[fameh]

Hello

I'm a newbie in head-fi and i'm constructing my first respectable system

. I readed much posts here but still im in trouble with the soundcard. Hope some mate can help me a bit.

1st to say is that i bought one pair of Beyers 990's 2005 (250Ω) for my electronic music listening on PC (and i will use them only there). At the moment i have an integrated horrible Realtek and i like to improve it.

Well, my budget for the soundcard should be <=100$, as i broke my piggy bank for the Beyers and still i have to buy an amp.
Two important limitations are:
- Interface must be USB (preferently but not very important) or PCI. I have no PCI-e left. That puts down the Asus Xonar DX, for example.
- I live in Europe. Thats a problem sometimes to find things for example like Audiotrak Prodigy HD2, which i readed in previous posts that is good and has a good price at floridamusic, but not trying to buy here.

Then my blind-newbie-eyes finds only as solution X-Fi Extreme Music, Creative Surround X-FI 5.1 USB and Asus Xonar U1. Any other idea?? Does anyone here know which of those is better for music?

Is neccesary to consider something about PC-soundcard if im planning to buy soon a ~110$ (portable/desktop) amp on my system to improve my cans? (Better continue with Realtek and buy 170$ amp? maybe?) I think no, but not sure

Sorry for the ammount of questions. I readed much posts but im still quite confused

Any help would be very apretiated.
Thanks mates =]

 

[DaMnEd]

The iBasso D2 Boa looks like your best option, takes care of the soundcard issue and the portable amp too, will cost you 165USD + Shipping. The problem would be customs duties/VAT when entering the EU/Spain. :\

 

[fameh]

Yeah! Thanks, mate

Seems a very good tool in my needing of soundcard+amp, and its not out of my price! I didnt know it!

Reading the posts of the headfiers, Ibasso D2 Boa seems a very very good product in quality/price. Seems im going to try to take one

 

[Diesp]

I agree the Ibasso could be a good solution if you plan on buying a portable amp.
If it's about desktop amp, this one could be a good alternative : Welcome to Audiophilechina
you can also get it from a french website (dunno if it ships abroad you may email them) : Amplification : Musiland SVDAC05 USB DAC 154,34 € TTC

 

[Alydon]

A PCI alternative for you would be that Asus Xonar D1. It's essentially the same card as the DX, but fits in a PCI slot.

The Asus Xonar D2 is PCI as well (and comparable to the D2X), but it's outside of your budget at ~$150.

I guess a lot depends on what you will primarily use it for, and (if you're a gamer) what OS you are using.

I've read good things about the iBasso D2 Boa too, though. Out of curiosity why do you prefer a USB option?

 

[fameh]

Yeah, i considered too the Xonar D1, but seems an Ibasso D2 Boa sounds very well too surfing trough head-fi and its a cheaper combo than XonarD1+headphone amp. I'm a gamer but well, doesn't matter to me EAX or something like that, i just care at the moment about music listening quality on the computer.

Well, your curiosity is right, hehe, PCI option is better than USB (less CPU usage and less dust

) , but i have two graphic cards in SLI, 2 network cards and...i have very few space left in my computer box! I need to buy a cupboard

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alydon /img/forum/go_quote.gif A PCI alternative for you would be that Asus Xonar D1. It's essentially the same card as the DX, but fits in a PCI slot. The Asus Xonar D2 is PCI as well (and comparable to the D2X), but it's outside of your budget at ~$150. I guess a lot depends on what you will primarily use it for, and (if you're a gamer) what OS you are using. I've read good things about the iBasso D2 Boa too, though. Out of curiosity why do you prefer a USB option?

 

[joe_cool]

Too bad they discontinued the M-Audio Revolution 5.1 as it was available for less than $100. With 6 analog channels plus a decent headphone amp and a great coax SPDIF output it's hard to beat for the price.

http://www.m-audio.com/images/global...51_UG_EN01.pdf