[Deathsnapper]

Recently I've been considering adding an external DAC to my computer. I'm on a bit of a budget, so getting a Zero DAC was what I was mostly considering. I'm not in a huge hurry, so I'd be keeping my eye on the for sale sections for a while.

I'm mostly wondering if the increase in sound quality going from a x-fi titanium to a zero dac (connected to the TOSLINK slot on my x-fi) would be notable, or at least enough to make it worth buying the DAC and cable.

There's also the option of getting a headphone amp, but as it stands I generally keep foobar's volume at -16 to -8db and the windows volume at 20%. So I don't think an amp would really help much for the most part.

Headphones used would be (for now) AD700s and SR60i.
Any opinions would be helpful, thanks.

 

[photogray]

there may be a slight increase, im not sure if its worth the hassle though

 

[bigdirty]

bump for some more opinions. same boat, I plan on using the LittleDot Dac

Deathsnapper you've got a listenable dac on the soundcard why not jump on some new headphones. Only pair i've had experience with are Senns HD 595. I can tell you they sounded great out my X fi. Then I got an amp.

big

 

[t1337Dude]

Get better headphones instead.

 

[MikeW]

well, the x-fi leaves room for tons of improvment when it comes to both dac and amplification, might want to save for somthing a little better though, like the Compass, or Beresford 7520.