Yardstick
Head-Fier
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2013
- Posts
- 64
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- 11
I need some help narrowing down a DAC or DAC/AMP combo for computer audio. The primary purpose is for playing music through over ear headphones while I'm working but I might use it for JBL 308s too. The 3.5 mm audio out jacks on the motherboard and case of my desktop are noisy. There's an audible hiss in quiet parts of songs or if there's no audio playing. There's some other hiss that comes in when the mouse moves and another screechy one that comes in with the scroll wheel. It's worse in some applications and it can be different depending on the browser page that is up (even if I'm working in another application). It's really weird. My monitor uses an HDMI signal so I tried plugging into its 3.5 mm plug. The audio is cleaner but it's also tinny and hollow. It lacks the fullness that I get from the motherboard audio. I had a first generation Schiit Modi/Magni combo that worked really well but the Modi died with fairly low use just outside of the warranty period and they were no help on that, so I'm a little apprehensive about buying their stuff. Is there something up to about $200 that would improve my computer audio? I still have the Magni, so I could go with a standalone DAC but I'm not sure I trust the Magni to last.