Upgrade for Essence STX

[Junglbob]

Hi, I don't know what to do, I have Xonar Essence STX (2xMUSES8920 + 1xMUSES8820) and HD650, want to improve sound quality, what is better for upgrade? I can buy Magni 3 for Essence STX + 2 x op-amp Burson V5-D or don't buy op-amp from Burson and just take Schiit stack Modi 3 + Magni 3?
Someone from you can tell the difference between Essence STX stock vs Schiit Modi + Magni 3?
Thanks!

 

[PurpleAngel]

It might help to know what audio you use the HD650 for (music or movies or FPS gaming)?
Did you disable the motherboard's on-board audio, in the BIOS?
Have you tried the Unified xonar drivers?
http://maxedtech.com/asus-xonar-unified-drivers/

I would be surprised if the Modi/Magni made a noticeable improvement, over the STX.

I would say to get an OTL tube headphone amplifier and connect it to the STX's line-output (RCA) jacks.
You lose the use of the STX's Dolby Headphone, but music has no need for headphone surround sound (mostly).

 

[Junglbob]

It might help to know what audio you use the HD650 for (music or movies or FPS gaming)?
Did you disable the motherboard's on-board audio, in the BIOS?
Have you tried the Unified xonar drivers?
http://maxedtech.com/asus-xonar-unified-drivers/

I would be surprised if the Modi/Magni made a noticeable improvement, over the STX.

I would say to get an OTL tube headphone amplifier and connect it to the STX's line-output (RCA) jacks.
You lose the use of the STX's Dolby Headphone, but music has no need for headphone surround sound (mostly).

I use this soundcard only for music in Hi-Fi mode, on-board audio disabled, what is positive side of Unified xonar drivers? my drivers from asus site is work perfectly.
I don't want to buy tube amp, just want to buy something and forget about it
Generally I like pair HD650+STX, but I feel what this headphones can work a little bit better.

Strange fact, but sometimes i feel like STX is working well, and sometimes worse -_-

 

[PurpleAngel]

I use this sound card only for music in Hi-Fi mode, on-board audio disabled, what is positive side of Unified xonar drivers? my drivers from asus site is work perfectly.
I don't want to buy tube amp, just want to buy something and forget about it
Generally I like pair HD650+STX, but I feel what this headphones can work a little bit better.
Strange fact, but sometimes i feel like STX is working well, and sometimes worse -_-

The guy behind the Unified xonar Drivers has more freedom to tweak the software.
The STX's headphone jack only uses two of the three op-amps, where as the RCA (line-output) uses all three op-amps, so going with an external headphone amplifier, connected to the RCA jacks, would be a plus.
How much would you budget for an external headphone amplifier?

 

[Junglbob]

The guy behind the Unified xonar Drivers has more freedom to tweak the software.
The STX's headphone jack only uses two of the three op-amps, where as the RCA (line-output) uses all three op-amps, so going with an external headphone amplifier, connected to the RCA jacks, would be a plus.
How much would you budget for an external headphone amplifier?

Budget <200$, and I am from Moldova, here 220v voltage outlets. What about new Magni 3+? or Schiit Asgard? JDS Atom? it's not the best product for this price? I mean if talk about new item.