Creative SXFI Products

[EsaT]

I currently have with me some HD560s which aren't hard to drive at all. However, I do also have some DT990 250Ohm, K702 and some Beyerdynamic T1.Gen2 600Ohm headphones that I use.

DT990 needs some voltage, but actual power need is just average and because of impedance current draw is low.
AKG actually needs little more power per dB and because of lowish impedance draws it as far higher current than DT990.
T1 again has higher impedance than DT990, but its power need per dB is actually lower and it doesn't need any more voltage.

USB 3.0 Female Splitter Cable，USB3.0 Male to Dual USB 2.0 Female & USB3.0 Female Y Splitter Charger Cable 1 Male to 2 Female Power Cord Extension Hub Adapter for Car/Laptop/LED Etc £5.50​

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USB 3.0 Female Splitter Cable，USB3.0 Male to Dual USB 2.0 Female & USB3.0 Female Y Splitter Charger Cable 1 Male to 2 Female Power Cord Extension Hub Adapter for Car/Laptop/LED Etc: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

Shop USB 3.0 Female Splitter Cable，USB3.0 Male to Dual USB 2.0 Female & USB3.0 Female Y Splitter Charger Cable 1 Male to 2 Female Power Cord Extension Hub Adapter for Car/Laptop/LED Etc. Free delivery and returns on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

This is all you need to get too or use any usb hub you may have. The idea is the two usb ports one sends power and one sends data to keep the sound cleaner that way.

Doesn't work that way.
Using splitter from one port already allows coupling of power draw's EMI into signal wires.

But unlike analog signals, digital signal's ones and zeroes are quite robust.
And use of differential signaling further increases strength of actual signal.
So with proper circuit design use of same cable for power and digital signal has negligible effect.
And even use of completely separate power source isn't necessary better by bringing in ground loop risks.

 

[michty_me]

The issue I have with batteries being internal is getting them onto helicopters. They don't like having things like that such as charging docks for airpods etc. Laptop batteries they are fine with oddly hence wondering if it would work without one.

 

[rids57]

Schiit Fulla 3e sounds as though it would do what you want - USB powered, no battery, good amp, good DAC, good quality volume pot (Alps) and even has Mic input, all for £140.

Schiit Fulla 3e Amp-Dac

Buy your Schiit Fulla 3e online, directly from Schiit UK, the Authorised EU retailer offering 2 years warranty

www.schiit.co.uk

Only real downside is it's out of stock, though you could easily order one from the US website for $109 plus VAT when it hits the UK

Schiit Audio: Audio Products Made in USA

www.schiit.com

 

[michty_me]

Schiit Fulla 3e sounds as though it would do what you want - USB powered, no battery, good amp, good DAC, good quality volume pot (Alps) and even has Mic input, all for £140.

Schiit Fulla 3e Amp-Dac

Buy your Schiit Fulla 3e online, directly from Schiit UK, the Authorised EU retailer offering 2 years warranty

www.schiit.co.uk

Only real downside is it's out of stock, though you could easily order one from the US website for $109 plus VAT when it hits the UK

Schiit Audio: Audio Products Made in USA

www.schiit.com

I have been looking into the fully and the hel also. I probably would have bought one by now but there are numerous threads on Reddit and various forums of them bricking themselves from a few days to a few weeks.
I've got an Asgard 3 and modius at home so wouldn't have minded a small schiit on the go.

 

[rids57]

There's always going to be failures and it's these you normally hear about, not the tens of thousands that work as designed. I've got six or seven Schiit products and never had a problem with any of them.

 

[michty_me]

I've never had issues with their other products and neither have friends but have a Google of Hel2e or Fulla e bricked, there is an issue with them Schiit can't figure it out yet and asking the community to assist with system specs that they are being run from.

 

[JasonM]

I think at the moment I probably wouldn't buy an internal soundcard.

For home cinema the best option is just HDMI from an NVIDIA or AMD graphics card to a receiver or soundbar.

I've never listened to an EVGA Nu Sound card, however one of the best consumer sound cards for music were the Asus ST / STX / STX II Essence range. I've owned also Creative Titanium HD and also the Creative Music Xtream before that, the Asus Essence range is just a higher quality card. Even in music mode, the Creative cards sound a little processed, where as the Asus Essence it's like a higher end DAC or quality CD player, they have a warm natural sound to them, downside is the Essence cards have no 3D support for games.

If you can find one second hand on the bay, and you don't care about 3D game effects there still worth buying.

 

[Purgatory]

DT990 needs some voltage, but actual power need is just average and because of impedance current draw is low.
AKG actually needs little more power per dB and because of lowish impedance draws it as far higher current than DT990.
T1 again has higher impedance than DT990, but its power need per dB is actually lower and it doesn't need any more voltage.



Doesn't work that way.
Using splitter from one port already allows coupling of power draw's EMI into signal wires.

But unlike analog signals, digital signal's ones and zeroes are quite robust.
And use of differential signaling further increases strength of actual signal.
So with proper circuit design use of same cable for power and digital signal has negligible effect.
And even use of completely separate power source isn't necessary better by bringing in ground loop risks.

Yes but that Y cable only allows power on the usb 2 end and data on the usb 3 (read the specs of the cable they wired it that way for such devices), I have that cable and use it with the IfI Gryphon and works fine, then they added a firmware update to allow a single cable only on the data usb port and charging at same time so could use one cable when needed too, before the update had to use a Y cable or a usb hub. The hip dac don't have firmware updates for a single cable to do usb data and power so the cable is needed or the other cable I mentioned for usb C from laptop to the device, or this cable usb a to the device.

 

[Purgatory]

I've never had issues with their other products and neither have friends but have a Google of Hel2e or Fulla e bricked, there is an issue with them Schiit can't figure it out yet and asking the community to assist with system specs that they are being run from.

I would order the hip dac 2 and the Y cable you need the USB C or A one from amazon and try them and you will be surprised how good it is, if for any reason you don't like them send them back for a full refund and as you know amazon returns and refunds are easy and no stress.

The Schiit Fulla 3e amp is nowhere near as powerful as the hip dac 2's amp and not worth the money that device compared to the hip dac.

I went threw many of these devices before ending up with the IFI Gryphon and the only other product I would have got for laptop and mobile use would have been the hip dac 1 or 2 and the 2 is now the better model. I spent a lot at amazon then trying and returning devices till I got to the one that made me happy and was really only the hip dacs 1 and 2, Go Blu and the Gryphon and this is coming from someone with studio gear at home.

I use focal twin6 be, Adam A77X monitors both with 10" subs as my mains and Iloud MTM on the laptop and when needed on the main setup too to compare, I'm a serious sound snob and I don't judge by price I use my ears to hear what is good and what is bad and the devices I mentioned are really good for the money and not much else will match them. I know we all hear things differently and have different tastes when it comes to audio gear, but best way to do it is to listen to them and give them at least a day to break in if they need that and for you to get use to them and you may realise when you compare to your old gear how much you have been missing and always listen to tracks you love and know well and if they make you tap your feet or sing along to them or you smile when you hear the songs you like ... well you are onto a winner .

I play keyboards and piano and sound is very important to me and it's only a hobby and I love music and always want my music to sound nice and the hip dac 1 and 2 made me enjoy the sound and was impressed how good they were for the money, the hip dac 2 won it for me over the 1 but really if the hip dac 1 was like £25-30 cheaper I would get that but it's only £10 cheaper so the hip dac 2 wins.

Like I said order one listen and then you will know if you like the sound with your headphones that you own as that is the other important thing the speakers or headphones used with such devices and matching them up to sound nice. Amazon is great for such things unless you take your headphones in to richer sounds and listen there or any audio store with the device you want and they allow you to try them with your music and gear.

 

[michty_me]

Thanks for the detailed response again. I think I should reply to you on my other thread as I don't want to clog up the SXFI thread with us discussing other equipment.