[cheneric]

I already have my xonar at extra high gain (+18dB for 300~600 ohms). Do I need something else?

 

[Chris_Himself]

Quote:

I already have my xonar at extra high gain (+18dB for 300~600 ohms). Do I need something else?

Do you have the opamp replacement kit?
 
For power (sound quality aside) you're probably gonna be fine but the opamp upgrade kit takes that card to 11

 

[cheneric]

Quote:

Do you have the opamp replacement kit?
 
For power (sound quality aside) you're probably gonna be fine but the opamp upgrade kit takes that card to 11

What exactly is that ?

 

[PurpleAngel]

Quote:

What exactly is that ?

The Xonar Essence ST comes with 3 op-amps (operational amplifiers) one LM4652 & two JRC 2114, you could say they are neutral sounding op-amps.
Changing the op-amps changes the "flavor" of the sound.
I like using 3 LME49860NAs, they are $5 each on eBay.
 
 

 

[cheneric]

Quote:

The Xonar Essence ST comes with 3 op-amps (operational amplifiers) one LM4652 & two JRC 2114, you could say they are neutral sounding op-amps.
Changing the op-amps changes the "flavor" of the sound.
I like using 3 LME49860NAs, they are $5 each on eBay.
 

Interesting. Can you describe how much better they sound? 
 

 

[cheneric]

I just bought 3 LME49860NA's. So can anyone describe how much better they sound ?

 

[fabio-fi]

 
Quote:

I just bought 3 LME49860NA's. So can anyone describe how much better they sound ?

Take a look at this thread:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/421890/the-xonar-essence-stx-q-a-tweaking-impressions-thread