[HeadFiGamer]

Hey guys,
 
What amp should I get for the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pros? I'm using them for gaming and I don't want a sound card. 
 
Thanks in advance for any recommendations! 

 

[Rhamnetin]

Which one do you have?  32, 80, 250, or 600 ohm?  What's your budget? 

 

[HeadFiGamer]

  Which one do you have?  32, 80, 250, or 600 ohm?  What's your budget? 

250 ohm. I want quality but I'm also hoping to not break the bank. I was looking into the FiiO E9 and FiiO E09K but I'm reading that I would also have to buy the E17 to be able to connect it to my computer. Are there any better options?

 

[PurpleAngel]

  250 ohm. I want quality but I'm also hoping to not break the bank. I was looking into the FiiO E9 and FiiO E09K but I'm reading that I would also have to buy the E17 to be able to connect it to my computer. Are there any better options?

 
You can connect the E09K directly to your computer, just need a 3.5mm to RCA cable.

 

[Rhamnetin]

   
You can connect the E09K directly to your computer, just need a 3.5mm to RCA cable.

 
^ What he said, the E17 will just act as a DAC and further improve sound quality over onboard.  Do you have a DAC already?  If not, the E09K + E17 should be a great setup for you.  

 

[HeadFiGamer]

   
^ What he said, the E17 will just act as a DAC and further improve sound quality over onboard.  Do you have a DAC already?  If not, the E09K + E17 should be a great setup for you.  

Thanks PurpleAngel, I'll pick up a 3.5mm to RCA cable with it. I don't already own a DAC, but financially speaking it would be better if I only bought the E09K at the moment. Will the quality be severely impaired without the E17? 

 

[Rhamnetin]

  Thanks PurpleAngel, I'll pick up a 3.5mm to RCA cable with it. And I don't already own a DAC, but financially speaking it would be better if I only bought the E09K at the moment. Will the quality be severely impaired without the E17? 

 
For games, it probably won't be a severe difference. 

 

[HeadFiGamer]

   
For games, it probably won't be a severe difference. 

My main concerns are directional accuracy, soundstage and imaging for hearing and locating sounds such as footsteps. How badly will the lack of a DAC affect this?

 

[HeadFiGamer]

What if I just bought the FiiO E10 USB DAC instead? It seems like an all-in-one solution that isn't too bad.
 
Does anyone have any opinions of this product?

 

[Darkseth]

That would be much better.
 
I dont really like buying an AMP only, which will be used to amplify the Crappy onboard sound.
Fiio E10 would be a better choise, in my opinion. The E09k is NOT worth the price, except you combine it with a Fiio E07k/E17, and use this also for portable purposes. Else, there are better Desktop solutions

 

[PurpleAngel]

  Thanks PurpleAngel, I'll pick up a 3.5mm to RCA cable with it. I don't already own a DAC, but financially speaking it would be better if I only bought the E09K at the moment. Will the quality be severely impaired without the E17? 

 
Your motherboard already has a DAC feature built into it, so with or without the E09K audio quality will be about the same.
But the E09K's amplifier will do a good job of driving the DT990s
Chances are the E17's WM8740 DAC chip is better then the DAC feature built into the motherboard and would improve audio quality.
But you can always add to the computer audio in the future.
 
A cheaper way to improve audio quality is to get an Asus Xonar DX or D1 sound card (used, $60), which comes with a CS4398 DAC chip
The E09K could be plugged into the Xonar DX/D1 sound card.

 

[HeadFiGamer]

For the record, I'm working with a ASRock Z97 EXTREME6 ATX LGA1150 mobo. I'm leaning towards the FiiO E10 because it is both a DAC and amplifier, which is cheaper than buying them both separately. Hopefully it performs well enough for the 250 ohm headphones. Like I said I won't be using an internal sound card, but if there are better desktop solutions at a price that can compete, please suggest them.

 

[PurpleAngel]

 

 
I would think your current motherboard's on-board audio (ALC1150) would do a fairly good job of driving the DT990 250-Ohm headphones.

 

[HeadFiGamer]

   
I would think your current motherboard's on-board audio (ALC1150) would do a fairly good job of driving the DT990 250-Ohm headphones.

Thanks, that's reassuring to know. I'll still be getting the FiiO E10 though, unless somebody can offer a better alternative. I'm sure that it will improve the experience. 

 

[PurpleAngel]

  Thanks, that's reassuring to know. I'll still be getting the FiiO E10 though, unless somebody can offer a better alternative. I'm sure that it will improve the experience. 

 
The E10K connects using USB, which bypasses the sound card, which might negatively effect FPS gaming.