[wes1099]

So i have an HP laptop with a super crappy integrated sound chip, and i have a pair of sennheiser HD 558s, and I want to get a creative X-fi usb sound card, and a cmoy RA1 diy amp, but i can only afford one of them right now. Which one should i get first? I figured that if i got the amp first i would just be amplifying crappy sound, but if i got the creative sound card first, i would have good sound, but it still wouldn't be at it's full potential because it wasn't amplified.
 
I wanted to know what you guys thought. Should i get the creative sound card first or the diy cmoy RA1 amp first?

 

[Me x3]

Hi!
 
You can get a Fiio E07K (DAC + AMP) or a Fiio E10 (DAC + AMP).
 
Best Luck!

 

[i019791]

  So i have an HP laptop with a super crappy integrated sound chip, and i have a pair of sennheiser HD 558s, and I want to get a creative X-fi usb sound card, and a cmoy RA1 diy amp, but i can only afford one of them right now. Which one should i get first? I figured that if i got the amp first i would just be amplifying crappy sound, but if i got the creative sound card first, i would have good sound, but it still wouldn't be at it's full potential because it wasn't amplified.
 
I wanted to know what you guys thought. Should i get the creative sound card first or the diy cmoy RA1 amp first?

I would prefer unamplified good sound to amplified crappy sound

 

[mcandmar]

I'm guessing your laptop will only have a headphone out jack and not a line level output.  Therefore somewhat amplified crappy audio into RA-1 amplifier = even louder crappy and distorted audio.   I would buy the sound card first and see where you are then, you might not need the RA-1 at all.
 
As "Me x3" says, instead of the X-Fi and RA-1 you would be better to save up for an external dac/amp combo like the Fiio instead.

 

[wes1099]

  Hi!
 
You can get a Fiio E07K (DAC + AMP) or a Fiio E10 (DAC + AMP).
 
Best Luck!

 
 

  I'm guessing your laptop will only have a headphone out jack and not a line level output.  Therefore somewhat amplified crappy audio into RA-1 amplifier = even louder crappy and distorted audio.   I would buy the sound card first and see where you are then, you might not need the RA-1 at all.
 
As "Me x3" says, instead of the X-Fi and RA-1 you would be better to save up for an external dac/amp combo like the Fiio instead.

 
I would get a all in one DAC + amp, but I want to get a DAC separate from the amp because I want to be able to try different DAC and amp combinations, and I want to get a DIY amp so i can easily switch between chips, and the DIY amp I want to build will look awesome because it will be in an Altoids tin.
 
Do you guys have any recommendations for DACs?

 

[Me x3]

Actually you can use E07K as a separate DAC. If you get E07K and Fiio L7 (about 10 extra dollars) you can also use the E07K only as a DAC (if you want to try different amps in the future)

 

[Me x3]

And, of course, you can use E07K amp with other DACs.

 

[wes1099]

Do you know of anything a little cheaper? The E07K is a little too expensive for me and my budget.

 

[Me x3]

Fiio E10 is a little bit cheaper. I think it is around 75 dollars new (amazon)

 

[wskl]

I saw another thread of yours that you have a $50 budget for a DAC, I would say go for the Hifimediy Sabre DAC, there are a few different versions, it costs $30 and upwards.

 

[wes1099]

I will look into that one. It fits my budget perfectly!