New Sound card to drive HD580 without Amp

[Vinny77]

I am getting the Sennheiser HD580 or 600.

I dont have an amp and also need a new sound card, is this possible or how would it be without an Amp

 

[Asmo]

Get a E-MU soundcard.

As far as amp is concerned, the only person who can decide that is you. I would say no, some would say it is "good enough".

 

[dallasstar]

You'd be best off getting an external soundcard if you want a built in decent amp. The Waveterminal U24, Audiophile USB, and Terratec Phase 24 all have decent built in headphone amplifiers (though, of course, they're not like the expensive headphone amplifiers or anything).

 

[number1sixerfan]

Yes the terratec cards have amazing built in headphone amps. They drove my akgs with ease.

 

[MrYman]

I am in similar position as original poster, having Sennheiser HD600 and
Audigy 2 I am not satisfied with Audigy 2, and am thinking of buying an amp,
or a good external sound card, so I wonder, is it better to buy portable amp
like "Portaphile V2" for $185 (see http://tinyurl.com/56wo4) and connect it
to my Audigy 2 Line Out or would I be better of buying one of those:
Waveterminal U24, Audiophile USB, or Terratec Phase 24? Also, is second
option, which one would you recommend, TerraTec Aureon 7.1 Universe?
(see http://tinyurl.com/6afau)

 

[dallasstar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrYman I am in similar position as original poster, having Sennheiser HD600 and Audigy 2 I am not satisfied with Audigy 2, and am thinking of buying an amp, or a good external sound card, so I wonder, is it better to buy portable amp like "Portaphile V2" for $185 (see http://tinyurl.com/56wo4) and connect it to my Audigy 2 Line Out or would I be better of buying one of those: Waveterminal U24, Audiophile USB, or Terratec Phase 24? Also, is second option, which one would you recommend, TerraTec Aureon 7.1 Universe? (see http://tinyurl.com/6afau)

You should probably concentrate on getting the better soundcard before you bother getting a stand-alone headphone amplifier. Also, considering only the specs, the Phase 24 is better than the Aureon, so don't bother with that. When it comes down to deciding between the Waveterminal, Audiophile, or Phase 24, I can't say that I have heard all three, so I won't say which sounds best. However, I'll say that I have the Phase 24 and that I'm very satisfied with it, and I like the fact that it uses firewire (and it looks so damn purty

).

 

[MrYman]

Thanks for info! Though where do I find "Phase 24"? On TerraTec web site:
http://sounden.terratec.net -- I see no "Phase 24" product hmmmmm.

The best current offer on their site seems to be "Aureon 7.1 Universe",
should I go for that one?? See: http://sounden.terratec.net/modules....rticle&sid=197

Also, would you say that such external sound card is good enough to run
HD600 without additional amplifier? Because if not, are you sure that
Line Out on Audigy2 is so bad compared to Line Out of, say, Phase 24??

Please check this one "Edirol UA-25 USB & MIDI", looks very attractive for $250:
http://www.edirol.com/products/info/ua25.html

What do you think?

 

[dallasstar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrYman Thanks for info! Though where do I find "Phase 24"? On TerraTec web site: http://sounden.terratec.net -- I see no "Phase 24" product hmmmmm. The best current offer on their site seems to be "Aureon 7.1 Universe", should I go for that one?? See: http://sounden.terratec.net/modules....rticle&sid=197 Also, would you say that such external sound card is good enough to run HD600 without additional amplifier? Because if not, are you sure that Line Out on Audigy2 is so bad compared to Line Out of, say, Phase 24?? Please check this one "Edirol UA-25 USB & MIDI", looks very attractive for $250: http://www.edirol.com/products/info/ua25.html What do you think?

http://audioen.terratec.net/modules....=article&sid=5

You can find the Phase 24 there. It's found under "terratec producer" and not under "pc sound". I can't comment on the HD600 since I've never used it. You can get the Phase 24 for 189 at Compumusic.net, so that's probably a better deal than the Edirol (I've no experience with the Edirol anyway). The Line Out of Audigy isn't a great amp, and I say this because I've used it before. In addition, the Audigy series isn't regarded very fondly around here because most people here aren't fully pleased with its sound. The Phase 24's is far better in comparison imo.

 

[MrYman]

dallasstar, thanks for all info!

what about "TerraTec Phase 26 USB" which is about same price as "Terratec Phase 24 FireWire"?

USB: http://produceren.terratec.net/modul...=article&sid=6

Firewire: http://produceren.terratec.net/modul...=article&sid=5

...by specifications advantage of USB version is in having a microphone input, 5.1 channels, and disadvantage is that it supports 24bit/96khz while firewire version supports 24bit/192khz...

In specs for USB its written "Headphone output power: 36 mW", while there is no such data for firewire version... What that actually means? Is that enough to power Sennheiser HD600?

 

[Distroyed]

I ditched my Benchmark Dac1 because I found the difference between the Senn650 out of the Dac and my Emu 0404 to be negligible. The Emu's will drive high impedance headphones without an amp very well, though not lower impedance (~32ohms and less).

 

[dallasstar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrYman dallasstar, thanks for all info! what about "TerraTec Phase 26 USB" which is about same price as "Terratec Phase 24 FireWire"? USB: http://produceren.terratec.net/modul...=article&sid=6 Firewire: http://produceren.terratec.net/modul...=article&sid=5 ...by specifications advantage of USB version is in having a microphone input, 5.1 channels, and disadvantage is that it supports 24bit/96khz while firewire version supports 24bit/192khz... In specs for USB its written "Headphone output power: 36 mW", while there is no such data for firewire version... What that actually means? Is that enough to power Sennheiser HD600?

The Phase 26 uses an inferior DAC to Phase 24, so if you're willing to sacrifice some sound quality, then it might be for you. I'd take the Phase 24 over the 26 personally.

 

[m0nKeY bUsiNeSs]

You might want to consider the BitHead. it is both a soundcard and a headphone.

 

[Jasper994]

Shouldn't the very first question be: What's your budget?

For a decent solution that doesn't cost too much, you might consider a E-MU 0404 and a PreSonus HP4. If your negotiation skills are up to par and you've got a Guitar Center nearby the two should set you back about $140ish add another $30 for cables and you're good to go. Definately better than an Audiophile USB on its own. I haven't heard the Terratec stuff so I won't comment there.

 

[uzziah]

and the refrain begins: "get an amp"

but really, i think you'll be disappointed with senns w/out amp. i'd try to find an av710 and a pimeta or even just a cmoy if that's all you can afford. however, if you can do emu 0404 that'd be super

0404 and pimeta is a very nice budget source. very nice.

you can get the 0404 and pimeta for $250. i'd try for this range. if we're talking much less, maybe you'd like something like a sr60 that would be better driven with just a souncard. senns like POWER

 

[MrYman]

hi all,

well, i am not so sure anymore that i'd need an amp, many people here,
who have an amp and then also a good computer soundcard said
that they are better than cheap amps. i've heard people saying
that edirol ua-25 is almost as good as corda ha-1 mkii, which
costs almost $500, so i don't see how an amp up to $300
(like xin supermacro-3) would do me any benefit...
plus, even if i had a good amp, i still need a good soundcard,
if my source is crap then crap is what i get in the end too...

and it seems that dallasstar is quite satisfied with terratec phase 24,
which seems to not need an amp (as edirol), well, even if i get such
a soundcard, i can still later buy a good amp

so for now there are just two contenders: edirol ua-25 or terratec phase 24,
and i'd like to have external soundcard rather than internal one as emu 0404,
because i'd like to use it at home with desktop pc and at work notebook...

is there any other external soundcard which is recommended and being
as good or better than edirol or terratec? but not costing over $400?


I've just put up a post/poll with list of all external soundcards I was able to find:
http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=112165

Welcome to partecipate!