a uDAC 3 and run it from linux on an Asus N56DP and it is stone dead silent on its own. 

  Take a look at the N56JR if you can find one still. GT760M, Core i7 QC CPU and 1080p screen. Microcenter has them for $999.

To be fair, they probably did you a favor by breaking so you didn't have to listen to them.

...may look like windows, but it's still very much linux underneath. Takes some adaptation. But honestly the control panel type stuff in linux is so much simpler and more clean than windows. I can't find **** in windows control panel half the time. Now listen to that dac and tell us what you think!

So is there an audio control panel somewhere you can get to? Often it's under the little speaker under Gnome but I have not clue where it is in PCLinuxOS.  The OS won't pop up some windows-like "now loading driver" dialog because in linux it's usually already in place and all it does is make the...

So how exactly does it ignore it? Are you running Pulse Audio or what? Does it not show up in your audio control panel or does it show up and not do anything when selected? Does it show up in dmesg when you plug it in?

The DT660 are probably the cheapest fairly neutral headphones.

Agreed. Also note how various foam pads for grados affect the sound signature quite a bit as well. It's all about how close to the ear they are etc with foam non-sealing pads as opposed to the seal that they really don't make. Even foam pads tho, change over time, slowly seating the drivers...

Because feelz > realz

  I don't know what it is, but all the Sennheiser CXn00 series, where n is any number, seem dead sounding to me. Considering how nice my CX475 and CX275 sound I just don't get it.

Split the problem in half. Using just the e17 does it work? Then test the two together on another computer. Does that work? Do your headphones work with another source? Etc.

DT770 are head and shoulders above ATH-M50s. Go for it. Make sure and get a little amp if you're getting the 250 ohm ones.

I really like Pioneer CL 721 IEMs. They're inexpensive, tend to stay in your ear canal when active and have a slight boost in bass without being overbearing. Pretty clean sound for <$20 IEMs.   For cleaner, more even sound I like the various sennheiser CX275 and similar. Also can be found for...

Marketing? Profit margins? Taking advantage of the Placebo Effect?   The whole point behind the argument here is that if burn in does occur, and usually makes things sound better, then there should be ample evidence of it by now, through double blind tests, and / or measurement by scientific...

Generally the higher the impedence the cleaner the sound etc but the more amping it needs. I've only personally listened to the 250 ohm DT770s, so this is pretty much repeating what I've read elsewhere on this site. That said, the difference in sound isn't that big from the various impedences of...

Borderline. Most sources with fair power output like laptops don't need an amp for 80 but most phones etc will struggle a bit to drive 80 ohm headphones.

No, the bass is not overpowering. However, the mid to low treble is a bit recessed. I tend to add a very slight 1 or 2db boost around 3k to 5k for female vocals etc myself but it's not a big change. And yeah if you get the 250ohm versions get an amp. Preferably a good DAC/Amp combo like the E07k.

OK pretty much anythng is as good as or better than low end beats, and usually much a much better value as well.   First read the buyer's guide: http://www.head-fi.org/a/headphone-buying-guide   And tell us if you want closed (most likely) or open headphones etc.   From the closed list...

  Is there any kind of EQ or bass boost etc on the iphone? If so turn all of that stuff off and then try again. Many portable devices crank up the bass and treble to make up for the fact that a lot of portable ear buds etc are crappy. With the DT770s you want all that stuff turned off.

Many desktop computer speakers have built in amps. These amps are usually pretty crappy. Get a decent amp, and if you have the dosh, get a good DAC/Amp combo.   I've tested my DT770s with and without a DAC, comparing the DAC output to may laptop's headphone jack. Had an amp in there both...

I own a pair of DT770s and love them to death, but I do NOT consider them to be neutral headphones. They definitely have a bit of a hump in the bass respones down around 100Hz or so. It's not huge, but it's there. With some minor EQing you can flatten them out pretty well. If you're just using...

Yes portable players can drive the ATH-M50s just fine.

This. My closed back DT770s (velour) and open back Grado SR-225is (foam) are quite comfortable in the heat. My Sennheiser HD280Pros (pleather) are tiny ovens for my ears, only wearable in winter time.

Basically the lower the impedance the easier it is for an amplifier to drive something, but the more reactive the amplifier is to the speaker's fluctuating impedance. All speakers have mild variations in impedance over frequency ranges. With very low impedence speakers these variations are large...

Some people think it makes a difference, some people thing it's all in your head. I'm in the camp that thinks it's all in your head. So far no one has ever produced a scientific study verifying that burn in actually occurs to any noticeable effect. But I'm willing to accept such evidence if it...