Don't forget www.monoprice.com.
And Home Depot has 250ft 14 ga Carol speaker wire for $45.
Edit: We should expand the DIY info. Maybe even make a section for it specifically.
And Home Depot has 250ft 14 ga Carol speaker wire for $45.
Edit: We should expand the DIY info. Maybe even make a section for it specifically.
Indeed.
I :heart: monoprice. Good prices, good products, good service.
What more can you ask for?
Ika
Lifer
- Mar 22, 2006
- 14,267
- 3
- 81
anyone know anything about headphone amps? I've been wondering how they can improve the quality of some headphones, like HD280 Pros. I've been dabbling in the topic of DIY amps, but there's so many tutorials and builds that I'm not sure which one would be best for me. I run my music from a Creative Zen Sleek, using Grado SR-60s and soon, Altec-Lansing iM716s.
Thump553
Lifer
- Jun 2, 2000
- 12,676
- 2,430
- 126
Go over to the forums at headfi.org-there are all sorts of plans, helpful people, etc. there. You can also find a hobbyist who will build you an amp pretty cheaply if you are clumsy with a soldering iron like me.
Pretty good faq, I would add a couple of things:
-a note to check out headphone models personally if at all possible, as comfort varies greatly. I'm extremely happy with using my Senn 600's at the computer, but I wouldn't want to try to go jogging with them.
-a warning that going to headfi.org could be hazardous to your financial health if you get sucked into the headphone hobby
-an alternate I think gives far more audio bang for the buck (quality especially, but also volume) is to buy a cheap receiver and a decent set of speakers, rather than go with powered speakers. It's more flexible and better quality, but will probably take more space.
Ika
Lifer
- Mar 22, 2006
- 14,267
- 3
- 81
that's the main reason I've stayed away from head-fi. A friend of mine got sucked in and spent $300 on his two phones. He's also considering more.
... now that i think about it, i've spent a lot on headphones too. SR60s, KSC75s, HD201s, and iM716s... total around $180...
Great thread! More info on soundcards is needed, but I'm probably not in a position to provide much.
On the M-Audio Revolution 7.1: I had no complaints with regards to its quality in use with Klipsch Promedia 2.1's, but M-Audio's driver "support" is disgustingly horrible. Their current beta driver for Windows XP x64, untouched for almost a year now, causes BSODs on startup and is generally a PITA to deal with.
I would love to hear any XP x64 soundcard success stories, as I'm itching to get off this substandard integrated audio that sucks even for listening to music in 2.1 stereo.
On the M-Audio Revolution 7.1: I had no complaints with regards to its quality in use with Klipsch Promedia 2.1's, but M-Audio's driver "support" is disgustingly horrible. Their current beta driver for Windows XP x64, untouched for almost a year now, causes BSODs on startup and is generally a PITA to deal with.
I would love to hear any XP x64 soundcard success stories, as I'm itching to get off this substandard integrated audio that sucks even for listening to music in 2.1 stereo.
Well you can't blame M-Audio. Beta drivers are at your own risk and indicate they do not support 64 bit XP. They support regular Windows XP and Apple for all of their computer products I believe.
Excuse me? That the beta drivers are of alpha quality could be accepted, given varying definitions of "beta," but M-Audio refuses to do anything about improving x64 drivers, and has halted development (they themselves said essentially that), leaving users who bought their cards due to the promise of working x64 drivers royally screwed. So yes, they most certainly do fall short with regard to offering working support for increasingly popular modern operating systems. And thus, I can and do blame them for that.
Honestly, soundcard drivers generally seem to be complete crap. If anyone knows of reasonably priced soundcard (under $150) that can offer bit-perfect optical output and also has good driver support, please chime in.
The E-MU 0404 is an excellently priced soundcard which offers bit perfect digital out through ASIO. The latest version of E-MU drivers works very well. Even the M-Audio Transit can do bit perfect output I believe. No driver issues here either.
YOyoYOhowsDAjello, thanks for this great thread.
There is one thing you don't touch on and that is signal to noise ratio, This spec is listed on speakers and sound cards and I was really wondering what it is.
There is one thing you don't touch on and that is signal to noise ratio, This spec is listed on speakers and sound cards and I was really wondering what it is.
WT
Diamond Member
- Sep 21, 2000
- 4,818
- 59
- 91
Anyone feel bored enough for a few hours to add soundcards to this thread ??? I'm eyeing up an Audigy 4 at Circuit City currently, just because I have a gift card to burn up. It appears the Audigy 2 series cards are not very different than the 4 series, but there are plenty of questions that could be answered by adding soundcards to the OP.
- Aug 6, 2001
- 31,203
- 45
- 91
I've posted a few times. I'm just kind of done doing this sort of thing.
Occationally I'll respond to someone with a PM, but I was spending too much time here.
If anyone wants to take over this thread or post some new information, I'll put it into the OP.
(This includes if anyone wants to do a decent job organizing what I wrote)
Occationally I'll respond to someone with a PM, but I was spending too much time here.
If anyone wants to take over this thread or post some new information, I'll put it into the OP.
(This includes if anyone wants to do a decent job organizing what I wrote)
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