OCN Headphones Club - Page 140 - Overclock.net

s1rrah · 12-31-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heru

Go with (what seems to be) your instincts about the situation and return it for an Auzen.

Died and went to heaven when I got mine installed. Now I'm likewise just saving up for a DAC and waiting for my amp to be completed. Even the Auzen alone w/ my AKG's sounds ridiculously good, I can't imagine how it's going to sound once I get the rest of my gear.

I'm considering a return.

...

Re: your DAC purchase ...

Why do you need a DAC as well as your auzen? Can you not run to the amp from the Auzentech?

(just wrapping my head around all this DAC business ... very new stuff to me)

Duckydude · 12-31-07

I got a Zhaolu D3.0, but it's just sitting my desk for now until I get my Millet MAX in a couple weeks or so. From what I've heard so far, a DAC is much better than a sound card because the Digital to Analouge conversion happens outside of your computer where there is much less electrical interference. Plus the DAC in a sound card is this big when a real DAC is THIS BIG, I've heard it makes the soundstage much better as well. When used with a digital out connection I believe you avoid most if not all the electrical interference from inside your computer. Plus with a sound card + DAC you can get all of the cool sound processing features for games. Although I'd say that a good vinyl player would be the best because you don't need a DAC (No digital to be found lol).

Heru · 12-31-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by s1rrah

I'm considering a return.

...

Re: your DAC purchase ...

Why do you need a DAC as well as your auzen? Can you not run to the amp from the Auzentech?

(just wrapping my head around all this DAC business ... very new stuff to me)

You and me both.

The DAC isn't necessary, but I want to get a nice little budget one to fart around with, to get more of an understanding on how they can enhance or affect the sound, between the source and amp.

On that note, anyone have experience with the Zhaolu 2.5c?

Gollie · 12-31-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevg73

soooo was the hum from the line out + your amp or was it from the headphone out?

The hum was the same both through the headphone out and using the DAC from my x-fi to the amp. The DAC is providing a signal to the output you have selected and the headphone out at the same time.

When the hum faded from the DAC headphone out, I was no longer able to hear a hum through my amp. The amp is dead silent by itself when not hooked up to the DAC.

*soloz2* · 12-31-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by FaLLeNAn9eL

Also, what do you want to do with members who have different types of headphones? If I recall correctly, there are members with gaming and audiophile grade headphones.

put people on the list that corresponds to their best cans.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberDruid

Man I am so bummed. I had to jump up from the PC to respond to siomething and I got hung up on the headphone cable and it tugged the amp an inch or so.

Directly afterward a distinct noise was audible in the background. I have checked all the connections and nothing seems to be faulty. However when I plug the headphones intot eh soundcard I get pure silence and when I plug them into the amp I get electrical background noise.

If I unplug the input leads the noise is very loud.

What happened? I didn't drop the amp --I just tugged it about an inch..could that have somehow messed up a tube or something?

make sure the tubes are fully in the socket. if you already did this then pop the top off and make sure nothing happened to the headphone socket, or the inputs. You might have messed up a ground somewhere.

Quote:

Originally Posted by s1rrah

@Fallen - Add the Senn HD595's to my listing when you have time.

...

@Others ...

Can anyone talk about the Senn HD595's? I just ordered a pair as a cheaper compromise (over HD600's) as they should be a bit easier to drive and it also leaves me $$ for an X-fi Elite ...

Would love to hear some discussion of the HD595's sound and what your experience has been powering them (sound card? amp? etc.)

thanks

the hd595's are quite different actually, they are more forward, not as refined and have less bass, but overall are still very good cans and are better unamped.

Quote:

Originally Posted by s1rrah

@soloz and others ...

Has anyone ever heard of Pacific Valve? My roomie is thinking about buying some of their stuff:

Like This.

...

Any comments?

some people have some gear, but I haven't heard any and I would venture to say that you can get better for the money.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevg73

when you talk about the hum the tc-7510 had was that from the line out or the headphone out? ive had my tc-7510 for a few days now and i can hear a hiss from the headphone out. i havent had a chance to listen to any music with it though

im still waiting for the adapter for my soundcard so i can have an optical out

the earlier model beresford's are known to have a hiss in the headphone output.

Quote:

Originally Posted by s1rrah

So I'm three days into my tryout period of this X-fi Elite Pro.

And I'm having some second thoughts ...

Mostly due to lack of knowledge, really ... which is why I'm posting this.

My eventual goal is to get a desktop tube amp of some kind, something similar to Gollie's Darkvoice ... something I can feed via a line out from my sound card and then on to my cans.

My question/concern is this:

Does this X-fi Elite Pro offer me what I need to feed a good desktop tube amp? I mean, it comes with this huge desktop breakout box but really all I can find on it are inputs (and the ridiculous knobs on the front to control all the crystalizer/EAX/3D stuff I never use).

I can't seem to find a clean/unamped line-out port on it, just the typical front and rear speaker outs ... But then again ... there's no docs with it and so I could be missing something. Is there a line-out suitable for feeding an amp on this X-fi Elite Pro?

What I'm wondering is, considering I want to invest in a desktop tube amp to be fed from my computer ... would I be better off returning this X-fi setup so as to purchase a different computer based system? Say ... an Auzen combined with an EMU 0202 or even something like the DAC that Gollie is using?

I have absolutely zero experience with the Elite Pro ... or really any other card other than the 12 year old Soundblaster that I've recently retired and so I need a bit of informed commentary.

Any comments would be appreciated ...

the Auzen x-fi prelude has all the same gaming features and a better analog output than the elite pro.. and is cheaper. The breakout box is no better than the analog out on the xtrememusic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heru

You and me both.

The DAC isn't necessary, but I want to get a nice little budget one to fart around with, to get more of an understanding on how they can enhance or affect the sound, between the source and amp.

On that note, anyone have experience with the Zhaolu 2.5c?

it's a good little DAC. you can get Ori to mod it for what some would say is the best DAC under $500. I would say that the twisted pair audio Opus is probably very close in performance for slightly less.

s1rrah · 12-31-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by soloz2

the Auzen x-fi prelude has all the same gaming features and a better analog output than the elite pro.. and is cheaper. The breakout box is no better than the analog out on the xtrememusic.

Consider this scenario on the chance I keep the X-fi:

Suppose I get a decent DAC and run from the X-fi breakout's optical out ... would this bypass the poor qualities of the breakout boxes analogue out?

I mean ... is the digital/optical out on the breakout box an unaffected plain signal that would work well with a DAC to Tube amp setup? Or is it handicapped by the breakout boxes subpar circuitry as well?

Would the same digital out on the back of an Auzen be different some how?

I intend to have a DAC and amp combo within the next few months and if the X-fi's optical out (it's on the breakout box) is just as good as any other optical out then I'll probably keep it ...

Thanks again for the assist.

*soloz2* · 12-31-07

don't use the breakout box. If you want digital out, use the digital out on the card itself, buy a special cable from bluejeans cable... or wait till I get some 75ohm plugs and can send some your way.

the Auzen has optical out and you can use a regular cable with it.

kevg73 · 01-02-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gollie

The hum was the same both through the headphone out and using the DAC from my x-fi to the amp. The DAC is providing a signal to the output you have selected and the headphone out at the same time.

When the hum faded from the DAC headphone out, I was no longer able to hear a hum through my amp. The amp is dead silent by itself when not hooked up to the DAC.

okay thats good to know. i was just worried about the hum that i could hear through the headphone out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soloz2

I had read that so it was to my surprise when i could hear the hiss from a brand new mk6 version. but apparently it will fade so im feeling alot better about this purchase now.

*soloz2* · 01-02-08

lol. You should have asked, I could have helped you find that page.

Personally, I feel the Zhaolu is a better budget DAC. btw... someone needs to buy mine!

Heru · 01-02-08

Was having a hard time locating a used TC-7510, and I FINALLY found Beresford's home page to buy one.

http://www.homehifi.co.uk/TC-7510/orderus.html

..for anyone potentially interested in a nice budget DAC.

01-02-08	#1400 (permalink)
Heru New to Overclock.net Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,030 Blog Entries: 6 Rep: 233 Unique Rep: 165 Folding Team Rank: 515 Trader Rating: 4	Was having a hard time locating a used TC-7510, and I FINALLY found Beresford's home page to buy one. http://www.homehifi.co.uk/TC-7510/orderus.html ..for anyone potentially interested in a nice budget DAC. __________________ iBirth

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