Spec me Headphones and Sound card :)

GiraffePencils

GiraffePencils

GiraffePencils

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Hey all,

I've been meaning to replace my headphones for around 3 years now, I just keep seeming to be able to fix them and deciding against new ones haha

I need some good over ear headphones, and closed back as my PC is in the bedroom and my partner works nights.

I was recommended AKG K702 and a Asus Xonar Essence STX a few years ago, and money didn't allow.

Would these still be recommended? Is there anything good on the market to get instead?
 
The STX still stands and at £125 is £65 cheaper than the STX II, which is barely any different.

The AKG K702 though would be totally unsuitable as they are open back, so your partner would hear everything you do.
You don't say what your budget is or what their primary use will be but at the lower end you could get the Beyerdynamic DT770, which comes in 32, 80 and 250 ohm versions. Not a bad headphone and very popular but the highs are a bit strident for my tastes. Personally I use a pair of Sony MDR-1A for my closed backs, strong bass like the DT770s but the highs are rolled off more, so they don't sound sibilant. Another option would be the Audio Technica M40X but you'll probably want to swap out the ear pads with some Brainwavz sheepskins as the stock pads are somewhat shallow but this does add a fair bit to the cost. All of these are available at or around the £100 mark, with the M40X being the cheapest. The sky is the limit if your budget is bigger and while not as plentiful as open backed headphones, there are some very nice closed backs out there such as the Meze 99 Neo or the slightly more expensive 99 Classics (wood cups).
 
Hmm, must have got mixed up somewhere then if I'm remembering open backs.

I play Fps a lot, Got Star Citizen so that'll have some fps and ambient simulator type stuff.
Films from time to time.
Budget is variable, I'll pay probably up to 200 for the headphones.

Is the STX suitable, or overpowered? Just I see 20-40 quid soundcards, and dunno what I'm looking for. Just that read the STX can drive the higher impedance Headphones

EDIT:
Hot damn those 99 Classics,
Those are some swanky cans
 
The STX will basically power any headphone you throw at it short of a Hifiman HE6. For considerably less money but still a good card, with excellent virtual surround sound there is the Creative Sound Blaster Z (OEM) for £53. While it's DAC and headphone amp aren't quite as good as the STX it is nevertheless streets ahead of the the cheaper cards and has an excellent DSP for positional audio. The only reason I don't use my SB Z is I have my STX instead, so the Creative lives in the drawer as a spare. :D
 
GiraffePencils said:
Hmm, must have got mixed up somewhere then if I'm remembering open backs.

I play Fps a lot, Got Star Citizen so that'll have some fps and ambient simulator type stuff.
Click to expand...
AKG K550s are closed, higher ups are all open as far I remember.
Like lots of higher up models of all makers.
Unless priced higher in UK Beyer's DT770 would be surely candidate with good price to performance ratio.
Not the widest soundstage but good for closed design of especially that price.

For FPS games you need good binaural simulation.
SBX Pro Surround is best balanced in that.
Old CMSS-3D wins in details, but kills bass and that fun immersion part.
Dolby has bloated bass from echo of everything.
If there's no feeling of good space (distance) and direction in listening that you know headphones are bad for gaming.
(or head/ear size and shape differ lor from average)

Outside that most sound cards would be actually likely indistuishable from each others in scientific testing.
Any kind testing knowing candidates is simply never completely free from psychological biases.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/high-end-pc-audio,3733-19.html
Though of course there are clearly scientifically measurable things for certain cases like possibly headphones need more current than available (possibly clipping signal) or running out of voltage swing of output limiting volume and possibly interactions between output and heaedphone impedance.
And of course interference/noise in integrated sound cards, though that's actually mostly problem with low impedance headphones.

rids57 said:
You don't say what your budget is or what their primary use will be but at the lower end you could get the Beyerdynamic DT770, which comes in 32, 80 and 250 ohm versions. Not a bad headphone and very popular but the highs are a bit strident for my tastes..
Click to expand...
Dropping 8 kHz around 3-4dB in equalizer of any sound card should tone it down lot. (same for DT990)
It's better and safer to tone down some peak than try boosting something weak, because of no danger of signal clipping ever that way.
(like in trying to boost weak bass lot)
 
I have to say,
A lot of your recommendation went over my head, I know about binaural simulation etc.
But I'm not sure where your recommendation is pointing :p
SBX Pro Surround... google says a usb sound card?
I had issues with usb powered headsets in the past, annoying my mic etc.
Older kit though.

What about The headset itself? Would you agree with the ones rids57 mentioned?
 
Hey all,
I don't mean to keep going on, but I'm still not clear on what's best here :(

To add some data, I have a USB connected condenser mic, which I'll be using.

Is USB Sound card better? (noise reduction etc)
If I save on the Sound card, I can put that into the Headphones, but surely there comes a point where I'd have something I'm not driving properly?

I think these 3 are the most likely candidates:

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/crea...g-sound-card-oem-30sb150200000-sc-088-cl.html

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/crea...ro-usb-soundcard-70sb109500007-sc-082-cl.html

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/asus-xonar-essence-stx-pci-e-sound-card-sc-005-as.html
 
Better in that there is a better chance of avoiding interference. Not a certainty though even with USB. If you onboard audio is not affected, then there's a very good chance an internal card will not be either, unless you're using mutiple GPUs, which does increase the chance of a sound card being affected.

USB sound cards are limited somewhat. The choice is pretty slim and few have a really good headphone amp like you can get with an internal card. Something like Creative E5 being an exception.

I'd probably start with an internal card and go from there. You can always return it if it affected by interference, then look to other options. Xonar STX is a good option. Certainly far better value for money that the STXII or Creative ZxR.
 
Alright,
I'm only going with a single GPU.

I was thinking I liked the Meze 99 Neo.
And I'd like to save some money with the Creative Sound Blaster Z OEM that was suggested, would I be shooting myself in the foot getting the cheaper card? or would it be good to drive it?
 
GiraffePencils said:
Alright,
I'm only going with a single GPU.

I was thinking I liked the Meze 99 Neo.
And I'd like to save some money with the Creative Sound Blaster Z OEM that was suggested, would I be shooting myself in the foot getting the cheaper card? or would it be good to drive it?
Click to expand...

Try them without a dedicated soundcard first, as to my knowledge, Meze headphones are easy to drive and don't need amps. I've heard the Meze 99 Classics through an Ipod and it sounded great; definitely loud enough.
 
The Meze headphones are both efficient and low impedance, so driving them isn't the issue.
Providing them with the best possible audio signal is the main goal.
The Creative SB Z (OEM) is a much better option than on board sound, even on the best motherboards. The STX is another step up, due to using a lot of audiophile grade components (the SB Z uses some).

The small difference in sound quality between the SB Z and STX is only going to be noticeable when listening to music and for that you'd be better off with dedicated DACs & amps anyway. For gaming though you will be good to go with the SB Z, it's a very capable card and the only reason I upgraded to the STX was that it's amp wasn't quite strong enough to power my AKG K702s and Senn HD650s.
 
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