which headphones...?

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OK now after having a quick look at previous threads i see the general recommendation is

Sound card = Asus Xonar DG.

Headset, Goldring dr150 or ns1000, with a clip on speedlink Mic, if choosing the ns1000's a fiio e5 portable amp will help alto.
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well I'm changing my sound system as my medusa speedlink 5.1's have just broken, now just about to order a speedlink clip on Mic and a fiio e5, but i just want to check that i have this right. the xonar dg will be replacing my currant audigy 2zs, the fiio e5 will replace the speedlinks separate amp, obviously the clip on Mic replaces the boom mic....... but then it all falls apart as people keep suggesting either the dr150's or the ns1000's and i really don't know which one to get...:)
i know the ns1000's are £10 dearer but they are closed back and the detachable cable, but then the dr150's... abit cheaper and open backed..... arrrrgh help me decide.

which is better ?
 
NS1000 are closed headphones with Active Noise Reduction that works as an amp and requires a battery. With it off you will definitely need a dedicated amp as these headphones are of quite high impendence (100ohm with ANR off, 300ohm with ANR on).

DR150 are open headphones and won't require a dedicated amp, the onboard one of Xonar DG should suffice.

If you're not on a tight budget, consider Goldring NS1000, FiiO E7 and Asus Xonar DX (all around £50 each). Otherwise go with whatever suits you best :)
 
DR150's and the Xonar DX are great, I have an E5 and a pair of NS1000's out there in a couriers van thanks to the snow, purely because my other half can hear the 150's when I'm gaming.

Dont debate it get the Goldrings and a Xonar :D
 
Dashik said:
DR150's and the Xonar DX are great, I have an E5 and a pair of NS1000's out there in a couriers van thanks to the snow, purely because my other half can hear the 150's when I'm gaming.

Dont debate it get the Goldrings and a Xonar :D
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lol same as me been waiting for my mine for 7 days now! :( arghh comon i already got my DX wheres my NS1000's FFS! :L

:(
 
Hope you all ordered a headphone extension lead the ns1000's only come with a 1 meter lead and the fit is narrower than standard.
 
Good point about the short cable on the ns1000's, luckily i had a 3m extension cable with a female connection. Use the ns1000's with a xonar DX, great combo.
 
ns1000's
clip on speedlink Mic
fiio e5 portable amp

all ordered

now just to order the xonar DG 5.1 pci or are the DS pci, D1 pci, DX pcie really that much better....?
 
Whatever you do, don't get the DS. It's a good card, but it's really better for speaker use than headphones. D1/DX is a better card than the DG, main because it has better components, but I'm not sure how noticeable the sound quality difference is. Whether the D1/DX is worth the extra £30 or not, is hard to say.
 
Go for the DG, I'm sure you won't be dissapointed.

If you plan on buying better headphones in the near future then go all out for Asus Xonar D2X.

I currently use the Xonar DS and although it's brilliant for what I'm using at the moment (Senn HD 238), I'm seriously regretting not going for the D2X which could drive the Senn 558.
 
C64 said:
Hope you all ordered a headphone extension lead the ns1000's only come with a 1 meter lead and the fit is narrower than standard.
Click to expand...

Interesting point, fortunately I use my 150s for the PC, but the one time I did want to use my 1000s I couldn't plug them into my PC front audio and get them on my head, the jack port is sunken into the side of one of the cans which means you can't use a thicker-than-supplied jack, so the cable that came with my 150 was out of the question.

There is a well regarded online store which sells 3m Fisual male to female extensions for just shy of £5, probably recommended to buy that if you want any breathing room from the PC ;)
 
Got my NS1000's today, just the E5 in the post now :D Got to say I like the active bit without the fan noise from the PC :D

As for the cable I'm 2 foot from the front panel jack, have a speed link mic as well :D

Happy Days, Now if only the snow would dissapear before I go bankrupt........
 
Having read a few threads I'm looking at getting an Asus Xonar DG and NS1000 headphones with clip on mic. This seems to be give the best audio quality for under £100?

Have a question regarding this setup, as the DG apparently has a built in headphone amp, do I still need the E5 amp?

Edit,

Actually think I might do with the DR150. From what I've read still very good headphones and don't require an amp.
 
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Neither require an amp, but the NS1000s sound really distorted and 'muddy' without decent amplification; this effectively means either an E5 or noise cancelling turned on.

The DR150s again don't require amplification and you might be hard pushed to hear much difference - the 150s are much more forgiving to an amp as compared to the 1000s.

I have both and both are quality, I think really the deciding factors should be do you want open (150s) or closed (1000s), are you willing to spend the extra cash (1000s) or not (150s)?
 
I think I need closed, my current Speedlink Medusa's are open and even though I'm in a different room, my wife can hear them when in bed! So will be getting an amp as well.
 
The NS1000s do have excellent isolation, no one can hear my music when they're on, and I can't hear anyone else when the music is playing either. Your wife shall be pleased ;)
 
Auraomega said:
The NS1000s do have excellent isolation, no one can hear my music when they're on, and I can't hear anyone else when the music is playing either. Your wife shall be pleased ;)
Click to expand...

They do isolate well but they also leak a lot of sound. My GF complains when I listen to music on them...
 
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