Help im a little deaf....

adam laming · 18 Mar 2018 at 15:59

Hi all , i have just upgraded my system and i need some sound help,

i have a rog strix 370f board and seinheiser pc360 headphones,

Im not as young as i used to be and after spending 10 years as a hardcore dj in my younger days my ears have paid the price,

i use the onboard sound and its ok but i do have to have it cranked all the way up and i would like to have something fitted to boost it so i dont have to turn it up so much and to give me something more as i get a bit older/deafer ,

im not sure what im looking for as such some kind of amp but i dont know how it would connect to my computer? any advice would be much appreciated ,

Adam

PapaLazaru · 18 Mar 2018 at 20:46

Hi and welcome. The PC360 are not that hard to drive so should be easy to get really loud. Are you everything in Windows is maxed?

hornetstinger · 18 Mar 2018 at 20:54

I wonder if you can have a hearing test, like those with hearing aids, and then you can apply the same boosting/cutting or whatever a hearing aid does to a sound preset on a computer.

mrbazmondo · 18 Mar 2018 at 20:56

Have you considered getting some nice wireless headphones? Your neighbours will appreciate it

adam laming · 18 Mar 2018 at 20:58

Hi yes the setting are all up , its loud for someone with good hearing but i personally would like the ability to turn it up more for when im listening for footsteps etc in games , not sure about the wireless headphones as im using headphones anyway ? thanks !

Marsman · 18 Mar 2018 at 21:14

Some people offer odd recommendations from time to time.

I suppose it depends whether you want positional sound 5.1/7.1 effects, or whether you just want stereo sound with no effects and what you're looking to spend.

mrbazmondo · 18 Mar 2018 at 21:17

Sorry - I must have skipped the line that mentioned you're using headphones.
I only meant that wireless wouldn't depend on the sound level the soundcard can generate so might be louder.

adam laming · 18 Mar 2018 at 21:22

Well i only use stereo anyway i just want to boost what comes out the pc , its an investment so i will spend what i takes i guess

adam laming · 19 Mar 2018 at 10:37

Would something like this be what i need?

Soundblaster x7 ?

https://uk.creative.com/p/sound-blaster/sound-blaster-x7

PapaLazaru · 19 Mar 2018 at 13:45

That is overkill but a nice bit of kit. Only really useful if you want to plug some speakers in as well.

The SOUND BLASTERX G5 is well reviewed and fits the bill.

Akagi · 19 Mar 2018 at 13:47

WHAT???

adam laming · 19 Mar 2018 at 15:10

Thanks

Acme said:
WHAT???

??

PapaLazaru said:
That is overkill but a nice bit of kit. Only really useful if you want to plug some speakers in as well.

The SOUND BLASTERX G5 is well reviewed and fits the bill.

Thanks so if i got the G5 external sound card i would then disable my on board sound and use the new one on its own ?

Akagi · 19 Mar 2018 at 15:15

adam laming said:
??

Sorry, you said you're a little deaf.

My poor sense of humour.

adam laming · 19 Mar 2018 at 15:16

well thats soo bad i did actaully laugh !

Demon · 19 Mar 2018 at 16:52

adam laming said:
Hi all , i have just upgraded my system and i need some sound help,

i have a rog strix 370f board and seinheiser pc360 headphones,

Im not as young as i used to be and after spending 10 years as a hardcore dj in my younger days my ears have paid the price,

i use the onboard sound and its ok but i do have to have it cranked all the way up and i would like to have something fitted to boost it so i dont have to turn it up so much and to give me something more as i get a bit older/deafer ,

im not sure what im looking for as such some kind of amp but i dont know how it would connect to my computer? any advice would be much appreciated ,

Adam

The easiest way to do this IMO is to use a desktop headphone amp inserted between your sound card/motherboard and the headphones.

For example, I feed the standard line out from a USB DAC (the equivalent of the audio out from your motherboard) into a FiiO E09K headphone amp, this can amplify the signal cleanly to ear bursting levels.. (I'd be a bit careful it could further ruin your hearing!)
You Microphone output from your headset would then just plug directly into your motherboard as it is today, and off you go!

Depending on budget, a Schitt Magni 3 would go 'very loud'..

If you want crazy volumes, ensure you get one with switchable input gain (Magni 3 has this), as with the E09K I use, that kicks it all up ten notches instantly..

adam laming · 19 Mar 2018 at 19:32

Ok thats sounds like a good route to go down , n00b question what lead would i need to connect pink socket on the mobo to the back of the magni box ? Thanks

Akagi · 19 Mar 2018 at 20:01

Just a 3.5mm to RCA cable.

EsaT · 19 Mar 2018 at 22:12

adam laming said:
n00b question what lead would i need to connect pink socket on the mobo to the back of the magni box ? Thanks

Pink connector is for microphone, not output.
https://www.hobby-hour.com/electronics/sound-card-color-code.php
I think you might have also stared little too much of those bright spot lights of disco...

adam laming said:
Hi yes the setting are all up , its loud for someone with good hearing but i personally would like the ability to turn it up more for when im listening for footsteps etc in games...

It should be more than loud, enough to cause hearing loss in long term.
Unless Asus is using their gaming hype branding and marketing to sell standard integrated sound card as good...

And instead of boosting overall volume might be better to first use equalizer, considering you're likely missing treble and mids.
That more bass wouldn't do any good to your remaining hearing.

Those Sennheiser should be quite good, so try this. It has very clear foot step sounds:
https://youtu.be/d1_20T8x_OI?t=5m43s