[techen]

Hi guys, I own a Fiio 10 and I have to say I love it with my HD558s. I was just wondering if I'd get any improvement investing into a Asus Xonar Essence ST. Does anyone know if there's a different and such? I notice the soundcard has 6.5mm inputs as well.
 

 
Any inputs would be great, Cheers.

 

[rubinstein]

why do you wanna get Xonar? are you playing games in computer?
otherwise, if your main purpose is to listen music, go for modi/magni stack or audio gd 11.32 or 15.32. Both the amps can drive wide range of cans.  This would be a good upgrade from E10.

 

[techen]

why do you wanna get Xonar? are you playing games in computer?
otherwise, if your main purpose is to listen music, go for modi/magni stack or audio gd 11.32 or 15.32. Both the amps can drive wide range of cans.  This would be a good upgrade from E10.

Yes, I play bf4 among a ton of other games. They are used for music but mainly for games as there only used on my pc and nothing else.

 

[rubinstein]

that type of soundcard is mainly useful for playing games.

 

[techen]

that type of soundcard is mainly useful for playing games.

Would it improve overall sound from the fiio10 or is it not worth the swap.

 

[PurpleAngel]

Would it improve overall sound from the fiio10 or is it not worth the swap.

I like the HD558 and the Essence ST should at least help a little for audio quality and gaming, over the E10, but I think getting the Essence ST is over kill.
Newegg is selling the Creative Labs Sound blaster Z (SB1500, retail box) for $65.
Just as good for gaming as the essence ST and has a nice CS4398 DAC chip.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102048

 

[techen]

I was also taking a look at the Creative Sound Blaster Zxr. Its just inside my price range.

 

[PurpleAngel]

  I was also taking a look at the Creative Sound Blaster ZxR. Its just inside my price range.

If you will to spend that kind of cash for audio quality (DAC & Amp).
Get the Audio-GD NFB-15.32 DAC/Amp, $255+ shipping (but no sales tax, ships from Hong Kong).
I've beem using the 15.32 for three weeks and I'm replacing my Essence STX with the 15.32.
15.32 comes with dual (WM8741) DAC chips and a headphone amplifier that has no problem driving 600-Ohm headphones.
and the 15.32's headphone output impedance is only 2-Ohm , where as the ZxR and STX's is 10-Ohm (which is still decent).
The 15.32 is not limited to being used with a Win PC, it comes with USB and S/PDIF (optical & coaxial) inputs.
http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/NFB1532/NFB15.32EN.htm

 

[rubinstein]

 
If you will to spend that kind of cash for audio quality (DAC & Amp).
Get the Audio-GD NFB-15.32 DAC/Amp, $255+ shipping (but no sales tax, ships from Hong Kong).
I've beem using the 15.32 for three weeks and I'm replacing my Essence STX with the 15.32.
15.32 comes with dual (WM8741) DAC chips and a headphone amplifier that has no problem driving 600-Ohm headphones.
and the 15.32's headphone output impedance is only 2-Ohm , where as the ZxR and STX's is 10-Ohm (which is still decent).
The 15.32 is not limited to being used with a Win PC, it comes with USB and S/PDIF (optical & coaxial) inputs.
http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/NFB1532/NFB15.32EN.htm

+1
with that price, I would seriously consider buying Audio GD 15.32