decision time

[jpr703]

Since you plan on listening directly out of a sound card, you'd be better off to buy some Sennheiser PX100s or Koss PortaPros and save yourself some money.

 

[crazyfrenchman27]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ojannen This is on sort of a different topic but most people say the chaintek sound card isn't great for gaming but very good for music. If i use the EAX or A3D sound engines built into the games, does the sound card matter? I think using them will lower my fps because of increased computer load. I don't know if a better sound card means better postional audio when the sound engine is in game software.

Open headphones will sound better (in general), but UNLESS YOU UPGRADE YOUR SOURCE, there is absolutely no point in paying $200 for headphones.

I have had no problems with the Chaintech and games. I would not run the headphone through the line-out of the Chaintech, however...run it through an amp. Otherwise your sound will be tizzy. Chaintech=line-out and not a headphone-out.

 

[commando]

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyfrenchman27 I know this is a headphone site...but headphones simply can't contend with the real soundstage supplied by a speaker system. I don't even think the most rabid headphone fans believe that headphones can beat speakers with regard to spatiality.

wrt soundstage, how different can two speakers strapped to the side of your head be? For me, very little.

 

[Ojannen]

crazyfrenchman:
You seem to think I am wasting money by spending $200. The way I look at it, I am just choosing the cheapest uprade path. Instead of buying headphones that cost $50, $100, $150, and finally $200, I am spending $200 upfront. When I experience and understand the problems in sound quality I have with onboard sound and no amp, it will cost me less to get a better sound.

I have decided on the A900. Thanks for the replies and suggestions.

 

[laughingman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ojannen crazyfrenchman: You seem to think I am wasting money by spending $200. The way I look at it, I am just choosing the cheapest uprade path. Instead of buying headphones that cost $50, $100, $150, and finally $200, I am spending $200 upfront. When I experience and understand the problems in sound quality I have with onboard sound and no amp, it will cost me less to get a better sound. I have decided on the A900. Thanks for the replies and suggestions.

That's exactly what I thought when I got my A900, currently using it with audigy 2, but looking for a used modded 0404, anyone?

I dont want to rob the topic, but it seems there're two entirely different opinions regarding e-mu soundcard + A900 combo, one group of ppl saying the combo needs an amp b/c the output of e-mu are not designed for headphone and a cheap cmoy should do the trick, others argue cheap amp have little effect on improving the quality of sound on a900, some sort of adapter from radioshack is more than sufficient... Anyone has the final verdict on which saying is correct? Personally I'd rather saving some money and buy the adapter instead of dishing out $50+ for a cmoy, if there's really no difference in sound.

 

[commando]

The 1212 has a line out, not an amplified headphone out. Sensitive headphones might be ok, but you're meant to use an amp. I guess the 0404 is the same.