[Jakob789521]

Hey guys just a quick question, I have some Sennheiser HD598's plugged into a Xonar U7, and either the Xonar is faulty or the headphone amp is crap because I can comfortably listen to music and play piano at 100% at full gain :/ I think my on board sound is just as load actually. 
 
I wish to make them louder as they are too quiet for playing piano, so am either looking for a headphone amp that can drive these in this way:
PC>Xonar U7>Headphone Amp>HD598's  Without changing quality of the U7
 
Or 
 
PC>Louder Amp/Dac>HD598's
 
So I am in need of help, because I can't really tell if these headphones are any good at the moment, maybe the xonar is faulty?
 
Thanks for reading guys.

 

[hodgjy]

Consider the Schiit Magni/Modi stack. 

 

[Jakob789521]

Wow that was fast! and that stack is huge! How much are they?
 
And also as I am on my laptop is there a more portable option?

 

[Jakob789521]

I was thinking:
 
Laptop>Xonar U7>Fiio E12>HD598's
 
The Fiio doesn't have a dac does it? I dont want it to change the signal of the Xonar.
 
Thanks

 

[hunolina]

I've got my self one Matrix Dac mini and fully happy with him when plug in the HD598

 

[hunolina]

ah ok, Fiio E12 is not bad for bringing around, but i did not try it out with the hd598 so can't tell you more. but i guess it can be ok, because I did try the fiio E12 with one Sennheiser HD555 and it was not bad at all

 

[Jakob789521]

Thanks for the advice But as I don't need a portable amp, I am pretty keen on getting a Objective 2 amp so it will be:
 
Laptop < USB < Xonar U7 < 3.5mm Jack Line in to < Objective 2 < 3.5mm to HD598's 
 
This way I can make use of my awesome U7 and amplify with minimal distortion  
 
Thanks for the help Hunolina

 

[FastAndClean]

dragonfly

 

[Boochie]

I just ordered the Schiit Magni. It should be here on Friday but at the moment, I am running my HD598s off a ASUS Xonar DG internal sound card and they sound fantastic.  With the volume set at 30-40 percent, they are VERY loud.  Should you decide to stay with a sound card, have a looks at the Xonar DG.  Only about $25-$30 on Amazon. Exceptionally value.
 
Looking forward to getting the Magni to see if it is as good as advertised...............

 

[Jakob789521]

Im afraid I have a laptop so need an external one. WHOA AT 40% I CAN BARELY HEAR MINE!. What's the amp like compared to the U7? I have to put it at 100% at high gain on my HD598's  
 
I bought a Objective 2 of a great guy in the UK who builds them at awesome quality, so that's my amp sorted anyway

 

[e22big]

should have show us some of your piano work

 

[Jakob789521]

Hey maybe I will when I get my setup sorted haha Im not that good though.
 
I use galaxy painos 
http://www.galaxy-instruments.com/galaxy-pianos.html
 
I have them all and sound excellent Can't believe how much better they are than having an upright in your home.