Would using an amp without a DAC on a PC be alright?

[atothex]

I suggest lowering your headphone budget while raising your source/amp budget.

How about HD580 + Gilmore Lite for now?

Edit: A Lunchbox would work well, too.

 

[iriverdude]

I'd second that, buy easier to drive phones especially if funds are tight. You can always buy DAC, headphone amp and HD-650 later. Those Sennheisers will sound muddy, I know had a even easier Sennheiser pair.

 

[atothex]

Heh I think the HD650s sound a bit muddy even with a recable and mid-fi source/amp. =)

 

[hvu]

I don't no is this helps but I just recently got my iBasso D10 and it is paired with my Hd650 and running optical cable from the sound card to the amp. I recently just burned it in for a few hours and I can hear slight improvement in the bass and trebles.
Yes, I know I should use a proper dedicated amp to it but the D10 is mainly going to be used with a ATH-M50. Not unless there are better suggestion for better traveling headphones.

Quote:

Originally Posted by iriverdude /img/forum/go_quote.gif Background noise, higher noise floor, and unusual sounds like humming, noise when scrolling web pages. Something you should not get, but I do. It's not bad but compared to analogue out from full size CD players and totally silent Hi-Fi pre-amps, it's noticeable.

This is all based on if you have your headphones hooked up to your front panel connectors. You may want to check you sound cable running from you motherboard to the front panel connector and see if it is touching or leaning on your hard drive or cd-rom bay because the vibration from the drives can cause noise through the wire.

 

[iriverdude]

I don't use front panel, neither soundcards have have the standard front panel connector (except for onboard)