Headphone AMP for use with GSP 500

stuart mathias · 10 Apr 2020 at 16:29

Hello all,

I'm after a headphone Amp/Dac for a GSP 500 @ £60-100, I've been looking at the sound blasterX G6
and the sound blaster Omni surround 5.1, would anyone have any recommendations or feedback.

Thank you

EsaT · 10 Apr 2020 at 17:58

Omni Surround 5.1 doesn't have more of headphone amplifier than any basic sound card.
SBX G6's very good headphone output is again capable to driving most headphones you could find from shops.

Though if main use is gaming/movie watching Sound Blaster X3 with option for head shape customizable HRTF could be best.
Precise details of binaural cues needed for brain to properly position sounds depends on shape of listeners head.
And you might have noticed that most people you meet have different face shapes... (+pinnae)

stuart mathias · 10 Apr 2020 at 18:14

EsaT said:
Omni Surround 5.1 doesn't have more of headphone amplifier than any basic sound card.
SBX G6's very good headphone output is again capable to driving most headphones you could find from shops.

Though if main use is gaming/movie watching Sound Blaster X3 with option for head shape customizable HRTF could be best.
Precise details of binaural cues needed for brain to properly position sounds depends on shape of listeners head.
And you might have noticed that most people you meet have different face shapes... (+pinnae)

Thank you for your reply! I'll take a look at the X3 will that be able to support DT 990 Pro's 250 ohm? As I was thinking of buying them?

EsaT · 10 Apr 2020 at 21:06

While not as good SBX G6, SB X3 has good enough headphone output for DT990.
Which is very good headphone for gaming if you want balance between above neutral bass punch and details.
Just remember that it's open ear cup headphone and not good if you have noisy environment:
Unless listening something you basically hear environment's sounds normally.

stuart mathias · 10 Apr 2020 at 21:12

EsaT said:
While not as good SBX G6, SB X3 has good enough headphone output for DT990.
Which is very good headphone for gaming if you want balance between above neutral bass punch and details.
Just remember that it's open ear cup headphone and not good if you have noisy environment:
Unless listening something you basically hear environment's sounds normally.

okay I may invest into the G6 then if you can recommended it! I already use open ear cup headphones Senhiser GSP 500's

MentalSharps · 25 Apr 2020 at 01:52

What do gaming DAC/Amps have over audiophile ones? I could be wrong, but I would assume they have unneccessary feature bloat and the cheapest possible parts and worse sound quality.

Might be worth looking into something like iFi Zen Audio

VaderDSL · 28 Apr 2020 at 20:21

I have a G6 and it's pretty decent. I am not a music listener, just use it for games. Pretty good. Few annoying features though. When PC is asleep, because I have wake from USB enabled, the LEDs don't turn off on the unit.

But I imagine a cheaper unit would possibly sound better for music, I use a modmic v4 and sennheiser 599. I have volume set at 8 and it is comfortable, anything higher than 12 and it's uncomfortable for me personally.