[discord69]

Hello, I currently own Sound Blaster Z which I use as sound card from pc to my dt 990 pro. I was wondering if I should get different DAC and/or amp for my headphones. I looked up some chi-fi options such as

Olive Leaf AD797
(https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/caXnBnn2)

or

Olive Leaf es9038q2m
(https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/cYlVSVvW)

Can someone tell me if they are any better and if I can tinker with that dac board like swap some parts (which one tho?) or suggest me something thats under 130usd (preferable from aliexpress, gearbest and so on)


Note: What do you thing about these cheap 50-70usd tube amps from aliexpress? Any good? I have heard they often add hiss or whatnot, but isnt that issue of these tubes? So if I swap them, will it be fine

 

[PurpleAngel]

The SB-Z (Sound Blaster Z) comes with a CS4398 DAC chip, which I would consider a nice DAC chip.
You could get a Bravo Ocean tube headphone amplifer and connect it to the Front Speaker jack of the SB-Z.
Which would bypass the SB-Z's SBX Headphone surround sound feature, which you would not need for music.

I would say your better off selling off the DT990 and buying better headphones (HD58X).
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-sennheiser-hd-58x-jubilee-headphones
As I much prefer the audio quality of my HD58X, over my DT990.
The HD58X being more balanced audio, over the strong bass/treble of the DT990.

 

[discord69]

If new headphones can make bigger difference, then I would like another V shaped ones like dt 990 but leveled up...

 

[PurpleAngel]

If new headphones can make bigger difference, then I would like another V shaped ones like dt 990 but leveled up...

If you like the DT990 sound, to me the Soundmagic HP200 headphone are an improved DT990.
But maybe for now just get the tube amplifier?

 

[discord69]

If you like the DT990 sound, to me the Soundmagic HP200 headphone are an improved DT990.
But maybe for now just get the tube amplifier?

Will that Blue one be decent? What about chi-fi alternative?

 

[PurpleAngel]

Will that Blue one be decent? What about chi-fi alternative?

Blue one, the Bravo Ocean, it's decent for it's $80-$90 cost.

"Chi-Fi alternative" ?

I guess I would not spend a lot of cach for a DAC or headphone amplifer, for use with the DT990.
The Bravo Ocean is about as much as i would spend, for use with the DT990.

 

[discord69]

Blue one, the Bravo Ocean, it's decent for it's $80-$90 cost.

"Chi-Fi alternative" ?

I guess I would not spend a lot of cach for a DAC or headphone amplifer, for use with the DT990.
The Bravo Ocean is about as much as i would spend, for use with the DT990.

Thank you for your suggestions and your time, I will go into Little Dot MKII tube amp, I saw it for 140usd, I think that will be the best and most interesting option

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Hello, I currently own Sound Blaster Z which I use as sound card from pc to my dt 990 pro. I was wondering if I should get different DAC and/or amp for my headphones. I looked up some chi-fi options such as

Olive Leaf AD797
(https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/caXnBnn2)

or

Olive Leaf es9038q2m
(https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/cYlVSVvW)

Second one looks like it doesn't come with a chassis, so that's going to be a bit more work.

Can someone tell me if they are any better and if I can tinker with that dac board like swap some parts (which one tho?) or suggest me something thats under 130usd (preferable from aliexpress, gearbest and so on)

I wouldn't just swap out parts, and even if you ask people who know what to do, they'd need to see the board and schematics. Such people are more likely to make their own from kits though, if not from scratch.

Besides, for the risk of destroying it and the cost of parts, you might as well just get one that works and has detailed reviews.

Note: What do you thing about these cheap 50-70usd tube amps from aliexpress? Any good? I have heard they often add hiss or whatnot, but isnt that issue of these tubes? So if I swap them, will it be fine

It's not always just the tube. It can be the circuit. So you can end up buying a quality tube only to find out that it's the circuit, for the price of that cheap amp and a good $30 tube (and more if you bought NOS) you might as well just get a good amp with good reviews from the start.

Basically your ideas about modifying a relatively unknon product is like going off to buy a Hyundai in the 1990s then modifying it to try to beat, say, a Mazda MX-5 or worse, a Nissan 240SX.

 

[PurpleAngel]

Thank you for your suggestions and your time, I will go into Little Dot MKII tube amp, I saw it for 140usd, I think that will be the best and most interesting option

If your wiling to spend the $140, get the Little Dot MK II
You can daisy chain the LittleDot off the SB-Z's headphone jack,
but technically a line-output jack, like the SB-Z's Front speaker jack, would feed a better signal, to the LittleDot.

At a later date you coud get a DAC with an optical input, connect it to the SB-Z's optical output jack.
PC > optiical DAC > Little Dot
As the SB-Z can send it's SBX Headphone surround sound, thru the optical jack.
https://hifimediy.com/SPDIF-9018-DAC