X-Fi to Headphone Amp - What Interconnects?

[Noc0de]

Heyas

I apologise for the super nooby questions, but I've decided to take a small step-up in the audio world and purchase my first amp.

I saw a good deal on a Rega Ear amp on eBay and couldn't resist. What sort of interconnect would I need to go from the back of my X-Fi card to the headphone amp? Is it a stereo minijack to 2x phono plug?

Does anyone have any moderately priced good cable recommendations?

Something like this good?

I'd appreciate any help and advice as I'm completely new to this but eager to learn!

 

[kamal007]

it will be minirca..basically a mini jack (3.5mm) to 2 RCA.
btw are you in the UK or US?

 

[toanaldino]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noc0de /img/forum/go_quote.gif Heyas I apologise for the super nooby questions, but I've decided to take a small step-up in the audio world and purchase my first amp. I saw a good deal on a Rega Ear amp on eBay and couldn't resist. What sort of interconnect would I need to go from the back of my X-Fi card to the headphone amp? Is it a stereo minijack to 2x phono plug? Does anyone have any moderately priced good cable recommendations? Something like this good? I'd appreciate any help and advice as I'm completely new to this but eager to learn!

Yeah you should have no problem with that minirca.

I experienced quite a lot humming when i connected my Darkvoice 336i straight from the X-fi.

But now I'm using an external DAC which solved the humming problem

 

[Noc0de]

Thanks for your help guys.

I hope I don't have to buy an external DAC. How much are they generally if I was going to try and get something to match my Rega Ear?

I'm in the UK if that helps?

 

[Toby M]

I have a Fubar II which sounds great, way better than the modded Audigy 2 ZS I had before. I don't know how it compares to an x-fi but mine produces no noise/hum. It's USB, pretty cheap, works in Vista, doesnt require drivers, even looks nice, I love it.

Btw you can make some top notch DIY cables very cheaply if you know how to use a soldering iron

 

[pkjames]

The best way is to get a higher grade DAC/AMP combo that can take optical signal (SPDIF) as input, or simply get an USB DAC such as the Meier MOVE! Either way, you by passed the internal amplification circuit of the sound card so that you can avoid "garbage in garbage out"

 

[toanaldino]

If can you DIY, you try to mod your X-Fi.

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=229350

 

[mADmAN]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toby M /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have a Fubar II which sounds great, way better than the modded Audigy 2 ZS I had before. I don't know how it compares to an x-fi but mine produces no noise/hum. It's USB, pretty cheap, works in Vista, doesnt require drivers, even looks nice, I love it. Btw you can make some top notch DIY cables very cheaply if you know how to use a soldering iron

same case here... although my A2ZS is stock.

had some trouble with the Fubar II a while back and had to send it in for warranty...during that period i had to move back to my A2ZS. it was either that or onboard audio. so A2ZS it is.

anyway...it made me wonder how the hell i actually liked the A2ZS for music before the Fubar