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06-25-2015, 12:27 PM
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#1 | HELP ME PLS!!!
Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 5,542
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| Better PC Sound Quality
With the same pair of headphones, the sound quality is much better when I listen to music from my OnePlus One (AudioFX equalizer adjusted) than with my PC (integrated sound, tried adjusting equalizer).
Is there any way that I can get better music quality from my PC without upgrading sound card?
Or is that the only way?
I'm planning to get a headphone amplifier for my PC, not sure if that will make a difference.
I'm using Sony MDRXB500
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06-25-2015, 12:38 PM
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#2 | Media Officer / MOD
Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: vancouver
Posts: 28,073
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amps always help, there a few out there at different price ranges.
check this out NwAvGuy: O2 Headphone Amp |
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06-25-2015, 01:00 PM
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#3 | Rs has made me the woman i am today!
Join Date: Mar 2012
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| Quote:
Originally Posted by !Aznboi128 | I second this. I have an ODAC O2 combo so DAC plus the amp. It's really all you need.
Also your XB500s are quite bassy non-audiophile headphones, grabbing a DAC or amp for it probably won't make much of a difference. Save your money and invest in a nice set of headphones first, then worry about the source hardware.
__________________ [13-03, 11:25] MG1 when you hit the brakes, it shoots cum at pedestrian - bukkake
[12-03, 19:06] meme405 That e30 is so mexiflushed I thought we were in albuquerque
[12-03, 23:03] rb when i see a modded element. I have nothing but respect. either the parents kicked him out or the guy is killing hookers in the back |
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06-25-2015, 02:04 PM
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#4 | HELP ME PLS!!!
Join Date: May 2002 Location: vancity
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Ht omega cards are real nice. I have a sound card with C-Media Oxygen HD CMI8788 chip. Works awesome.
It was worth every penny.
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06-25-2015, 04:06 PM
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#5 | Revscene.net has a homepage?!
Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: nowhere
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Like what the other said. But this depends on your current on-board setup. If its really bad then you would probably want to upgrade that first. A decent headphone amp/dac combo will go a long way. I think the general consensus for "best bang for your buck" goes like this... Source files (FLAC/ALAC/320kbps ) - > headphones -> Amp -> DAC
edit: warning.. this is a slippery slope
Last edited by 3klipze; 06-26-2015 at 09:54 AM.
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06-25-2015, 05:58 PM
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#6 | HELP ME PLS!!!
Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 5,542
Thanked 652 Times in 346 Posts
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What's a DAC?
I'm a noob for audiophile.
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06-25-2015, 10:42 PM
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#7 | Rs has made me the woman i am today!
Join Date: Mar 2012
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| https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digita...alog_converter Quote:
In electronics, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC, D/A, D2A or D-to-A) is a function that converts digital data (usually binary) into an analog signal (current, voltage, or electric charge). An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) performs the reverse function. Unlike analog signals, digital data can be transmitted, manipulated, and stored without degradation, albeit with more complex equipment. But a DAC is needed to convert the digital signal to analog to drive an earphone or loudspeaker amplifier in order to produce sound (analog air pressure waves).
| Examples of cheap but effective (and all most people need for casual FLAC/uncompressed music listening honestly...) DACs Schiit Audio, Headphone amps and DACs made in USA. https://www.jdslabs.com/products/46/standalone-odac/
I own the ODAC and I use them for my studio monitors and have nothing but good things to say about them. Occasionally use them with my headphones as well.
Built-in sound on the motherboard will never ever ever be able to match any separate USB DAC. Ever. Ever. Not even close. Even any kind of DAC built in on a soundcard, there will always be some kind of interference from within your computer. Just grab an amp and DAC combo and call it a day. Plus a pair of nice entry-level audiophile non-basshead consumer-based headphones (which your XB500s are).
And yes, this is a very slippery slope, sometimes even more so than car modding
OP what I would suggest you do first is browse through the Head-Fi forums for a nice pair of entry level cans, use them first with your current source material NON EQ'd. If that's sufficient for you, I'd say just forget about getting the DAC/amp.
The most common misconception is that FLAC files all sound way better than 320kbps MP3 files. They do not, UNLESS your source material and headphones are at a level where the additional bitrate can be realized.
__________________ [13-03, 11:25] MG1 when you hit the brakes, it shoots cum at pedestrian - bukkake
[12-03, 19:06] meme405 That e30 is so mexiflushed I thought we were in albuquerque
[12-03, 23:03] rb when i see a modded element. I have nothing but respect. either the parents kicked him out or the guy is killing hookers in the back |
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