Upgrading my Soundcard.. What DAC is a good combination?

[HyperTension]

Alrighty, and off we go...

Currently have a X-fi Platinum, and I am upgrading to the Elite Pro here in the next couple of days. Also upgraded my Altec-Lansing Headset with the Beyer DT770Pro (250ohm) and a Headroom MiniAmp to drive these cans. Did I mention that this is all in the past 2 weeks; you guys are terrible for the wallet.

I've read that the DAC in the Headroom Mini is idential to the one in the Elite Pro. Will a DAC further improve sound quality?

Primary purpose will be for music, and gaming (mainly FPS), with an improving interest in DVD's

Budget is approx. $3-400

I am thinking about going the Headroom Desktop with DAC, seeing how I have until April 12th to have the option to turn this an as an upgrade and deduct the $312 from that cost.

Any opinions / suggestions are more than welcome.

Thanks guys!
Chris

 

[jmmtn4aj]

No need to upgrade to the elite pro, just stick with the plat and get a Headroom Mini DAC or something along those lines

 

[HyperTension]

It will actually be here on Tuesday.

I've had this card for about 1 year, and over the past month the sound will cut out more and more often, hence the decision to replace it. I can't get the same card (newegg and ZZF no longer carry it, and I refuse to get anything with the Fatality name. That left me with the Elite Pro.

Stick with this? I was planning on using fibre/glass to connect this to the DAC, DAC to my MiniAmp, then to my 770's. However, you guys know more about this aspect than I.

Thanks for further input.

 

[jmmtn4aj]

If it cuts out from time to time, then it might be just the analogue outs that are having problems

The biggest reason for moving to the Elite seems to be the DAC, since the Elite has a better one than the other X-Fis, hence my recommendation to not get it since getting an external DAC will bypass the soundcard's one. So if you want to save some money you could test the digital outs of your current card, and if it works, sell off the Elite as 'new' for close to retail price

 

[HyperTension]

What external DAC's do you gent's recommend? TO refer to my original post, I've been looking at going to the Headroom Desktop Amp with the DAC, and use the cost of the MiniAmp to offset the cost.

Opinions?

 

[HyperTension]

I know there are other DAC's out there

Suggestions / recommendations welcome.

 

[oqvist]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmmtn4aj /img/forum/go_quote.gif No need to upgrade to the elite pro, just stick with the plat and get a Headroom Mini DAC or something along those lines

no need to get an external DAC just get the Elite PRO I say

.

Elite PRO for 299 is much better value then the headroom micro DAC for 299

If you are gaming you get better performance. You get a remote control which is so handy and CMSS3D sounds better on the Elite PRO for sure. Music it´s brilliant as well as movies.

 

[MaloS]

I don't get it...if you gonna have a Micro DAC - whats the point of having another card at all? lol
From my experience using it through USB its sound fares well with all uses you can think of, and you save having to deal with other hardware / spending on other hardware.

 

[HyperTension]

No. I am pending the arrival of the Elite Pro soundcard. I currently have the MiniAmp to drive my DT700Pro (250ohm).

I currently have a failing X-Fi Plat, and I was wondering if its worth it to get another DAC (Better? Improved?) to suppliment that. I have read that the Elite Pro share the same chip as the MiniDAC by Headroom, so that negates that point.

Would it be worth it to suppliment my pending Elite Pro? Again, I pretty much play FPS, listen to music and an improving interest in using my computer to watch DVD's (since I went with the 770's and amp). The reason I want to use the Elite over an external DAC is that for gaming, EAX, blah, blah, blah. I totally understand that if that was removed, using a quality DAC over my soundcard for audio recreation would be more ideal.

If thats the case then the setup would be Elite Pro -> Whatever DAC if necessary -> MiniAmp -> DT770Pro, or just Elite Pro -> MiniAmp -> DT700Pro.

Thanks for the info so far, and more is absolutly welcome.
Thanks,
Chris