[IcyRhythms]

I have the Sennheiser 598's coupled with a Sound Blaster Z. I was looking to possibly add a DAC(maybe the amp from same company as well)to my audio setup.
 
DAC I have my eyes on 
http://schiit.com/products/modi
 
 
The amp
http://schiit.com/products/magni
 
Would I get any considerable difference by adding these to my setup? Everything will be used for gaming and listening to music.

 

[AlrightMister]

That looks likd a decent soundcard. I would get a magni or vali and save up for a better dac than the modi. I got a usb Modi because I'm using an old laptop to serve music. If I had that card I would buy in 2 stages. Amp now and dac later. I'll sell my Modi and spring for a Bifrost uber when the budget allows.

 

[IcyRhythms]

Thanks for the response. Maybe I just missed it but you didn't answer my number one question. Are you saying that the two that I linked wouldn't give me much of a benefit over just the soundcard by itself? But the bitfrost would show a HUGE improvement?

 

[Elvisdough]

I also had a similar sound card but then i purchased the Fiio E10K. The sound quality is crystal clear and overall noticeably better. A Amp would be overkill and unnecessary. 

 

[PurpleAngel]

  I have the Sennheiser 598's coupled with a Sound Blaster Z. I was looking to possibly add a DAC (maybe the amp from same company as well)to my audio setup.
DAC I have my eyes on 
http://schiit.com/products/modi
The amp
http://schiit.com/products/magni
Would I get any considerable difference by adding these to my setup? Everything will be used for gaming and listening to music.

Guessing you would get the optical Modi DAC and plug it into the SB-Z's optical port.
 
I would assume the Modi is a better DAC then the CS4398 DAC chip built into the SB-Z.
I'm fairly sure the Schiit Magni is a better headphone amplifier, then the one built into the SB-Z
How much of a noticeable difference would the Modi/Magni make, with the HD598, good question?
Maybe the Schiit Vali would make a more noticeable difference?
 
Here is an aftermarket cable for use with the HD598, that comes with a 3.5mm plug.
and you can get it from 1.2 meters to 3.0 meters in length ($18-$26)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261255113290?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&var=560313338477&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

[IcyRhythms]

Thank you. That was the answer I was hoping for. I may give your recommendation a go. If I'm not hearing much of a difference I'll send the items back. 

 

[PurpleAngel]

  Thank you. That was the answer I was hoping for. I may give your recommendation a go. If I'm not hearing much of a difference I'll send the items back. 

 
Did you disable the motherboard's on-board audio, in the BIOS, when you installed the SB-Z?
So yea, try a stack of Schiit.

 

[IcyRhythms]

How much would it factor in if I didn't disable the audio from the mobo? If my headphones are plugged in the soundcard, how would the mobo's sound affect that?

 

[PurpleAngel]

  How much would it factor in if I didn't disable the audio from the mobo? If my headphones are plugged in the sound card, how would the mobo's sound affect that?

 
Sometimes on-board audio causes issues with an add-on internal sound card.
So disabling the on-board sometimes has help to improve audio quality, with the add-on sound card.
Sometimes on-board and add-on have zero issues working at the same time
I can't give you any real technical details on why, it's above my pay grade.

 

[IcyRhythms]

I need dual RCA cables to connect the DAC to AMP, correct? 
 
http://schiit.com/products/pyst-cables
 
They have a pair but they're $20. :-\

 

[PurpleAngel]

  I need dual RCA cables to connect the DAC to AMP, correct? 
http://schiit.com/products/pyst-cables
They have a pair but they're $20. :-\

 
1.5ft Premium 2 RCA Plug/2 RCA Plug M/M 22AWG Cable - Black, $2.35+shipping.
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=102&cp_id=10218&cs_id=1021814&p_id=5346&seq=1&format=2

 

[IcyRhythms]

   
1.5ft Premium 2 RCA Plug/2 RCA Plug M/M 22AWG Cable - Black, $2.35+shipping.
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=102&cp_id=10218&cs_id=1021814&p_id=5346&seq=1&format=2

Nice, thanks again.

 

[IcyRhythms]

I've actually decides to buy a new pair of headphones first.
 
Looking at these headphones
 
 
http://www.amazon.com/beyerdynamic-880-Premium-250-ohm/dp/B000F2BLTM
 
http://www.amazon.com/AKG-Pro-Audio-K712PRO-Headphones/dp/B00E4WXWBE/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

 

[PurpleAngel]

  I've actually decides to buy a new pair of headphones first.
Looking at these headphones
http://www.amazon.com/beyerdynamic-880-Premium-250-ohm/dp/B000F2BLTM
http://www.amazon.com/AKG-Pro-Audio-K712PRO-Headphones/dp/B00E4WXWBE/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

 
Used Beyerdynamic DT880 Pro 250-Ohm would be a better value.
Or used Audio Technica ATH-AD900X.

 

[IcyRhythms]

   
Used Beyerdynamic DT880 Pro 250-Ohm would be a better value.
Or used Audio Technica ATH-AD900X.

Thanks again for the reply. Call me crazy but I have a REALLY difficult time buying hardware/electronics used. I'm super anal about stuff like that. It's something I do once every...three or four years or something lol
 
Are the audio technica's better than the AKG's I linked? The AT's don't cost much more than what I paid for my current 598's.