Bose Companion 5 headphone out not as good as PC headphone out

[jerazm]

First of all, I'd like to say hello to everyone on this forum. I have been strangely addicted to everything headphone since the past year, and Head-Fi has become the go-to place for all my headphone related queries. Just browsing through the endless streams of threads on this site has helped me pick out my first good pair of headphones, the Audio-Technica ATH M50X (I know. I'm poor). So, a big thank you to everyone who indirectly helped me make this wonderful decision. Some day, when I've saved up enough to buy a really good pair of headphones, I'm sure you guys will help me choose the right one.
 
Now, it wasn't my intention for my first thread on this forum to be one of troubleshooting, but I'm really frustrated at this point. I purchased a set of Bose Companion 5 speakers. These connect to the PC via USB. In effect, now I cannot use the headphone out of my PC and have to compulsorily use the one on the Bose device. This wouldn't be a bad thing if the Bose headphone out didn't suck! I prefer the sound on my PC out. But now, I can't seem to get that to work even after disabling the Bose device from the Control Panel sound properties. The PC headphone out works, but it outputs garbled sound (I don't know how to put it, but it is similar to the sound we hear if we insert the headphone pin halfway in). This problem continues even if I completely disconnect the Bose USB from my PC.
 
I'm wondering how to get the headphone out of the PC to work properly. I prefer the sound of the headphones through my mobile phone and iPod than the Bose out. Also, I was thinking of purchasing the FiiO E10K DAC AMP. Will I be able to have the Bose set work properly with this DAC or will I suffer from similar problems?
 
Thanks a lot, guys.

 

[billybob_jcv]

In Windows, what is selected as the "Default Device" in your Playback Devices?

 

[PurpleAngel]

  First of all, I'd like to say hello to everyone on this forum. I have been strangely addicted to everything headphone since the past year, and Head-Fi has become the go-to place for all my headphone related queries. Just browsing through the endless streams of threads on this site has helped me pick out my first good pair of headphones, the Audio-Technica ATH M50X (I know. I'm poor). So, a big thank you to everyone who indirectly helped me make this wonderful decision. Some day, when I've saved up enough to buy a really good pair of headphones, I'm sure you guys will help me choose the right one.
 
Now, it wasn't my intention for my first thread on this forum to be one of troubleshooting, but I'm really frustrated at this point. I purchased a set of Bose Companion 5 speakers. These connect to the PC via USB. In effect, now I cannot use the headphone out of my PC and have to compulsorily use the one on the Bose device. This wouldn't be a bad thing if the Bose headphone out didn't suck! I prefer the sound on my PC out. But now, I can't seem to get that to work even after disabling the Bose device from the Control Panel sound properties. The PC headphone out works, but it outputs garbled sound (I don't know how to put it, but it is similar to the sound we hear if we insert the headphone pin halfway in). This problem continues even if I completely disconnect the Bose USB from my PC.
 
I'm wondering how to get the headphone out of the PC to work properly. I prefer the sound of the headphones through my mobile phone and iPod than the Bose out. Also, I was thinking of purchasing the FiiO E10K DAC AMP. Will I be able to have the Bose set work properly with this DAC or will I suffer from similar problems?
 
Thanks a lot, guys.

 
I would assume if you got the FiiO E10K (or Schiit Fulla), you would have to switch between Bose and the E10K in the Playback tab.

 

[jerazm]

Thanks a lot, billybob_jcv and PurpleAngel for your quick replies!
 
I was using the front headphone out on my CPU. Turns out, it still sounds garbled. But, when I plugged the phones into the rear output, it gave me a decent sound. I am using Windows 7, which automatically sets the on-board audio device to default when I plug in my headphones. The volume leaves much to be desired, although I think that the SQ is much better than the Bose output, which unnecessarily boosts the mid-range level.
 
That said, I still think that my iPod and mobile phone output much better SQ. I took the FiiO E10K plunge. Hopefully, this will help my case.
 
Thanks a ton, guys!!

 

[cel4145]

The E10K is typically a good bit better than most headphone output on computers.

 

[jerazm]

The E10K is typically a good bit better than most headphone output on computers.

I'll post my impressions on the differences between the Bose out, the PC out, and the E10K once I get my hands on it.