Ah, I see. So it's always a case of choosing between an external DAC (like an Audioquest Dragonfly) and an internal sound card (like a Creative Sound Blaster sound card)? Never both?   In your opinion then, why does the reviewer in question have both an external DAC and the specialized...

Thanks squallkiercosa.   So are you suggesting that with a good DAC I wouldn't necessarily need that other PCI-USB card device?   It would appear to me that that isn't really a sound card on its own but some kind of enhanced USB terminal that allows for less distortions or something of the...

Hi all,   A quick question: is it necessary to upgrade one's USB input into some kind of audiophile USB sound card in order to fully maximum the potential of one's DAC?   I ask because this gentleman here seemed to have done just that (or I suppose, his set-up coincided when he was selected...

Hi all,   New to Head-Fi and new to high-end audio in general.   I recently purchased a pair of Sennheiser HD 800s, but I've got nothing else to support this supposedly magnificent piece of engineering. My purpose is mostly to listen to music and potentially do film sound mixes on my...