Hi Guys,   Really hoping someone can help me out. I have downloaded two DSD 24/192 albums recently; 1. Norah Jones – Come Away With Me, from HD Tracks; and 2. The Super Audio Collection Volume 5 Sampler from Linn Records.   My setup is;   PC > ASUS Xonar Essence STX (In SPDIF...

Hi All, Just wondering if anyone can help me out. I have a NAD c375BEE amp. I am trying to determine if the RCA inputs have DC input coupling caps or not?   Obviously, I want to be sure of this before I remove the output caps on the Muse and connect to the amp! I have looked through the...

Quote: Originally Posted by mikemalter Zac, I have an X-Can V3 and while it was mated with an HD650, it had a lot of punch, or impact. And, I am currently using it with an HD800 with really great effect. Have you thought about using an offboard DAC since the Asus has a COAX output...

Quote: Originally Posted by SP Wild I have this amp along with its V3 psu. I liked it alot when it was my only amp. Then I heard a Lehmann rhinelander amp. The problem with the stock v3 is the indistinct - smudgy bass with no sub-bass extension. The extreme treble is also slightly...

Quote: Originally Posted by entrope From my experience the single largest benefit of having a USB DAC versus sound card are drivers. A lot of sound card manufacturers include extremely bloated driver/software packages which mess about with the sound at a driver/software level in...

*Update* So, I recieved my X-Can V3 two days ago... I have been listening to all my 'test' songs (songs I love and know inside and out) and my feeling about the V3 is, well, um.... mixed. The soundstage is more open, and the clarity and seperation has definitely improved... but it is...

Quote: Originally Posted by mikemalter I've got the Cardas replacement cable myself for the HD 650 and it really makes a difference. So recently when I upgraded to an HD800 I got the replacement cable for it, and again I was not disappointed. It was well worth it. OH...MY...GOD...

Quote: Originally Posted by mikemalter Zac, Would you mind saying how much you paid for your XCan V3? I have one that I am going to be selling, and I would like to make sure it is priced appropriately. Thanks. Mike, I paid pretty close to $200AUD on ebay. I would have paid...

Quote: Originally Posted by Ypoknons Frankly, the wealth of technical information about power supplies and their effects is quite rich, even for a layman, maybe you should do the research yourself rather than going "oh, but maybe it's placebo" "oh I want science!!!!" Ypoknons -...

Quote: Originally Posted by Ypoknons Power supplies can definitely make a difference, it's not really controversial. As for amplification, really we've quite a few threads* on that recently, and my reasonably well informed opinion is if you can't tell the difference with a quality amp...

Once again, thanks for the input. Couldn't help myself - I have already ordered the cardas cable! With shipping times the cable and amp should be here either the same day or maybe a day apart. Either way, I will definitely be listening to the amp alone for a few days before I put in the...

Thanks for the input everyone. Expecting delivery of my X-Can V3 in a few days. Will post my impressions I also plan to get the cardas cable upgrade, but want to listen to the X-can with the stock cable first to observe the level of improvement. Then I will get the cable and will observe...

On what technical information is that answer based on? So, even though the specs of the STX are better than the X-Can - it would be an upgrade? Besides paying to have a case and volume control knob, where does the improvement come from with the X-Can? I'm not trying to be smart, I really...

Please point me in the right direction if this has been answered/ discussed elsewhere, couldn't find anything on a search... Will connecting my Xonar STX (either via line outs or headphone out using an adapter) into the X-Can V3 be an upgrade for my HD 650's? Looking at the specs, I would...

To the OP: everything becomes 'endlessly complex' if you try to analyse everything at once. Read ROBSCIX's posts - the answer to your question is very straight forward. Set all volume levels on your PC to 100%. Use your external amp for your volume contol. Least noise, greatest signal. Done.

I have the exact same setup as you - 650's powered by the STX. I know it doesn't answer you question specifically, but have you considered buying a dedicated headphone amp as an upgrade instead? The DAC on the STX is actually quite good, with the 'weak link' of the card being it's inbuilt amp...

Quote: Originally Posted by ManuLM no damage to expect... your hd650 will be safe in both cases do what your ears tells you, and use the gain setting that sounds best to your ears Well the highest gain setting sounds better to me. Like the 650s are being pushed to where they...

Hi Guys - as you can see I'm new to Head-Fi. I have been reading the forum for a while and decided to join. I know that this has almost certainly been discussed in the past, but as I am at work, I don't have a lot of time to search the forum, so I will ask here, if someone could give me some...

Hi Guys - as you can see from my posts, I'm new to Head-Fi. I recently bought HD 650's. I trialled both the HD 800's and HD 650's before settling on the 650's mainly due to lack of funds. I currently run my 650s through the Xonar STX. As mentioned above, the DAC is of high quality...