General sound card questions... please.

[morose-]

I bought a Headroom Portable Desktop Amp, and I use that in conjunction with a pair of HD650s on my laptop. Do I need (need meaning: will benifit greatly at an affordable cost) to buy a sound card? My impression was that by buying an amp I would eliminate the need for a sound card.

 

[diablo9]

Quote:

Originally Posted by morose- I bought a Headroom Portable Desktop Amp, and I use that in conjunction with a pair of HD650s on my laptop. Do I need (need meaning: will benifit greatly at an affordable cost) to buy a sound card? My impression was that by buying an amp I would eliminate the need for a sound card.

no. the amp does NOT include the DAC which means you still have to go throught the laptop's sound card DAC which is usually crappy. Since you are using laptop, my suggestion: if you are satisfied with the amp, go find a USB DAC in your price range. if you feel OK to even upgrade the AMP, I have another suggestion for a DAC-AMP combo, depending on your budget.

 

[morose-]

I suppose I should have clarified, I did get the DAC when I bought the amp from Headroom. It was an option at an additionl cost and so I got it. Is it possible to answer my question more clearly with that information now?

 

[AdamWill]

If you have the Micro DAC and the Micro Amp then no, you do not need a new soundcard. Be happy.

(btw, I'd love to have your wallet, if you consider a $300 DAC to be an 'option at additional cost'! :>)

 

[diablo9]

Quote:

Originally Posted by morose- I suppose I should have clarified, I did get the DAC when I bought the amp from Headroom. It was an option at an additionl cost and so I got it. Is it possible to answer my question more clearly with that information now?

then no, you don't need a soundcard, as micro DAC IS the soundcard.

 

[morose-]

Grand, everyone always loves to hear what they want to hear.

The reason I brought this up is because I'm hearing some break up on my HD650s on the real high trebel tones. I really only get it on piano pieces--and it has to be fairly loud.

I hear it in both cans, but more so in the right one... I suppose I've now gone off subject, but I wanted to know if maybe I needed a sound card. I run my music at 320 kbps, but I get the same at 1411 kbps.

Am I just being paranoid? Do even the HD650s have minor flaws? I admit I've not got the best Amp around, but I think I have a fair one.