I've recently ditched my Corsair wireless headset for a pair of Bose earbuds and a Blue snowball desk mic. The issue I'm having is that the volume being delivered to my earbuds is rather low. Would I be better off with a discreet sound card or an external headphone amp?
Sound card or headphone amp?
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I've recently ditched my Corsair wireless headset for a pair of Bose earbuds and a Blue snowball desk mic. The issue I'm having is that the volume being delivered to my earbuds is rather low. Would I be better off with a discreet sound card or an external headphone amp?
Personally I prefer an external AMP/DAC combo. Something like an O2 and OAC (or variant of) is relatively cheap and much better than onboard. A soundcard takes up an expansion slot which you might want further down the line.
Personally I prefer an external AMP/DAC combo. Something like an O2 and OAC (or variant of) is relatively cheap and much better than onboard. A soundcard takes up an expansion slot which you might want further down the line.
DavidTheWinPersonally I prefer an external AMP/DAC combo. Something like an O2 and OAC (or variant of) is relatively cheap and much better than onboard. A soundcard takes up an expansion slot which you might want further down the line.
This. Also makes use elsewhere/on another system easier (can just disconnect some leads rather than opening your case).
[quote=DavidTheWin]Personally I prefer an external AMP/DAC combo. Something like an O2 and OAC (or variant of) is relatively cheap and much better than onboard. A soundcard takes up an expansion slot which you might want further down the line.[/quote]
This. Also makes use elsewhere/on another system easier (can just disconnect some leads rather than opening your case).
This. Also makes use elsewhere/on another system easier (can just disconnect some leads rather than opening your case).
This one perhaps?
This one perhaps?
https://www.mayflowerelectronics.com/shop/headphone-amplifiers/standard-objective2-headphone-amplifier/
https://www.mayflowerelectronics.com/shop/headphone-amplifiers/standard-objective2-headphone-amplifier/
most audio ppl will suggest an external instead of a sound card. I like my O2
most audio ppl will suggest an external instead of a sound card. I like my O2
i would go with the o2, yeah.
those solid state amp will last you years.
Even if you change headphones, this can power up anything
i would go with the o2, yeah.
those solid state amp will last you years.
Even if you change headphones, this can power up anything
those solid state amp will last you years.
Even if you change headphones, this can power up anything
x3Even if you change headphones, this can power up anything
Well maybe not 600ohm DT990s or something but in general yes.
[quote=x3]Even if you change headphones, this can power up anything[/quote]
Well maybe not 600ohm DT990s or something but in general yes.
Well maybe not 600ohm DT990s or something but in general yes.
x3i would go with the o2, yeah.
those solid state amp will last you years.
Even if you change headphones, this can power up anything
Is the first one I linked to a good choice? They have that, then they have one that's more expensive and i'm not sure why?
[quote=x3]i would go with the o2, yeah.
those solid state amp will last you years.
Even if you change headphones, this can power up anything[/quote]
Is the first one I linked to a good choice? They have that, then they have one that's more expensive and i'm not sure why?
those solid state amp will last you years.
Even if you change headphones, this can power up anything[/quote]
Is the first one I linked to a good choice? They have that, then they have one that's more expensive and i'm not sure why?
The "desktop o2" is the same thing but upgraded chassis and volume knob, with slight differences between the outputs
The "desktop o2" is the same thing but upgraded chassis and volume knob, with slight differences between the outputs
External AD/DA's are better simply because there is less noise introduced into the signal. (computer parts reduce the fidelity of audio send over most any cable).
More expensive ones will probably be more expensive due to either hardware upgrades, or a higher quality converter.
External AD/DA's are better simply because there is less noise introduced into the signal. (computer parts reduce the fidelity of audio send over most any cable).
More expensive ones will probably be more expensive due to either hardware upgrades, or a higher quality converter.
More expensive ones will probably be more expensive due to either hardware upgrades, or a higher quality converter.
i have the ODAC + O2 combo and i love it. it's without a doubt among the best price-to-quality ratio combos that you can get. it also helps that this particular combo is one unit, in stead of two separate ones.
clean sharp sound, sufficient amplifying without distortion, no unwanted sound picked up from other sources.
and don't forget that this stuff will last you a lifetime. (and it's a bonus that it's light, takes up very little space, and does not get hot.)
definitely recommend
DavidTheWinx3Even if you change headphones, this can power up anything
Well maybe not 600ohm DT990s or something but in general yes.
some (if not all) producers will provide a gain switch on the O2, for which you can choose the settings yourself. for my 300ohm phones i went with 1x and 3x, but if you (might) use 600ohm phones you could just pick higher gain settings :)
i have the ODAC + O2 combo and i love it. it's without a doubt among the best price-to-quality ratio combos that you can get. it also helps that this particular combo is one unit, in stead of two separate ones.
clean sharp sound, sufficient amplifying without distortion, no unwanted sound picked up from other sources.
and don't forget that this stuff will last you a lifetime. (and it's a bonus that it's light, takes up very little space, and does [i]not[/i] get hot.)
definitely recommend
[quote=DavidTheWin][quote=x3]Even if you change headphones, this can power up anything[/quote]
Well maybe not 600ohm DT990s or something but in general yes.[/quote]
some (if not all) producers will provide a gain switch on the O2, for which you can choose the settings yourself. for my 300ohm phones i went with 1x and 3x, but if you (might) use 600ohm phones you could just pick higher gain settings :)
EU: http://www.headnhifi.com/
US: https://www.jdslabs.com/
clean sharp sound, sufficient amplifying without distortion, no unwanted sound picked up from other sources.
and don't forget that this stuff will last you a lifetime. (and it's a bonus that it's light, takes up very little space, and does [i]not[/i] get hot.)
definitely recommend
[quote=DavidTheWin][quote=x3]Even if you change headphones, this can power up anything[/quote]
Well maybe not 600ohm DT990s or something but in general yes.[/quote]
some (if not all) producers will provide a gain switch on the O2, for which you can choose the settings yourself. for my 300ohm phones i went with 1x and 3x, but if you (might) use 600ohm phones you could just pick higher gain settings :)
EU: http://www.headnhifi.com/
US: https://www.jdslabs.com/
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