[kloxx]

TerraTec SiXPack 5.1+ because it has a headphone out (2 x 60 mW)?

Please name the one you think its best, but still payable...

All the M-Audio cards arn't as good as the SiXPack 5.1+, because they have no amp, right?

I read almost every thread about that, but I still don't get it... would be nice if you explain what you think/know.

Thanks for every answer

 

[HanssoN]

I use the Terratec Aureon 7.1 Space... It sounds really good, but the drivers are a bit buggy, and I needed to download beta-drivers from the Terratec website for the card to function properly.
As I've got a dedicated headamp I never use the on-board one, though, and if I were to buy a new soundcard today I'd go for an M-audio Revo or an Audigy 2 to get rid of all the driver-bugs...

The line-out of a soundcard can often drive your headphones quite well, so the amp-thing perhaps shouldn't be your first concern. If I'm correct the SiXPack isn't nearly as good as some of the other Terratec cards, and I suggest that you take look at some other alternatives before you make your choice...

Good luck!

/ HanssoN

Oh, by the way... Welcome to Head-Fi and sorry about your wallet!

(This may seem to be a mysterious greeting, but I assure you that you'll understand the meaning of it very soon...

)

 

[kloxx]

Hehe, thanks and I'm sure I know what you mean... very sure

I thought of buying that card only because of its on board amp, but there is another card with it, its the successor of the Santa Cruz, called Sonic Xplosion here in Germany, but I'm still veeeerrryyy doubtful what to do...

Could you explain your "dedicated headamp"... sounds like its not that expensive.

I dunno whats the better way to go, a high-end card without amps like the EWX 24/96 or Revo or a normal card, but with amps, to bad there is no card with both...

But I've no experience with Hi-Fi or even Head-Fi, so I hope to get some serious advice on what card/headphone to use, please :/

 

[dd3mon]

The Revo powers the HD600's very well. You won't get earsplitting volume, but it's more than loud enough for me. The sound is reasonably balanced, detailed - perhaps a little dry and slightly lean - but far better than the average PDCP or soundcard jack.

I would recommend this combination to anyone who could not afford an amp. I've been using it alot lately as I don't wanna keep disconnecting my VD Reference cables (no quick task) to listen to my soundcard through my MG Head. The direct connection between HD600 and Revo impresses me everytime I listen - although it is made significanly better w/ the Equinox replacement cable (which helps counteract some of the slightly dry and lean sound from the Revo). The soundstage is excellent from the Revo.

-dd3mon

 

[HanssoN]

My dedicated/standalone headphone amplifier cost me approximately 400 dollars. It's a Swedish design (Harmony Design EAR90), and I like it a lot.

I'd recommend that you buy a nice soundcard and add the amp later on. Perhaps you won't even need one, but that depends on which headphones you intend to use, and what you'll be using the card for.

Personally if find myself needing an amp more when playing computer games (HL/Counter-Strike) than when listening to music, but this is, as is everything else, very subjective.

(The improvement of the 3D-sound is perhaps the most evident difference when comparing amped and unamed headphones.)

If you are a hardcore gamer, go for the Audigy 2... If you only (or at least mostly) want to listen to music, go for the M-audio.

If you can't make up your mind, (or if you get a good deal), you could buy Terratec, but then you should be aware of the extremely buggy drivers.

Well, I hope this helps... If you could provide additional information (what phones you'll be using, if you intend to play games or listen to music etc.) this could possibly be helpful when making a recommendation.

All the best!

/ HanssoN

 

[kloxx]

I'm playing a lot CS, generally shooters, but my main reason to buy new headphons _was_ listening to music, but right now I think it'll be good not to use my current headphones, Plantronics Audio 90, at CS, too.

Here my new questions:
Revo powers the HD600's very well, other 24/96 sound cards, especially Audigy90 and Aureon 5.1 Sky doesn't?

If not, they'll power the HD590's very well, because they need half of 600's Ohm, right?

I though amped headphones are only louder (a lot?) and have a deeper bass, but now your telling me it takes effect on the 3D Sound too, so now I just have to get one, because 3D Sound (24/7 CS ^^) and the bass (even more beacuse I like Techno/Trance most) are very importnat for me...

Would a little on-board amp do this job quite well, too?

How about the DMX 6FIRE 24/96 then? => 24 Bit / 96 kHz, A3D, EAX 1+2 and 60 mW, but 130€...

Sorry for my bad english and thanks for your answers, its a huge help for me

 

[TimSchirmer]

Why are you using a 5.1 card with headphones?

I'd imagine the External Audiophile 2496 would have a decent headphone jack.

 

[gbeard]

My HD600's sound pretty good through my Terratec DMX 6 fire. I have no other sound cards to compare to, but the 6 fire is definitely listenable, though nowhere near as good as any of the amps I've tried.

gb

 

[dd3mon]

All sound cards will get approximately the same volume out of a pair of 600's - but the music quality out of a Revo is far superior to any creative product IMO (haven't heard anyone disagree with this statement).

An amp has many purposes - volume level, tonal balance (at all volumes, weak sources such as a soundcard can get very thin at higher volumes), and if you have a good amp, low-level detail retreival. Amps can improve soundstage (3D space effect, works the same way in games), and an amp with crossfeed (such as a HeadRoom amp, Meier Audio amp or DIY amp w/ crossfeed) is said by many to vastly improve headphone listening and spatial cues (in games too).

It basically comes down to the fact that the jack on the back of your soundcard and most other gear with a headphone jack had very little time and money put into it to make it sound good for headphones. The jack on your soundcard is most likely designed to drive powered speakers (hence, line level signal) - and the headphone jacks on most gear use under 50 cents in parts for their output, and you get what you pay for.

-dd3mon

 

[HanssoN]

I guess that the Aureon 5.1 Sky would drive the HD600s OK... (My Space 7.1 does) Maybe the 5.1 Sky would drive your phones even better than the M-audio Revolution as the Terratec has an on-board headphone amp... Oh well, I guess I should buy an M-audio so that I could make a direct comparison...

 

[kloxx]

The Aureon 5.1 Sky has an amp? Don't knew that... and still don't think so, that would be listed on TerraTecs main page, but it isn't

I think I'll try to order the Aureon 5.1 Sky, Audigy 2, HD 580, HD 590 & Beyer DT 770 and test them, since there is a new rule allowing you to give back everything without any reason over a period of two weeks after you bought it, do you know about this rule too or am I worng? ^^

 

[Kal525]

You could take a look at the M-audio sonica. It's a USB device that carries the signal from your computer to a small external DAC. I use it in conjunction with my HD600s and META42 and it seems to work pretty well. I'm not sure how it would perform without an amp though, might be underpowered, especially for the HD600s. Advantage though is that it's cheap ($40) and sounds good with no interference from computer internals.

 

[PMorph]

Quote:

Originally posted by kloxx The Aureon 5.1 Sky has an amp? Don't knew that... and still don't think so, that would be listed on TerraTecs main page, but it isn't

Yes, its got an amp; switched on front-speaker line out signal path (via a relay) when headphones are selected as output device.

It's S/N isn't as good as of dedicated headphone amps, but power shouldn't be a problem.

 

[gbeard]

Hi all,

I just thought I'd give a Terratec/ HD600 update. Today I received my Cardas HP cable and with it in the chain the DMX 6fire is really a much better headphone amp than I first thought. In fact, at the moderate volumes I listen, it is very good. I am enjoying it quite a bit until my amp arrives. The 6fire sounds pretty good driving the little Monsoon system I have too.

I'm very impressed with its overall musicality. Anyone looking for a card with the 6fires features should not be afraid to give it a whirl...

Just my op.
Cheers, gb

I'm 100 posts old today!