Recommendations Amp/Headphone setup

Dtshaw

Dtshaw

Dtshaw

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3 May 2014
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268
Hey guys,

I recently purchased the fiio e10k + DT 990s and while it truly opened my eyes to quality music in contrast to what i have prior. It felt it lacked in areas...

There were certain sounds that were sharp or harsh to my ears so i sent them back and now looking again, however this time looking up to spending £300.

I have been look at the AKG K12 Pros, which are apparently were fuzzy when it comes to amps but have witness multiple times for them being amazing for overall headphones.

There are also the Phillip X2HRs are said to be good all rounders too. They don't need an AMP like the K12 pros but apparently in another league compared to them.

If you have any insight on these headphones or alternative ones that are great overall (Music, games and Movies), then do tell!. :)

P.S I do plan to attach a modmic to any new headphones i get.. so does that mean a soundcard would be better then a dac/amp? :)
 
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DT990/770 have what is called a V sound signature, which means elevated treble and bass. Some people do find the treble with DT990/770's a bit too harsh.

AKG K702 or K712 will offer a more balanced sound. Not sure what the K712's are currently, but the K702's are really good value at just over £100, last time I looked. If you've still got the E10K, then that can drive the AKG's pretty well.

Philips Fidelio X2's are very good, but they seem less readily available now and the price has gone up. They are easier to drive, but comparing them against the cheaper AKG's, I don't think they are worth that extra. I'm not sure whether you are saying that other people have said the X2's are in a different league, or the K712's are. Neither is clearly better than the other, as it comes down to preference of sound. Those who prefer one over the other, will say that headphone is in a different league. X2's offer more bass, which is what many people seem to prefer, so I wouldn't be surprised to see more people saying that they are better.

For all round headphones for gaming, music and watching films, the K702's are a great choice particularly for gaming as they have a wide sound stage. K712 are possibly better all rounder, but after checking, they look to be twice the price. The K712's are likely to be the better choice though if you are willing to spend the extra on them.

Whether a sound card is better than a DAC/amp, comes down to whether you want to make use of virtual 5.1/7.1 sound algorithms, such as SBX Prostudio. With a DAC/amp, then to get a surround sound effect when gaming, you'd have to rely on the game being played having that built into it's engine, or some other separate software to provide it. There are some people that don't like all that and prefer to use just stereo with no effects. If you aren't fussed by any of that and there are a few people out there that aren't, then there wouldn't be much advantage to using a sound over a DAC/amp.

For microphone use with a DAC/amp; you'd have to use your motherboard audio. If it's decent, then I don't see a problem. If it sucks, then a sound card will most likely offer better quality.
 
Marsman said:
DT990/770 have what is called a V sound signature, which means elevated treble and bass. Some people do find the treble with DT990/770's a bit too harsh.

AKG K702 or K712 will offer a more balanced sound. Not sure what the K712's are currently, but the K702's are really good value at just over £100, last time I looked. If you've still got the E10K, then that can drive the AKG's pretty well.

Philips Fidelio X2's are very good, but they seem less readily available now and the price has gone up. They are easier to drive, but comparing them against the cheaper AKG's, I don't think they are worth that extra. I'm not sure whether you are saying that other people have said the X2's are in a different league, or the K712's are. Neither is clearly better than the other, as it comes down to preference of sound. Those who prefer one over the other, will say that headphone is in a different league. X2's offer more bass, which is what many people seem to prefer, so I wouldn't be surprised to see more people saying that they are better.

For all round headphones for gaming, music and watching films, the K702's are a great choice particularly for gaming as they have a wide sound stage. K712 are possibly better all rounder, but after checking, they look to be twice the price. The K712's are likely to be the better choice though if you are willing to spend the extra on them.

Whether a sound card is better than a DAC/amp, comes down to whether you want to make use of virtual 5.1/7.1 sound algorithms, such as SBX Prostudio. With a DAC/amp, then to get a surround sound effect when gaming, you'd have to rely on the game being played having that built into it's engine, or some other separate software to provide it. There are some people that don't like all that and prefer to use just stereo with no effects. If you aren't fussed by any of that and there are a few people out there that aren't, then there wouldn't be much advantage to using a sound over a DAC/amp.

For microphone use with a DAC/amp; you'd have to use your motherboard audio. If it's decent, then I don't see a problem. If it sucks, then a sound card will most likely offer better quality.
Click to expand...

I was attempting to say that people on average place the 712 pros a step above the X2s in all departments!. The only downside being is them being picky with Dacs. I was gonna go for the X2HRs for £230 but now they're £260 and the K712 pros are going for £200.. (Both on Rainforest).

I have only tested one Microphone with the onboard sound and it wasn't terrible.. just i have to put the boost on the mic to 100 percent for it to be clear/loud enough for the people i am talking to!.

I could bypass the soundcard by getting a blue Yeti but not sure if it'll pick up my mechanical keyboard.... + finding a place to put it.. :p

P.S I sent the E10k back
 
Marsman said:
K712 and a SoundblasterX AE-5 sound card would be a good combination; or if you'd prefer external, G6.
Click to expand...

It does sound like a good combo and would save me a £100. The only concern i have is weather the AMP on the soundcard will be good enough to power them properly compared to say a JDS labs Atom.. :)
 
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Dtshaw said:
If you have any insight on these headphones or alternative ones that are great overall (Music, games and Movies), then do tell!

P.S I do plan to attach a modmic to any new headphones i get.. so does that mean a soundcard would be better then a dac/amp? :)
Click to expand...
By definition DACs are dumb single purpose devices lacking such "unnecessary" features like mic in.

Dtshaw said:
It would seem the G6 has the slightly better Amp in it and is portable, so yea. It seems like the G6 + AK712 pros at the moment but i am more then open to other options Amp/DAC wise and headphones, so long as it is around the £300 mark.. :)

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/sound-blasterx-g6-7-1-multiple-questions.888769/
Click to expand...
In Finnish PC forum have gotten confirmation from one user that ModMic 5 works well with SBX G6...
Except that in some games (clearly without chat volume normalization) some other players have complained to him that sound is too loud and clear compared to potato mics.

Compared to internal AE-5, G6's direct button for disabling/enabling processing is lot handier than going into control software when wanting to listen something as stereo.
So it could be used easily as that DAC/amp for music, while getting binaural sound simulation for games/movies.

K712 certainly works well for them.
More than neutral bass hinders details if you want the highest competitiveness to some online fps, but it also gives more immersion for general gaming and works really well for movies.
Have myself all three, K702, K712 and DT990.
Though as downside you better be sitting firmly when checking price of K712's replacement ear pads...

Dtshaw said:
I could bypass the soundcard by getting a blue Yeti but not sure if it'll pick up my mechanical keyboard.... + finding a place to put it.. :p
Click to expand...
For avoiding/minimizing noise of mechanical keyboard having mic lot closer to mouth than keyboard is huge advantage.
(even better if it does that without obstructing monitor in gaming)
Because except for "shotgun" mics they really aren't that highly directional as directional radio antennas.
 
EsaT said:
By definition DACs are dumb single purpose devices lacking such "unnecessary" features like mic in.

In Finnish PC forum have gotten confirmation from one user that ModMic 5 works well with SBX G6...
Except that in some games (clearly without chat volume normalization) some other players have complained to him that sound is too loud and clear compared to potato mics.

Compared to internal AE-5, G6's direct button for disabling/enabling processing is lot handier than going into control software when wanting to listen something as stereo.
So it could be used easily as that DAC/amp for music, while getting binaural sound simulation for games/movies.

K712 certainly works well for them.
More than neutral bass hinders details if you want the highest competitiveness to some online fps, but it also gives more immersion for general gaming and works really well for movies.
Have myself all three, K702, K712 and DT990.
Though as downside you better be sitting firmly when checking price of K712's replacement ear pads...

For avoiding/minimizing noise of mechanical keyboard having mic lot closer to mouth than keyboard is huge advantage.
(even better if it does that without obstructing monitor in gaming)
Because except for "shotgun" mics they really aren't that highly directional as directional radio antennas.
Click to expand...

I see, thanks for the detailed response. I have done my research and seems rather conflicted.. on one hand people say JDS labs Atom (AMP) brings out the best in the K712s for music however.. i would require a dac if i went that route?. If i go the G6 route i get the binaural sound simulation + a dac/amp and less overall music quality in contrast?. :)

I certainly don't play FPS games in general unless on the odd ocassion i play with mates and that's every so often!. I mostly play Dota 2/SC2 for competitive stuff!.
 
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