Will my new motherboard replace my amp?
Oct 15, 2016 at 2:46 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 4

Odeken

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Hello! 
I have a Gigabyte z170x gaming 7 on the way to me, which boasts about it's high end audio capabilities. Currently I have a pair of the 250 Ohm Beyerdynamic DT-990 Pro headphones that I use for mainly gaming and watching movies. I drive them with my Xonar Xense sound card. Due to my ignorance I can't seem to figure out even after researching it if I can just use the motherboard to drive these headphones instead of my current sound card. Any help would be much appreciated!
 
Headphones: https://www.amazon.com/Beyerdynamic-DT-990-Pro-250-Professional-Acoustically-Applications/dp/B0011UB9CQ
Motherboard: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012IBPJ6I/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Current sound card used: https://www.amazon.com/Asus-Premium-Acoustics-Powered-Sennheiser/dp/B0040YJNSW/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
 
Thank you for your time and patience with me!
 
Oct 15, 2016 at 6:33 PM Post #2 of 4
Guessing your motherboard's on-board audio is roughtly equal to a Creative Labs Recon3D sound card.
The Recon3D card sells used for around $40-$50.
A used Xonar Xense is easily worth more then $100.
 
Me personally, would much rather use the Asus Xonar Xense.
The Xense has a better DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) function.
The Xense headphone amplifer should easily equal, if not be better, then the Z170X's built in head amp.
 
I would also disable the Z170X's on-board audio, in the BIOS, before installing the Xonar Xense.
Small chance an active on-board audio might effect the Xonar Xense.
 
Oct 16, 2016 at 7:55 AM Post #4 of 4
I would rather go with a Magni 2/Uber with Modi 2 Multibit. :)
 

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