[EvanW]

I have decided on getting the Audio Technica ATH-M50s, and now I have to decide on an amp. I want the amp to have a built in DAC, since I am still using my motherboards built in sound. I like the idea of the FiiO E7, but I have heard that its non-DAC counterpart, the E11 has superior performance. So now I am stuck, do I get the superior amp performance of the E11, but have to use the built in sound of my motherboard? Or do I go with the E7, sacrificing amp capabilities to also have a built in DAC? Any other portable amp/DAC suggestions would be appreciated too. I have a Gigabyte GA-73PVM-S2H motherboard by the way.
 
EDIT: Another option would be to buy a cheap sound card that would be a better DAC than the E7 and get the E11, any suggestions there?

 

[reddragon]

How about fiio e17?

 

[EvanW]

Quote:

How about fiio e17?

Out of my budget

 

[reddragon]

Out of my budget

Save up for it, it will be worth it

 

[EvanW]

Quote:

Save up for it, it will be worth it

Is the amp quality better than the E11?

 

[EvanW]

Also does the Asus Xonar DG have a better DAC than the E7 or E17?

 

[SH0774]

I've been running fine off an E7 I just picked up. The pirce range isn't too bad (especially off of Amazon) and it is basically the E17 only a few pegs down. The M50's aren't too hard to drive, so I'd say the E7 would be A-okay.

 

[zeinharis]

perhaps you could consider buying ibasso d-zero rather than the e7 because the d-zero is abit better than the e7 interms of soundquality

 

[xxhaxx]

In your budget I would either say the Ibasso D-Zero if you want a portable unit and the Fiio E10 if you want a transportable non battery unit.

 

[punks15]

Quote:

Save up for it, it will be worth it

Yup it will be worth it