[zakazak]

Hello, I would need 2 DAC's for my system:
 
First system:
Laptop -> Sennheiser HD555 (modded to 595)
or
Laptop -> Sony TA-F690ES (Sony ES-Series Stereo Amp.. so I would only need the DAC feature) -> Magnat Zero 8 speakers
 
Second system:
HTPC -> TV -> Sony TA-F690ES (Sony ES-Series Stereo Amp.. so I would only need the DAC feature) -> Magnat Zero 8 speakers
or
HTPC -> Sony TA-F690ES (Sony ES-Series Stereo Amp.. so I would only need the DAC feature) -> Magnat Zero 8 speakers
 
 
Now I wonder which device I should get for those 2 different kind of systems.
For the laptop usage (First system) I thought about getting the Creative Soundblaster X-Fi HD. Looks better, is bigger (and maybe better?) but needs a driver/software to be running. Or will the Fiio E17 bring the same performance or even outperform the Creative Soundblaster? Also in case of playing music from my laptop via my stereo amp + speakers a DAC function/device would be enough.
 
For the HTPC/Amp usage (Second system) I would actually only need a DAC as I always play the music via my stereo amp + speakers. How ever, as I am not sure on how to connect the DAC (via HTPC.. so drivers are possible) or via TV (so the DAC can't rely on drivers/software):
 
 
HTPC --HDMI--> TV --SPID/F--> DAC --Cinch--> Stereo Amp (in that case the Creative X-Fi HD won't work as it needs a driver/computer?)
 
Or should I use:
 
HTPC --HDMI (Video)--> TV
+
HTPC --SPID/F (Audio)--> Stereo Amp
 
Or would you guys recommend me something completely different? Would prefer two different devics as my HTPC will not be anywhere near my laptop.
 
Thanks
 
@edit: HTPC = a little PC mainly for movie/TV/music playback.

 

[MattTCG]

I would certainly pick the e17. It's portable, incredible flexible in it's configuration, and sound better than the Xfi IMO
 
gL!!

 

[zakazak]

Portabily isn't important at all. The E17 supports 192k/24bit only via SPID/F (which would be nice for the usage of TV & Stereo Amp but bad for Laptop -> USB -> E17 -> Headphones).
 
Maybe I should dumb both and get a "TubeMagic D1" for the laptop usage? But then I wonder if the Amp inside the TubeMagic D1 is a problem as after the TubeMagic D1 my Sony Amp will come? 
 
So it could look like:
 
Laptop -> TubeMagic D1 (DAC/AMP) -> Sennheiser HD 555
Laptop -> TubeMagic D1 (DAC/AMP) -> Sony Amp -> Speakers
 
And then for my htpc -> amp -> speakers system I would need a DAC only.