[Charles_1985]

Hi guys - I currently own a pair of Alessandro MS-1s and the AT ATH-AD700s. I have been using both for over one year.

I'm at the point now where I want to step up my audio experience to the next level. I would appreciate some guidance here on how best to spend my money.
->Should I purchase another pair of headphones, or invest in an amp? I have approx. $200 to spend, though I will consider spending more (I have never stuck to a budget on this site, curse you guys

).
Eventually I will get both, but this is the probably the only upgrade I'll be doing until sometime next year so it has to count. I don't consider myself an audiophile so I am unsure how much I would benefit from an amp with my current cans; I read on these boards an amp doesn't do too much for them.

Details about my setup - running out of my desktop's Razer AC-1 sound card (has the C-Media Oxygen HD CMI8788 chipset, and optical in/out). The setup is stationary only. I like to listen to techno (Bt especially), general rock, and pop. I love the AD700s soundstage and mid-range, bass is not terribly important but I prefer more than the AD700s offer. I prefer full-sized cans, open or closed (never had closed though I have used them). I have no experience with amps.

 

[TheMarchingMule]

I was going to definitely call for an amp, until I saw your source. It would probably be best for you to upgrade to a (way) better source, like a decent USB DAC (KECES-151, for example), and then a nice bang-for-the-buck amp (LD I+).

 

[Charles_1985]

Thanks for the reply. I'll take your advice and go with a DAC. The KECES 151 is going for $295 shipped on eBay, which is the only place I have found it for sale thus far. I'm going to research some alternatives as well. If anyone else has more suggestions/recommendations, please post.

 

[rds]

Quote:

The KECES 151 is going for $295 shipped on eBay, which is the only place I have found it for sale thus far.

It's pretty much a fancy alien dac, so you might want to consider that instead.
Another good (cheap) choice would be the asus xonar.

 

[Charles_1985]

I'll check out the Alien DAC.

The one thing my sound card does have is optical out; would there be any benefit to using that over USB? I did some hunting and found the Zero 24/192 DAC getting good comments, apparently a great value; it's about $128 on eBay + shipping from China, still less than $200.

 

[ph0rk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles_1985 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'll check out the Alien DAC. The one thing my sound card does have is optical out; would there be any benefit to using that over USB? I did some hunting and found the Zero 24/192 DAC getting good comments, apparently a great value; it's about $128 on eBay + shipping from China, still less than $200.

Biggest difference is that optical doesn't require any processor, but most machines these days won't notice the extra load from a usb dac.

I'd suggest an outboard dac (like the zero, or my favourite the emu 0404usb) with a headphone amp - the onboard amps on units like this are (arguably) midfi, but will undoubtedly be an upgrade, so you can upgrade your source and get an amp in the bargain.

 

[Charles_1985]

OK, thanks for the info regarding optical and USB interfaces. I actually prefer the USB since that means I can use it with my laptop as well.

I'm shying away from the Zero since it's a Dac + preamp + amp in one, while the E-mu 0404USB is a DAC only. Looking long-term, it would probably be best to have them all be separate components (amp + DAC) so if I do decide to upgrade one or the other, I don't have to do them at the same time.

 

[TheMarchingMule]

If you contact a member here under the alias Maniac, then he'll give you a slight discount on the KECES-151, because he's able to bypass eBay fees.

 

[FallenAngel]

Sell the MS-1, sell the AD700, buy AlienDAC + CKK-III + AD900. All within budget

 

[Charles_1985]

I've done a bit more research on DACs . . . if I get a USB-only DAC, then that means I will have to switch between my sound card and USB audio often since I'm a PC gamer. However, if I get a DAC with optical input then I won't have to. In that respect, the E-mu 0404USB seems to be the better choice. Any comments? I am still open to suggestions on the KECES-151 vs. the E-mu 0404USB.
Quote:

Originally Posted by FallenAngel Sell the MS-1, sell the AD700, buy AlienDAC + CKK-III + AD900. All within budget

Will check that out.

 

[Hunted Charlie]

I'd get a combined DAC/amp. I have the EMU 0202 and it's pretty nice, I hear the EMU 0404 is even better. If you're going to use it portably as well, consider getting something like the iBasso D2 Boa.

 

[Charles_1985]

For the DAC, portability isn't a necessity. I was planning on getting the DAC, then a portable amp I could take with me. I have the same Pocketdock line out that you do for the iPod, which I am only using in my car ATM but once I get a portable amp I will use it with the DAC and on-the-go.

 

[TheMarchingMule]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles_1985 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've done a bit more research on DACs . . . if I get a USB-only DAC, then that means I will have to switch between my sound card and USB audio often since I'm a PC gamer. However, if I get a DAC with optical input then I won't have to. In that respect, the E-mu 0404USB seems to be the better choice. Any comments? I am still open to suggestions on the KECES-151 vs. the E-mu 0404USB. Will check that out.

I think back at home what I did (since I too game pretty much every day) was set the Audigy 2 ZS as the default source, but with foobar2000, made the DAC the primary sound output.

Yeah, that's what i did, and it worked out beautifully.

 

[wae5]

You ask about amps so I'll answer that way. Since you have low impedance phones why not get the LD 1+ which is a high current amp good for low impedance phones? At $109 you can't go wrong because it's an excellent foundation on which to build a modest but excellent sounding system. I have your phones and the LD 1+ amp and I can assure you it's a winning combination.

 

[Charles_1985]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMarchingMule /img/forum/go_quote.gif I think back at home what I did (since I too game pretty much every day) was set the Audigy 2 ZS as the default source, but with foobar2000, made the DAC the primary sound output. Yeah, that's what i did, and it worked out beautifully.

That's a great solution. I think you might have sold me on the KECES-151.

I'll get it through Maniac.
Quote:

Originally Posted by wae5 /img/forum/go_quote.gif You ask about amps so I'll answer that way. Since you have low impedance phones why not get the LD 1+ which is a high current amp good for low impedance phones? At $109 you can't go wrong because it's an excellent foundation on which to build a modest but excellent sounding system. I have your phones and the LD 1+ amp and I can assure you it's a winning combination.

It's a definite that I will get an amp. Based on what TheMarchingMule recommended, I'm going to go with a DAC first and then pick up an amp later on. The LD I+ gets top-notch feedback around here so that may just be what I go with.