[caf2011]

I just ordered AKG Q701's and I wanna get the e09k and just wondered if i needed to pair it with a dac..
I have an ASUS Xonar DG sound card and im not sure if it has a dac and junk
Any recommendations around the same price would be nice too
Thanks

 

[rubinstein]

hiya, asus xonar has dac.
what is your budget? do you need surround sound?

 

[caf2011]

My budget is about $200 and i dont need surround sound

 

[rubinstein]

If you do not need portable dac, consider audio gd 15.32 dac/amp. It can drive wide range of cans.
http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/NFB1532/NFB15.32EN.htm
 
I dont get why you want to buy E09K

 

[caf2011]

Cuz its cheap and i heard its a good starter amp

 

[BillsonChang007]

Hi,
 
If you have $200 budget, you should also consider Schiit Vali! or Schiit Magni/Modi combo or O2/ODAC! I myself am using the E07K/E09K combo for my K702/65th and I find them to pair pretty well as the AKG does benefit with warmer source however, if you prefer neutral sound amp/DAC, you can look into the O2/ODAC or Schiit combo.
 
Billson 

 

[PurpleAngel]

  I just ordered AKG Q701's and I wanna get the E09K and just wondered if i needed to pair it with a dac..
I have an ASUS Xonar DG sound card and I'm not sure if it has a DAC and junk
Any recommendations around the same price would be nice too
Thanks

The Xonar DG does come with a DAC chip (CS4245) and a basic headphone amplifier that can drive the 62-Ohm Q701s. Would a better amplifier make the Q701 sound better, I would say yes.
You can connect just about any external headphone amplifier (like the E09K) to the Xonar DG front/headphone jack output.
Personally I would get a Schiit Magni or Vali or even a Bravo Ocean (tube) head amp.
Maybe replace the Xonar DG with a DX or D1 sound card (used $60), better DAC chip (CS4398).

 

[PurpleAngel]

  If you do not need portable dac, consider audio gd 15.32 dac/amp. It can drive wide range of cans.
http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/NFB1532/NFB15.32EN.htm
 
I don't get why you want to buy E09K

I do like my Audio-GD NFB-15.32 DAC/Amp, but it is $255+shipping, my total cost was $298.

 

[rubinstein]

  I do like my Audio-GD NFB-15.32 DAC/Amp, but it is $255+shipping, my total cost was $298.

The webpage says 235$, why did you pay 255$?

I ordered mine last night

.

 

[PurpleAngel]

  The webpage says 235$, why did you pay 255$?

I ordered mine last night

.

$255 includes the TCXO upgrade.

 

[rubinstein]

  $255 includes the TCXO upgrade.

what is that? what does tcxo do?

 

[caf2011]

Ok also portable amps....
Are theyre any fiio's that are compatible with an iphone 5?

 

[rubinstein]

Ok also portable amps....
Are theyre any fiio's that are compatible with an iphone 5?

but 701s are not portable

.
 
http://www.jdslabs.com/products/70/c5-headphone-amplifier/

 

[caf2011]

I know lol just curious

 

[PurpleAngel]

 
what is that? what does tcxo do?

Can't remember what it does exactly, but it's only an extra $20.