[mhved]

Hello guys and gals 
I'm trying to get the best audio on my budget which is around 200-300$  . 
My current gear list consists of a newly bought Senny HD 598 , A fairly powerful PC gaming machine ( custom built by myself ) , an old Creative Audigy 2 ZS . As for the software side , i use anything from iTunes to foobar , Xbox music and so on ... . My music files are mostly in apple AAC format or mixed quality MP3's downloaded from Amazon store and google play store and a few other places . Currently I don't have any high fidelity music files but in a few months I'm going to live in Europe and I want to try a High quality music streaming service like Tidal  . 
My main question is how to achieve the best audio on the cheap ? I'm going to do it if it's gonna be using vinyl records , convenience doesn't matter , I want to get the best audio as long as it's cheap to get into . do you think i should get a desktop amp and be happy with it ? or should I do something completely different ? 
Thanks in advance 

 

[cel4145]

First, you might consider updating your sound card. I'm not familiar with the Creative Audigy 2 ZS, but since it is an old model, good chance a Fiio E10K dac/headphone amp would give you some good improvement.

Be aware that many people find high bit rate mp3s and aac files often indistinguishable from lossless files. You should try this test and see if you can tell the difference: http://lifehacker.com/5903625/mp3-or-lossless-see-if-you-can-hear-the-difference-with-this-test. If not, invest in the premium Spotify service instead of Tidal. It's cheaper.

Vinyl is not the best way to achieve audio "on the cheap." It is not better than CD (arguably worse). Although some older vinyl pressings are better masterings than the CD pressings--so you can get better sound (sometimes) in that way. Still, vinyl can be an expensive hobby and not a great choice on a budget. I'd stick to digital audio, and have, myself, since I bought my first CD player in the 1980s

Finally, since the HD598s are easy to drive, if you don't have a good portable source for them, you might consider a Fiio X1 DAP. Takes micro sd cards, so plenty of storage for mp3 and aac. And if you have a good portable DAP like the X1, do you have IEMs you could use with it? That could be nice for travel and listening to your music in public.

 

[pifidelity]

I hear good things about schitt's modi/magni stack for $200... you might want to give that a thought if you're looking.

 

[mhved]

First, you might consider updating your sound card. I'm not familiar with the Creative Audigy 2 ZS, but since it is an old model, good chance a Fiio E10K dac/headphone amp would give you some good improvement.

Be aware that many people find high bit rate mp3s and aac files often indistinguishable from lossless files. You should try this test and see if you can tell the difference: http://lifehacker.com/5903625/mp3-or-lossless-see-if-you-can-hear-the-difference-with-this-test. If not, invest in the premium Spotify service instead of Tidal. It's cheaper.

Vinyl is not the best way to achieve audio "on the cheap." It is not better than CD (arguably worse). Although some older vinyl pressings are better masterings than the CD pressings--so you can get better sound (sometimes) in that way. Still, vinyl can be an expensive hobby and not a great choice on a budget. I'd stick to digital audio, and have, myself, since I bought my first CD player in the 1980s

Finally, since the HD598s are easy to drive, if you don't have a good portable source for them, you might consider a Fiio X1 DAP. Takes micro sd cards, so plenty of storage for mp3 and aac. And if you have a good portable DAP like the X1, do you have IEMs you could use with it? That could be nice for travel and listening to your music in public.

 
Thank you for the thoughtful response , I have heard about both Fiio E10K and the schitt's modi/magni that our other friend mentioned , which one do you think will give me better sound ? should i get both Modi and Magni to complete the package ? 

 

[cel4145]

The Modi/Magni is better than the E10K, but the returns will be diminishing over simply upgrading to the E10K. If you anticipate getting into the headphone hobby more, than the Modi/Magni could be a good investment since it will drive all but the most difficult to drive headphones.

I have no idea what your sound card is like, but good chance that the Modi could improve upon the DAC in your computer. So I would get a DAC + headphone amp.

 

[mhved]

Do you think Modi 2 and Magni 2 would be ok with better headphones like hd 650 or even hd 800 ? ( If i want to future proof ... ) 
one more thing , both of these DAC/Amps have uber versions ? should i settle for the normal version or go with the Uber version ? 
Thanks a bunch

 

[mhved]

The Modi/Magni is better than the E10K, but the returns will be diminishing over simply upgrading to the E10K. If you anticipate getting into the headphone hobby more, than the Modi/Magni could be a good investment since it will drive all but the most difficult to drive headphones.

I have no idea what your sound card is like, but good chance that the Modi could improve upon the DAC in your computer. So I would get a DAC + headphone amp.

 
Do you think Modi 2 and Magni 2 would be ok with better headphones like hd 650 or even hd 800 ? ( If i want to future proof ... ) 
one more thing , both of these DAC/Amps have uber versions ? should i settle for the normal version or go with the Uber version ? 
Thanks a bunch

 

[cel4145]

Yes. The Magni will be able to drive those headphones.