Headphone Setup Purchase Advice

[MarkDC]

So this is my first post and hopefully it’s okay and all the information you need is here. I currently have a DT770 Pro with an internal sound card but I’m wanting to purchase an Amp, Headphone, and a DAC with a budget of roughly $2000 to have an actual setup. I’d like to try a tube amp out but I don’t care too much and I’m perfectly happy with a solid state amp. The headphones would be used for gaming and listening to music (all genres but a lot of rock/alternative) on a stationary computer setup. Also I don’t care if the headphones are open or closed but I do prefer something a little bass heavy. Thanks!

 

[ProtegeManiac]

So this is my first post and hopefully it’s okay and all the information you need is here. I currently have a DT770 Pro with an internal sound card but I’m wanting to purchase an Amp, Headphone, and a DAC with a budget of roughly $2000 to have an actual setup. I’d like to try a tube amp out but I don’t care too much and I’m perfectly happy with a solid state amp. The headphones would be used for gaming and listening to music (all genres but a lot of rock/alternative) on a stationary computer setup. Also I don’t care if the headphones are open or closed but I do prefer something a little bass heavy. Thanks!

Are you using the soundcard for virtual surround? If yes then check if it has optical output, and if it's fairly old, double check and make sure the virtual surround signal can go out the optical output and hook that up to a DAC that has the same kind for input.

DAC: Schiit Bifrost
HPamp: Schiit Lyr 3
Headphone: Audeze LCD-2C

DAC-HPamp: AudioGD NFB-11 or NFB-28
Headphone: Audeze LCD-2C

 

[MarkDC]

EDIT: Changed to post below

 

[MarkDC]

Are you using the soundcard for virtual surround? If yes then check if it has optical output, and if it's fairly old, double check and make sure the virtual surround signal can go out the optical output and hook that up to a DAC that has the same kind for input.

DAC: Schiit Bifrost
HPamp: Schiit Lyr 3
Headphone: Audeze LCD-2C

DAC-HPamp: AudioGD NFB-11 or NFB-28
Headphone: Audeze LCD-2C

I’m not using it for virtual surround sound (not a huge fan of it) but it does have a toslink output/input. I’d prefer to get rid of the sound card and give it to my little brother to use on his computer but it’s not a big deal. What are the main differences between the LCD-2C and the LCD-X or even the Focal Clear (that might be out of the price range though).

 

[ProtegeManiac]

I’m not using it for virtual surround sound (not a huge fan of it) but it does have a toslink output/input. I’d prefer to get rid of the sound card and give it to my little brother to use on his computer but it’s not a big deal. What are the main differences between the LCD-2C and the LCD-X or even the Focal Clear (that might be out of the price range though).

Then just get either one of the sets I listed and just use USB if you'll remove the soundcard.

 

[MarkDC]

Then just get either one of the sets I listed and just use USB if you'll remove the soundcard.

Alright! What is the difference between the Lyr 3 and built-in DAC vs. the normal one paired with a Bitfrost?

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Alright! What is the difference between the Lyr 3 and built-in DAC vs. the normal one paired with a Bitfrost?

Bifrost has SPDIF coaxial and optical inputs, optional USB module, more complex DAC and analogue output circuitry, optional multibit DAC chips.

Optional Lyr 3 DAC module is either simplified Bifrost or Bifrost multibit, and only has USB, no SPDIF.

Since you're going to ditch the soundcard anyway you might as well use the built in USB module.