DAC/AMP-Combo or PCI-soundcard? Budget (500-700 euro)

[Thenazgul]

Hello everyone. I am looking for some advice. Hopefully some of you could help me out.

Currently I own a MSI-Z97 Gaming 9 AC motherboard (https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/Z97-GAMING-9-AC.html#hero-overview) that has a built-in Amplifier for my headphone.
I am using a Shure SRH1840-Open High-end Headphone.. 

Yet I am not really satisfied with the sound-output and drivers that my motherboard delivers.
It is mainly a Realtek ALC1150-chip, with a CC-MEDIA CM6631A HIGH DEFINITION AUDIO PROCESSOR(+WOLFSON WM8741 DAC) and combined with two amplifiers (TEXAS INSTRUMENTS TPA6120A2 & DUAL OPA1652 AMPLIFIERS). It has 3-different drivers as well. Realtek + CC-Media + Creative Sound Blaster Cinema 2.

I have still a older Asus Essence ST unused. It is a bit outdated, it was placed in my older motherboard.
Now I am not certain what to do! Either buy the newer Asus Essence STX II 7.1 or go for a external (DAC/AMP-Combo)?
It is also unclear in wich way I should connect my PC with a external DAC/AMP-Combo. Certain DAC/AMP-Combo have to possibility to connect either by USB to the PC or by Spdif-out.
My motherboard has a Spdif-out. What is the difference? When using Spdif-out (optical) it still uses the effects of the soundcard (like Surround etc) and with USB it could only transfer the digital signal, unaltered Stereo?

Audiophiles say that a external DAC/AMP is always better since it does the whole sound-processing outside of your computer. Means no interference of electrical-charge, vibrations etc that causes crackle/pops and other things.

My budget is between the 500 and 700 euro's. What do you guys advice? 
What about this Marants HD-DAC1?

http://www.head-fi.org/t/730055/marantz-hd-dac1
 
Thanks in advance for the advise. 

Best Regards,

Jurgen 

 

[PurpleAngel]

  Currently I own a MSI-Z97 Gaming 9 AC motherboard (https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/Z97-GAMING-9-AC.html#hero-overview) that has a built-in Amplifier for my headphone.
I am using a Shure SRH1840-Open High-end Headphone.. 
Yet I am not really satisfied with the sound-output and drivers that my motherboard delivers.
It is mainly a Realtek ALC1150-chip, with a CC-MEDIA CM6631A HIGH DEFINITION AUDIO PROCESSOR(+WOLFSON WM8741 DAC) and combined with two amplifiers (TEXAS INSTRUMENTS TPA6120A2 & DUAL OPA1652 AMPLIFIERS). It has 3-different drivers as well. Realtek + CC-Media + Creative Sound Blaster Cinema 2.
I have still a older Asus Essence ST unused. It is a bit outdated, it was placed in my older motherboard.
Now I am not certain what to do! Either buy the newer Asus Essence STX II 7.1 or go for a external (DAC/AMP-Combo)?
It is also unclear in wich way I should connect my PC with a external DAC/AMP-Combo. Certain DAC/AMP-Combo have to possibility to connect either by USB to the PC or by Spdif-out.
My motherboard has a Spdif-out. What is the difference? When using Spdif-out (optical) it still uses the effects of the soundcard (like Surround etc) and with USB it could only transfer the digital signal, unaltered Stereo?
Audiophiles say that a external DAC/AMP is always better since it does the whole sound-processing outside of your computer. Means no interference of electrical-charge, vibrations etc that causes crackle/pops and other things.
My budget is between the 500 and 700 euro's. What do you guys advice? 
What about this Marants HD-DAC1?
http://www.head-fi.org/t/730055/marantz-hd-dac1

 
I think sound cards are a great value for what they offer, for the price.
But if your willing to spend the cash, go for an external DAC/Head amp.
One with a S/PDIF (optical) input

 

[Thenazgul]

- Forgot to quote PurpleAngel

 

[Thenazgul]

   
I think sound cards are a great value for what they offer, for the price.
But if your willing to spend the cash, go for an external DAC/Head amp.
One with a S/PDIF (optical) input

Is there any difference in terms of quality from the S/PDIF output of my motherboard or for example one of the Asus Essence ST?? Quality? Multichannel?

 

[PurpleAngel]

  Is there any difference in terms of quality from the S/PDIF output of my motherboard or for example one of the Asus Essence ST?? Quality? Multichannel?

 
I've never heard any studies that say there is a quality difference with S/PDIF optical output, between motherboards and sound cards (but I'm not the expert).
 
As it seems your motherboard only comes with the newer PCI-E slots and the Essence ST is designed for use in the older PCI slots, you can't use the Essence ST anyway.
Might as well sell off the Essence ST.

 

[Thenazgul]

   
I've never heard any studies that say there is a quality difference with S/PDIF optical output, between motherboards and sound cards (but I'm not the expert).
 
As it seems your motherboard only comes with the newer PCI-E slots and the Essence ST is designed for use in the older PCI slots, you can't use the Essence ST anyway.
Might as well sell off the Essence ST.

It seems that most mid-high-end DAC/AMP have a  USB-B Asynchronous connection. People say that this has a improved sound-quality compared to S/PDIF.
The Timings will be done by the external DAC/AMP combo instead of the PC (S/PDIF). 

What could you advice as external DAC/AMP.

Marantz HD-DAC1 or the Oppo HA-1?

 

[PurpleAngel]

  It seems that most mid-high-end DAC/AMP have a  USB-B Asynchronous connection. People say that this has a improved sound-quality compared to S/PDIF.
The Timings will be done by the external DAC/AMP combo instead of the PC (S/PDIF). 

What could you advice as external DAC/AMP.

Marantz HD-DAC1 or the Oppo HA-1?

 
USB makes it very easy to hook up an external DAC/amp.
The newer USB that is Asynchronous does help with timing.
I really know nothing about the two external DAC/amps you have listed.

 

[Thenazgul]

   
USB makes it very easy to hook up an external DAC/amp.
The newer USB that is Asynchronous does help with timing.
I really know nothing about the two external DAC/amps you have listed.

Could you maybe tell me what a Balanced Headphone 4-Pin XLR is? The Oppo HA-1 has either a normal 6.5MM headphone plug or you could use a Balanced Headphone XLR connection. Is there difference in terms of quality? It seems really hard to find a Balanced Headphone 4-PIN XLR cable for my Shure SRH1840. I could only find Moon-Audio that produce them, but they ask 250 dollars for a cable lal. 

 

[Nycalex]

external dac/amp for sure.
 
i stopped using sound cards for the last 2 builds i did, this goes back almost 10 years.
 
soundcards below $50 offer great value for the money, but if your budget is 500+ euros, then forget the soundcard.
 
a schiit magni/modi combo will put any soundcard in the market to shame.
 
Obviously this is only true if you are using a decent pair of headphones such as sennheisser hd600.

 

[cel4145]

Could you maybe tell me what a Balanced Headphone 4-Pin XLR is? The Oppo HA-1 has either a normal 6.5MM headphone plug or you could use a Balanced Headphone XLR connection. Is there difference in terms of quality? It seems really hard to find a Balanced Headphone 4-PIN XLR cable for my Shure SRH1840. I could only find Moon-Audio that produce them, but they ask 250 dollars for a cable lal. 

Your headphones have to be wired for balanced XLR. Whether or not there would be any significant benefit to that is open to debate.

Note that you don't have to spend $800 to $1000 on a headphone amp/dac to get what most people would consider an upgrade over onboard audio or the ST/STX. The primary benefit that everyone agrees upon is getting the DAC/amp out of the noisy environment of a computer. If you have been eyeing any new headphones, I'd suggest setting your budget for half of that or less and saving the rest of your money toward new headphones.

Not that I haven't been tempted by the Oppo HA-1

 

[Thenazgul]

Your headphones have to be wired for balanced XLR. Whether or not there would be any significant benefit to that is open to debate.

Note that you don't have to spend $800 to $1000 on a headphone amp/dac to get what most people would consider an upgrade over onboard audio or the ST/STX. The primary benefit that everyone agrees upon is getting the DAC/amp out of the noisy environment of a computer. If you have been eyeing any new headphones, I'd suggest setting your budget for half of that or less and saving the rest of your money toward new headphones.

Not that I haven't been tempted by the Oppo HA-1

The Shure SRH-1840 is a high-end headphone. Yes I know that the headphone requires a special cable (XLR-4pin with special connectors). Weird part is that it seems only Moon-audio does make them. And they are expensive.

 

[PurpleAngel]

  Could you maybe tell me what a Balanced Headphone 4-Pin XLR is? The Oppo HA-1 has either a normal 6.5MM headphone plug or you could use a Balanced Headphone XLR connection. Is there difference in terms of quality? It seems really hard to find a Balanced Headphone 4-PIN XLR cable for my Shure SRH1840. I could only find Moon-Audio that produce them, but they ask 250 dollars for a cable lal. 

 
I consider going with a balanced headphone connection being somewhat more a choice, then a necessity (my two cents).
You not fanatical enough of a headphone user to get into balanced connections, yet.

 

[Thenazgul]

   
I consider going with a balanced headphone connection being somewhat more a choice, then a necessity (my two cents).
You not fanatical enough of a headphone user to get into balanced connections, yet.

Fair enough. Yet the Oppa HA-1 has Balanced-Inputs and the Marantz not. Oppa HA-1 has also a normal 6.5 jack. Guess the Oppa is more future proof