[theramenman]

Hello all!
This is my first time posting so please bear with me. I recently bought the AudioTechnica ATH-M50x (I know, I know, some of you hate the M50/M50x with a passion but I got it on sale for $110 and I couldn't resist). As someone just getting started with the world of audio with pretty basic understanding from reading forums and articles and blogs and trying out some equipment at my local music shop, I was wondering what you guys would recommend as an introductory setup for someone foraying into the world of non crappy audio for the first time. On the go I will be mostly listening from my LG G4 (and sometimes my ThinkPad) and at home, it'll be from my desktop which currently has a ASUS Xonar DGX that I got for free as part of a NewEgg sweepstakes (will probably be coming out of the computer soon since it occasionally malfunctions, it might go back in if Asus will still cover it with warranty). As a college student, I don't exactly have a huge budget but I really do enjoy my music so Ill keep my expectations reasonable. What do you guys reckon is a good starter kit/setup of sorts? Should I just plunge for a DAC and amp solution or just go with something more moderate like just sticking to a portable amp for both phone and home listening? Let me know what you guys think and please leave any recommendations! Thank you.

 

[theramenman]

Any takers?

 

[cel4145]

The Xonar DGX has an amp, so you should be fine there on driving your headphones. If you want to get away from an internal sound card, the Fiio E10K or Schiit Fulla is a nice option.

Have you disabled your onboard audio through the bios of your computer? Have you tried the Uni Xonar drivers?
http://maxedtech.com/asus-xonar-unified-drivers/. These things might help your DGX to run better.

 

[theramenman]

I tried everything you mentioned. According to Asus it's likely a problem with the audio chipset itself (faulty, slowly dying, worked fine at first) and they aren't willing to replace the card under warranty since I don't have a receipt since I got it for free. Oh well, sounds like a wonderful excuse to upgrade!

 

[cel4145]

If you don't use Dolby Headphone on the Xonar card, then definitely the E10K or Fulla would be a nice upgrade

 

[theramenman]

I also do quite a bit of gaming when I have the time (which is starting to become increasingly rare!) and from what I've read, a lot of people advise against using a good external dac/amp during gaming. Any merits to that? It seems like a common suggestion on head-fi and on reddit and other forums but few people actually try to explain it. If so, I can pick up another DGX for dirt cheap or maybe even a DX. Otherwise, I might just pick up an E10K since a lot more people seem to recommend that over the Fulla and it is about $15 cheaper for me to buy atm ($76 vs $80+10 shipping for the Fulla). Thank you so much for the help thus far!

 

[cel4145]

The E10K is better than the DGX, but it does not have Dolby Headphone. The DX needs a headphone amp.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

  I also do quite a bit of gaming when I have the time (which is starting to become increasingly rare!) and from what I've read, a lot of people advise against using a good external dac/amp during gaming. Any merits to that? It seems like a common suggestion on head-fi and on reddit and other forums but few people actually try to explain it.

 

The primary reason for that is because the DSP on the soundcard or the mobo (if you're using one of those red motherboards with the Creative on-board sound, or similar) cannot be sent back to the mobo and processor then out the USB. If you're going to use an external DAC, ostensibly to be able to use a more powerful amplifier (and keeping a shorter path for the analog signal to travel from the DAC to the amp) then you need to use the SPDIF output on the soundcard or the mobo.

 

The second problem here, at least as far as gaming is concerned and as to why most don't recommend that, is "what for?" Ostensibly it's for using a better headphone that has higher voltage and current requirements, so that needs a better amplifier, however for the most part will you be able to tell the difference? Your focus when listening to music, at least how it's properly done which is just sitting back and with your eyes closed, will make flaws more noticeable; by contrast, when gaming, your brain has to process visual stimuli, plus sorting strategy and tactics to achieve the objectives.

 

Also, music and gaming/movie SFX don't have the same issues, even though technically speaking you should go for the same specs and measurements. Music preferably requires clean, preferably flat bass to ensure that your fast bass drums for example will sound like "thud! thud! thud! thud! thud! thud!" as intended, and bass boost potentially can introduce distortion or increase the need for amplifier quality in order to just make the bass more audible without sounding like thWUUUthdWUUUthdthWUUUthd. By contrast, bass boost on SFX isn't going to have an all too obvious distortion, and even those who prefer a flat response for music will occasionally go "WOW!" at the rumbling explosion.

 

And then add to that all the other costs. Those better headphones also cost more, their earpads with the exception of a few also cost more (where gaming sessions last longer than serious listening sessions), and in some cases the headphones might be heavier because they're using larger drivers and with more low bass they need an even sturdier frame, on top of aesthetic concerns. I can't imagine how some play with planars in wood cups, but maybe they also spend more time at the gym and by now have shoulder and neck muscles like Brock Lesnar.

 

I mean, not that there aren't any benefits, but you have to think about all of these factors and contemplate if they're worth it for you, and plan out your overall system. For example if you have other sources or can spend on one, you don't necessarily need to use the gaming computer for audio.

 

[TomStu]

Hi theramenman!
 
The ATH-M50x is not that bad. Once you got addicted to good sound you may want to spend more for a headphone I recommend to use a headphone amp. A lot of equipment lacks of proper quality for driving headphones. If your are running on a small budget you may consider this one: https://www.jdslabs.com/products/35/objective2-headphone-amplifier/ Alternatively, you can save some money when you buy just the components and do-it-yourself. This amp is a good but also inexpensive. I just bought one.
 
Kind regards,
Thomas