[kobikgames]

Hello everyone.

I am completely new if it comes to studio-headphones and it's necessities.

I have been gaming for a while now with the HyperX Cloud II, decent headset but I feel like the sound is pretty muddy/lacing in some things.

I wanted to try a pair of open-backs. I got a few giftcards from christmas for a specific shop. unfortunately, They do not have much choice in regards to headphones, but some of the choices are: Beyer DT770, 880 and 990. AKG 612 (sold out), K701 and K702, and K712(too pricey).

I wanted to opt in with the K612, but due the fact it's sold out I will go with the K702. It will be mainly used for gaming (PC/PS4) but also casual music listening/video watching.

I see a lot of mixed comments. Some say the AKG need an amp, some say it is not necessary but could benefit from one. Also with the E10K: Some say it fits with the 702 well, some say its meh.

the E10K will be the only DAC/Amp that I would be able to afford for a long while(Sub 70 euros), especially with the fact that I also need to buy a seperate mic too, to use.

I am aware the E10K isn't the best DAC/Amp maybe, but will it be decent enough for a starter audio-"kit"? My realtek chip is the Realtek ALC892. B450M Pro4 mobo)

 

[ProtegeManiac]

I wanted to opt in with the K612, but due the fact it's sold out I will go with the K702. It will be mainly used for gaming (PC/PS4) but also casual music listening/video watching.

I see a lot of mixed comments. Some say the AKG need an amp, some say it is not necessary but could benefit from one.

From an objective standpoint, if you're going for "absolutely no chance there would be any objective problems and absolutely never have any problem with power," what you need from an amp is low output impedance (5ohms and lower; although these days it's 2ohms and lower anyway for anything but OTL and Beyer amps) and that it needs to deliver around 512mW at 62ohms.

The other sources of problems though are fit and expectations. Some people just require/expect more bass, so this isn't for them. Some people have much smaller heads than what AKG modeled the headband for, so that reduces the bass response.

As someone who has neither of those problems though I'd say you only need a good amp as described above. That said, as much as my Meier Cantate.2 can get more bass and tighter bass out of the AKG than my laptop, most other people would prefer the bass that comes out of them when driven by something like a Burson Soloist or Violectric V200.

Also with the E10K: Some say it fits with the 702 well, some say its meh.

It's far off from the 512mW mark.

But it has bass boost, so they get a fair bit more bass out of them.

They can't crank it up much louder, and there might even be a chance that the stronger bass isn't as tight as from the Burson or V200 even if they don't really crank it up.

the E10K will be the only DAC/Amp that I would be able to afford for a long while(Sub 70 euros), especially with the fact that I also need to buy a seperate mic too, to use.

I am aware the E10K isn't the best DAC/Amp maybe, but will it be decent enough for a starter audio-"kit"?

Here's the thing though.

Maybe you won't even hear the difference between a decent motherboard or the E10K vs an AudioGD NFB-11 or Meier Jazz FF. Maybe you will.

But what if the sound from the AKG K702 driven by the E10K or the motherboard doesn't sound good to you?

Would you hold on to the K702 and the E10K until you get a good amp? Remember, at this point, you still don't know if you can tell the difference or not...so then maybe you hold it long enough, but then by the time you get a decent amp, assuming you even get the right amp that makes a good deal of difference ie its distortion pattern is minimal and yet towards an improvement in case you do crank it up, what if you can't hear the difference then? Maybe you'll just get pissed at everyone who told you to get an amp for it, and you're waaaaaaaaay past the return period for the K702.

The K702 tends to be picky with amps and some listeners tend to be picky with headphones. If soundstage was the only thing you require, sure. But then again if that was the only thing then might as well get an ATH-A700X, which I find doesn't really improve at the low end by as much as the K702 if you get other amps, is cheaper, and is otherwise easier to drive (vis a vis power).

My realtek chip is the Realtek ALC892. B450M Pro4 mobo)

Chances are the E10K might not have drastically more power than the B450M.

Might not even be that much more over a laptop's (unless the manufacturer really detuned the power for battery life, or didn't give a hoot about distortion that it sounds bad regardless of how easy its load is) but at least in that case you're more likely to avoid high output impedance headphone outputs as on many laptops.

And the thing with that motherboard is it's a modern gaming board that isn't an absolutely entry level board, so you can assume the sound is somewhat decent anyway. There's always decent enough power for not horrendous amounts of distortion other than maybe high output impedance. I can't see high res photos of that board but as much as I'd avoid caps in the signal path, which they seem to have (as opposed to just power caps), they bothered to encase those (that cap over the output ports with the Elna sticker on it), and I see two other chips on the lower left. One of them is the Realtek chip, and there might be a chance that the other chip is a driver op-amp. Nothing like, say, a Meier with four or eight of those, much less having to pull double duty at being a line output op-amp (and not do really well at either), but bottomline is it might not be that bad compared to the E10K other than the one flick bass boost.

 

[kobikgames]

From an objective standpoint, if you're going for "absolutely no chance there would be any objective problems and absolutely never have any problem with power," what you need from an amp is low output impedance (5ohms and lower; although these days it's 2ohms and lower anyway for anything but OTL and Beyer amps) and that it needs to deliver around 512mW at 62ohms.

The other sources of problems though are fit and expectations. Some people just require/expect more bass, so this isn't for them. Some people have much smaller heads than what AKG modeled the headband for, so that reduces the bass response.

As someone who has neither of those problems though I'd say you only need a good amp as described above. That said, as much as my Meier Cantate.2 can get more bass and tighter bass out of the AKG than my laptop, most other people would prefer the bass that comes out of them when driven by something like a Burson Soloist or Violectric V200.




It's far off from the 512mW mark.

But it has bass boost, so they get a fair bit more bass out of them.

They can't crank it up much louder, and there might even be a chance that the stronger bass isn't as tight as from the Burson or V200 even if they don't really crank it up.




Here's the thing though.

Maybe you won't even hear the difference between a decent motherboard or the E10K vs an AudioGD NFB-11 or Meier Jazz FF. Maybe you will.

But what if the sound from the AKG K702 driven by the E10K or the motherboard doesn't sound good to you?

Would you hold on to the K702 and the E10K until you get a good amp? Remember, at this point, you still don't know if you can tell the difference or not...so then maybe you hold it long enough, but then by the time you get a decent amp, assuming you even get the right amp that makes a good deal of difference ie its distortion pattern is minimal and yet towards an improvement in case you do crank it up, what if you can't hear the difference then? Maybe you'll just get pissed at everyone who told you to get an amp for it, and you're waaaaaaaaay past the return period for the K702.

The K702 tends to be picky with amps and some listeners tend to be picky with headphones. If soundstage was the only thing you require, sure. But then again if that was the only thing then might as well get an ATH-A700X, which I find doesn't really improve at the low end by as much as the K702 if you get other amps, is cheaper, and is otherwise easier to drive (vis a vis power).




Chances are the E10K might not have drastically more power than the B450M.

Might not even be that much more over a laptop's (unless the manufacturer really detuned the power for battery life, or didn't give a hoot about distortion that it sounds bad regardless of how easy its load is) but at least in that case you're more likely to avoid high output impedance headphone outputs as on many laptops.

And the thing with that motherboard is it's a modern gaming board that isn't an absolutely entry level board, so you can assume the sound is somewhat decent anyway. There's always decent enough power for not horrendous amounts of distortion other than maybe high output impedance. I can't see high res photos of that board but as much as I'd avoid caps in the signal path, which they seem to have (as opposed to just power caps), they bothered to encase those (that cap over the output ports with the Elna sticker on it), and I see two other chips on the lower left. One of them is the Realtek chip, and there might be a chance that the other chip is a driver op-amp. Nothing like, say, a Meier with four or eight of those, much less having to pull double duty at being a line output op-amp (and not do really well at either), but bottomline is it might not be that bad compared to the E10K other than the one flick bass boost.

Hey I want to thank you for your very elaborative response!

Maybe my reading comprehension isn't the best, but can I make out of it that:

1. People usually buy the amp to help out with the bass?
2. An amp/dac won't be necessary with my motherboard because I might not hear the difference?

I mean, after reading a lot of comments on how "the AKGs need an amp" made me kinda hesitant to buy, but if I have the impression it will be fine without, then I atleast can save a bit more money for a slightly better mic cause I wasn't prepared to "need" an amp/dac.

 

[kobikgames]

I have been doing some research and want to change up my response a little bit:

The fact that I want to use the AKG K702 also with the PS4 Slim, I will need to use something else to drive the AKGs, because the slim lacks an Optical out so I cannot plop-in a DAC/amp (whatever it is).

I stumbled upon the Creative SoundblasterX G5. If I read correctly, this is a Dac/AMP too. It's a bit pricey, but maybe my only solution, or an easier solution to avoid buying loads of things to get the setup working.

Is there a possibility if you could tell me this thing basically is the same as a dac/amp, and that I can use it to power the AKGs? (mainly for PS4, but also for PC)

 

[CTR640]

The Fiio E10K Olympus2 is a very good amp, you won't regret. I own both DT880 and 770 and love them. The DT880 has a high sibilance tho so in some content it may sounds like knives in your ears. The DT770 is very good too and it blocks sounds. My both DT's are 250ohm and E10K is powerful enough to drive them. If you wanna use them for consoles, there are 32 and 80ohms too.

You don't need an amp if it's loud enough.

 

[kobikgames]

The Fiio E10K Olympus2 is a very good amp, you won't regret. I own both DT880 and 770 and love them. The DT880 has a high sibilance tho so in some content it may sounds like knives in your ears. The DT770 is very good too and it blocks sounds. My both DT's are 250ohm and E10K is powerful enough to drive them. If you wanna use them for consoles, there are 32 and 80ohms too.

You don't need an amp if it's loud enough.

Sounds awesome!

Do you know if it can be connected to a PS4 other than the Optical Audio (cause I lack the port), or will the Micro-USB connection basically work the same way?

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Maybe my reading comprehension isn't the best, but can I make out of it that:

1. People usually buy the amp to help out with the bass?

That's too simplistic it will just make it seem like amplifiers add bass when in some cases they can reduce bass.

What an amp does is provide more power with less distortion as well as reduce driver distortion by controlling driver movement better than a weaker, lower quality amplifier circuit, like the chip on a smartphone.

Depending on how exactly the weaker amp is screwing up the easiest to screw up part - the bass - the improvement by adding an amp will vary. If it's too loose and too loud because of low damping factor that goes that way, then the bass with the amp will be tighter, punchier, but still sounds deep. In other cases low damping factor or just plain not being able to crank it up or cranking it up causes even worse distortion piling on faster then the bass is louder but tighter (given a good amp). It can be weak and loose, and the amp can make it tighter and punchier. In short, the bass can be "THWUUUUMP THWUUUUMP THWUUUUMP" (rather rare for these AKGs) or going "thu thu thu" or doing "thwuuump thwuuump thwuuump" the amp will take it closer to sounding more like "Thud! Thud! Thud!" or "THUD! THUD! THUD!"

2. An amp/dac won't be necessary with my motherboard because I might not hear the difference?

I'm saying there's very likely not any appreciable difference between the motherboard and the E10K because power and likely comparable distortion and noise. If the headphone doesn't require much more power or requires more, either way you've only got very tiny details to distinguish them, unless the motherboard has a serious design flaw in the audio circuit. You're comparing something powered by a 24pin cable from a 12V PSU to something running off 5V 500mA.

There might be more of a difference vs a better amp with more power without piling on distortion and noise. Might. No way to be absolutely sure. But that's on the K702 where an amp with a huge power supply and fat power capacitors can make a difference.

If you get the ATH-AD700X (which is easier to drive than the K702) it's even more unlikely that you'd hear any appreciable difference unless that motherboard has absurdly high output impedance, and honestly I doubt that it does.

I mean, after reading a lot of comments on how "the AKGs need an amp" made me kinda hesitant to buy, but if I have the impression it will be fine without, then I atleast can save a bit more money for a slightly better mic cause I wasn't prepared to "need" an amp/dac.

The problem is, if you don't like the sound as is, would you wait to get a good amp? What if you don't get a good enough amp and you still don't like it? What if you do eventually get a good amp...and still don't like it? Can you return the K702 by that point?

Without a good amp I'm confident isn't screwing up what the K702 should sound like it gets even harder to guess whether that's what it can sound like and whether you should just replace the headphone.

Again...just too many variables. You either have to be open to these and not get pissed if it doesn't work out (not that uncommon around here) or just avoid that one altogether. My liking that headphone does not mean I will confidently recommend it since some people tend to demand certain impossible things like absolutely perfect response and imaging on the cheap (and no amp either), and then here's a headphone that is picky with amps adding another layer of variables to the equation.

I have been doing some research and want to change up my response a little bit:

The fact that I want to use the AKG K702 also with the PS4 Slim, I will need to use something else to drive the AKGs, because the slim lacks an Optical out so I cannot plop-in a DAC/amp (whatever it is).

I stumbled upon the Creative SoundblasterX G5. If I read correctly, this is a Dac/AMP too. It's a bit pricey, but maybe my only solution, or an easier solution to avoid buying loads of things to get the setup working.

Is there a possibility if you could tell me this thing basically is the same as a dac/amp, and that I can use it to power the AKGs? (mainly for PS4, but also for PC)

That is a soundcard, just works off USB instead of a PCI-E slot. It's technically not a card since it doesn't go on a motherboard, but that term is used to distinguish one thing it has that a DAC-HPamp doesn't: a DSP chip.

In all other factors, it's pretty comparable to a DAC-HPamp. Problem is, with respect to what the K702 needs, it's kind of like saying a the old 1.6L Mazda engine is also an engine like say a BMW 5.0L 7800rpm V8 with 395horsepower. So it'll kind of work, in the same sense that the old Mazda 3 can move around, but then here comes a BMW M5 which is a bigger car and it'll just dance around it thanks to all that power (and good handling).

However for your application the console works better with the G5 since it can take a surround signal from the game and run it in stereo with spatial cues. Although honestly I'd be more likely to just use either the AD700X and give up a little bit for music to maximize gaming or maybe look at something else, like the HiFiMan HE400S. Kind of similar response to the K702 but it's got much higher sensitivity ie needs less power and isn't as drastically affected by damping factor dropping due to output impedance.

Or get both instead of the K702 and a cheap amp that likely isn't enough anyway, get the SBX G5 later when games don't come up with built in headphone audio. I haven't bothered with consoles for over a decade but some of my PC games received updates to have that, so it's not just newer titles that have it.

 

[kobikgames]

That's too simplistic it will just make it seem like amplifiers add bass when in some cases they can reduce bass.

What an amp does is provide more power with less distortion as well as reduce driver distortion by controlling driver movement better than a weaker, lower quality amplifier circuit, like the chip on a smartphone.

Depending on how exactly the weaker amp is screwing up the easiest to screw up part - the bass - the improvement by adding an amp will vary. If it's too loose and too loud because of low damping factor that goes that way, then the bass with the amp will be tighter, punchier, but still sounds deep. In other cases low damping factor or just plain not being able to crank it up or cranking it up causes even worse distortion piling on faster then the bass is louder but tighter (given a good amp). It can be weak and loose, and the amp can make it tighter and punchier. In short, the bass can be "THWUUUUMP THWUUUUMP THWUUUUMP" (rather rare for these AKGs) or going "thu thu thu" or doing "thwuuump thwuuump thwuuump" the amp will take it closer to sounding more like "Thud! Thud! Thud!" or "THUD! THUD! THUD!"




I'm saying there's very likely not any appreciable difference between the motherboard and the E10K because power and likely comparable distortion and noise. If the headphone doesn't require much more power or requires more, either way you've only got very tiny details to distinguish them, unless the motherboard has a serious design flaw in the audio circuit. You're comparing something powered by a 24pin cable from a 12V PSU to something running off 5V 500mA.

There might be more of a difference vs a better amp with more power without piling on distortion and noise. Might. No way to be absolutely sure. But that's on the K702 where an amp with a huge power supply and fat power capacitors can make a difference.

If you get the ATH-AD700X (which is easier to drive than the K702) it's even more unlikely that you'd hear any appreciable difference unless that motherboard has absurdly high output impedance, and honestly I doubt that it does.




The problem is, if you don't like the sound as is, would you wait to get a good amp? What if you don't get a good enough amp and you still don't like it? What if you do eventually get a good amp...and still don't like it? Can you return the K702 by that point?

Without a good amp I'm confident isn't screwing up what the K702 should sound like it gets even harder to guess whether that's what it can sound like and whether you should just replace the headphone.

Again...just too many variables. You either have to be open to these and not get pissed if it doesn't work out (not that uncommon around here) or just avoid that one altogether. My liking that headphone does not mean I will confidently recommend it since some people tend to demand certain impossible things like absolutely perfect response and imaging on the cheap (and no amp either), and then here's a headphone that is picky with amps adding another layer of variables to the equation.




That is a soundcard, just works off USB instead of a PCI-E slot. It's technically not a card since it doesn't go on a motherboard, but that term is used to distinguish one thing it has that a DAC-HPamp doesn't: a DSP chip.

In all other factors, it's pretty comparable to a DAC-HPamp. Problem is, with respect to what the K702 needs, it's kind of like saying a the old 1.6L Mazda engine is also an engine like say a BMW 5.0L 7800rpm V8 with 395horsepower. So it'll kind of work, in the same sense that the old Mazda 3 can move around, but then here comes a BMW M5 which is a bigger car and it'll just dance around it thanks to all that power (and good handling).

However for your application the console works better with the G5 since it can take a surround signal from the game and run it in stereo with spatial cues. Although honestly I'd be more likely to just use either the AD700X and give up a little bit for music to maximize gaming or maybe look at something else, like the HiFiMan HE400S. Kind of similar response to the K702 but it's got much higher sensitivity ie needs less power and isn't as drastically affected by damping factor dropping due to output impedance.

Or get both instead of the K702 and a cheap amp that likely isn't enough anyway, get the SBX G5 later when games don't come up with built in headphone audio. I haven't bothered with consoles for over a decade but some of my PC games received updates to have that, so it's not just newer titles that have it.

Hmm i see. Unfortunately the 700x and the Hifiman do not seem to get sold here where I live. Especially not in the store i got the giftcards from (giftcard hell is fun).

I heard that the K612 are much easier to drive. Is that possibly true? Cause if that is the case, I could potentially wait for them to go back on sale (they have been sold out since a few days ago).

If it would be by a small margin then I have I need to seek some sort of middle ground:

I found 3 headsets called the "Sennheiser game one" , "game zero" and the sennheiser PC373D. With the Game One and the PC373D being the best/most similair out of the bunch. I believe some people mentioned they have the HD598 drivers in them and are also open back. Maybe not a "hifi" headphone by some people their standards, but I noticed they should be a MASSIVE step up from the Cloud IIs and should work with my PC and PS4 easily.

Or, I should either get the DT770 or even the 880s, the HD599 or the CALs (which according to many are great sounding headphones)

 

[CTR640]

Sounds awesome!

Do you know if it can be connected to a PS4 other than the Optical Audio (cause I lack the port), or will the Micro-USB connection basically work the same way?

If you mean the E10K, I have no idea to be honest. AudioQuest Dragonfly Black might be the solution but the E10K is a very nice amp.

Sounds awesome!

Do you know if it can be connected to a PS4 other than the Optical Audio (cause I lack the port), or will the Micro-USB connection basically work the same way?

Regarding the micro-usb to PS4, I have no idea if that will work to be honest. When I plugged it in my PC, it installed drivers. But the E10K is a very nice amp. It also has bass feature, you can increase the bass or have it on normal. I like to keep audio neutral without fancy stuff so I have it turned off. I have the E10K because I don't need/want to spend €200+ and my desktop is quite a mess so a bigger amp won't be good. And I needed one because of the high impedance of my headphones. You only need an amp if the volume is too low, even if at 100%. The games have low volume despite it's at 100% but when listening to normal content like youtube and windows media player music, it's fine but still on the low side.

I see you are from the Netherlands. The K612 has a impedance of 120Ω according to:
https://tweakers.net/pricewatch/461599/akg-k612-pro-(zwart)/specificaties/

A bit high but still lower than DT770/880.

The HD599:
https://tweakers.net/pricewatch/588009/sennheiser-hd-599-(ivoor)/specificaties/

Easier to drive. You won't need an amp for the HD599. I own both 770 and 880 and they are both very nice. The 770 blocks sounds which is a pleasant headphone. it comes down to what you want and need. If PS4: HD599. Or you can order from Cooblue and return it if you don't like it and try another one.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Hmm i see. Unfortunately the 700x and the Hifiman do not seem to get sold here where I live. Especially not in the store i got the giftcards from (giftcard hell is fun).

You could contact the distributor and check if the stores carry AT, if not then just sell the giftcards. You won't get the same value as what's in them but that's how you incentivize trading them for cash while your motivation is that you can now buy what you can't buy there.
https://eu.audio-technica.com/distributors

I heard that the K612 are much easier to drive. Is that possibly true? Cause if that is the case, I could potentially wait for them to go back on sale (they have been sold out since a few days ago).

Compared to the K7xx's power requirement and lower impedance, yes.

If in case you like how it sounds but want it more polished or louder, get an amp. An actual amp more powerful than your motherboard.

If you don't like it, that's generally its tonal characteristics (unlike how it might be whatever the K702 is plugged into), so just replace it.

If it would be by a small margin then I have I need to seek some sort of middle ground:

I found 3 headsets called the "Sennheiser game one" , "game zero" and the sennheiser PC373D. With the Game One and the PC373D being the best/most similair out of the bunch. I believe some people mentioned they have the HD598 drivers in them and are also open back. Maybe not a "hifi" headphone by some people their standards, but I noticed they should be a MASSIVE step up from the Cloud IIs and should work with my PC and PS4 easily.

Or, I should either get the DT770 or even the 880s, the HD599 or the CALs (which according to many are great sounding headphones)

I'd get those for console compatibility primarily and just save up for other hifi headphones for later.

 

[kobikgames]

You could contact the distributor and check if the stores carry AT, if not then just sell the giftcards. You won't get the same value as what's in them but that's how you incentivize trading them for cash while your motivation is that you can now buy what you can't buy there.
https://eu.audio-technica.com/distributors




Compared to the K7xx's power requirement and lower impedance, yes.

If in case you like how it sounds but want it more polished or louder, get an amp. An actual amp more powerful than your motherboard.

If you don't like it, that's generally its tonal characteristics (unlike how it might be whatever the K702 is plugged into), so just replace it.




I'd get those for console compatibility primarily and just save up for other hifi headphones for later.

Thank you!

I have 1 more thing to ask.

I noticed recently that there are a "G4me one" and a "Game one" (no 4) with the g4me being an older model or something which have an higher impedance and some didnt recommend it for some reason.

It is this model : https://www.bol.com/nl/p/sennheiser...fjbrOnozNJWA.1_4.5.ProductPageUrl&language=en

However, each website I look at, it says it has an impedance of 50 ohms, which is 10 lower than my Cloud IIs.

Do you maybe have some insight on this? Can I just get it no issue?

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Thank you!

I have 1 more thing to ask.

I noticed recently that there are a "G4me one" and a "Game one" (no 4) with the g4me being an older model or something which have an higher impedance and some didnt recommend it for some reason.

It is this model : https://www.bol.com/nl/p/sennheiser...fjbrOnozNJWA.1_4.5.ProductPageUrl&language=en

However, each website I look at, it says it has an impedance of 50 ohms, which is 10 lower than my Cloud IIs.

Do you maybe have some insight on this? Can I just get it no issue?

I wouldn't worry about a 10ohm impedance difference, even if it sends the headphone below the general guide for what is usually needed with some amps.

 

[kobikgames]

I wouldn't worry about a 10ohm impedance difference, even if it sends the headphone below the general guide for what is usually needed with some amps.

I wonder, you probably don't know anything related to the pc37x?

I noticed it is incredibly cheap on Drop.com. how does it fair against the 599?

 

[ProtegeManiac]

I wonder, you probably don't know anything related to the pc37x?

I haven't tried those specifically but again, if there's any difference, it won't just be that 10ohm difference.

I noticed it is incredibly cheap on Drop.com. how does it fair against the 599?

As it is the drivers on both seem to have pretty much similar specs it might be the same drivers in a different chassis, ie, open back on the HD599.

 

[CTR640]

You only need amp if the volume is too low, even if volume in Windows is on max and you can't hear a crap in movies and games. I got the E10K Olympus 2 for one single reason: to jack up the volume of 250ohms headphones. And besides, the E10K has a button to increase the volume even more, it's the Gain L/H. I am actually surprised how good the E10K is and it's also one of the most popular amps. Amazon delivers it to the Netherlands:
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B00LP3AMC2...+2&qid=1578013680&sprefix=e10k,aps,153&sr=8-5

And oh yes, you might wanna think of getting the Fiio A3 if you wanna use it for PS4. It's a portable amp. It's on my list and maybe I'll get it someday. eBay is one of the places to get it.

My onboard audio is Realtek ALC1150, MSI Z87-G45 Gaming if that's important.

More information. Despite the DT770/880/990 are 250ohms, do not get confused about the Fiio E10K and Fiio A3 for delivering enough power up to 150ohm, the headphones can still get extremely loud without distortion. You'll love it.