Xonar DG - ultimate budget headphone card?

Someone needs to order one and report back.

I really like the functions on this card is it exactly what I need, but I just can't believe it will be an improvement on what I have for the few pounds they are asking for it.
 
I just ordered one for my new build so will report back when I've got it installed and had some time to play with it.
(I'm no audiophile though so I wouldn't expect a clear-cut expert analysis, just an honest opinion)

I've been using a Creative XMOD USB card for 2 years but that's packed up on me so when I saw this card I decided to go for it; I only really use headphones whilst on the PC and at the price it seemed to make perfect sense to me.
 
Auto front jack detection / switching is a big plus for me. Plug the headphones into the front jack and it auto mutes the outputs from the rear jacks, genius.
 
Got mine plugged in. I have a pair of Creative T20s. I gotta say my music now sounds well totally different from onboard :)

It feels more dynamic with layers of sound rather than just flat sounding from onboard. Hell, even awesome80s net radio sounds more lively :)

I great buy for me at £26. I'm not gonna split hairs over £2 :P
 
Mr Krugga said:
To buy or not to buy? I have Creative Fatal1ty headphones and wouldn't mind bumping their sound up a little.
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Exactly my dilemma. I have the Fatality 2's and the top of the range ASUS Crosshair IV motherboard. Can't work out if it will be an improvement.

Surely my board should surely have a comparable 'onboard' sound card?
 
I still don't understand what makes a dedicated headphone amp so great. The card amplifies everything headphone or not, otherwise you wouldn't hear anything. Stick your headphones into the headphone jack on any sound card, it's amplified. So what's so great?
 
Robbie G said:
I still don't understand what makes a dedicated headphone amp so great. The card amplifies everything headphone or not, otherwise you wouldn't hear anything. Stick your headphones into the headphone jack on any sound card, it's amplified. So what's so great?
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This card goes to 11. :D
 
Robbie G said:
I still don't understand what makes a dedicated headphone amp so great. The card amplifies everything headphone or not, otherwise you wouldn't hear anything. Stick your headphones into the headphone jack on any sound card, it's amplified. So what's so great?
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You're right in that anything that can drive headphones at all is amplifying them. Standard soundcard line outs are fine if your headphones are really easy to drive.

If the amp is inadequate the headphones may:
- not be loud enough - this is mainly related to the amp's gain setting which literally amplifies the input signal.
- not reach their potential - so the sound can be less clear, or lacking at certain frequencies because the drivers aren't responding as they should. High impedance headphones need strong voltage swing to sound their best. Low impedance headphones can need lots of current. Some headphones need both. Without either adequate voltage or current the headphones don't sound at their best.
- Distort / clip. You will have heard bass clipping. It can be rumbly, farty bass like on a boy-racer's car sub driven by a cheap amp. It can be harder to detect at high frequency, where it procudes artifical harmonics etc. This is basically when the amp is failing to achieve the volume you've set for your headphones and the speaker / driver just comes to an abrupt halt rather than continuing through the wave form. This may cause permanent damage to the drivers in some situations. It usually happens when the gain and volume control are set beyond the amp's physical capabilties.
 
I just changed to the DG from my D2X and to be honest I can't really tell the difference on my Sennheiser PC 350's, they are louder but other than that the sound quality is the same, I'm happy with that as I have sold my D2X for £50 so quids in :D
 
Just been reading more about the amp. You seem to have '3' choices.:

VOIP mode or for <32ohms headsets
Pro Gaming mode or for 32-64ohms headsets
Exciter Mode or for >64ohms headsets
 
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