Onboard sound vs Dedicated Card

[imported_thebluecoat]

Hello All,

I just was curious to know if there would be a difference in audio volume if I decided to go for a dedicated soundcard versus onboard soundcard.

I own a pair of Sennheiser HD485's and in order to get them really slamming I have to hook them up to my home stereo in order to get some real loudness out of them. Connected to my Desktop PC the onboard sound volume is a joke with everything jacked up to 100%. Even though I'm sure I won't receive 'amp-like' qualities out of a desktop pci card, there has to be something out there that is portable/affordable to increase my headphone volume.

It "seems" like the HT | OMEGA Claro Halo 24-bit 192KHz PCI Interface Sound Card w/ a built-in HI-FI Headphone Amplifier - Retail would be my solution but that's pricey.

Was wondering if the HT | OMEGA STRIKER 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail would give me any type of volume increase.

Any input would be appreciated!
bluecoat

 

[davidrees]

My first question would be to ask you what your source material is? Maybe it's hi-def audio, but there are a lot of people listening to 128k MP3s on "audiophile" gear.

Assuming good material, the next weak point is usually speakers. Sounds like you have that covered.

HD485s are 32ohm headphones. Not sure how sensitive they are, but that is kind of the threshold where an amp may be needed.

Also, in trying to get the most volume, you are really taxing the little amplifier in your sound card - you are probably not experiencing the best sonic properties of your device when you do this.

Adding a headphone amp will allow you to run a clean signal at low to mid levels to the amp and the amp can then cleanly power your HDs to the hearing damaging levels you crave.

 

[imported_thebluecoat]

mind linking me to some cheap heaphone amps?

 

[terentenet]

Get a Asus Xonar Essence ST(X) sound card. It has an integrated headphone amplifier that's preety capable. I drive my Denon AH-D5000 headphones directly from it. It clearly sounds better than my Yarland P100 tube headphone amplifier, lower distortion, nice full bass, wide soundstage. It's a very good card and I am sure you will like it.

 

[Ika]

Originally posted by: davidrees
My first question would be to ask you what your source material is? Maybe it's hi-def audio, but there are a lot of people listening to 128k MP3s on "audiophile" gear.

Assuming good material, the next weak point is usually speakers. Sounds like you have that covered.

HD485s are 32ohm headphones. Not sure how sensitive they are, but that is kind of the threshold where an amp may be needed.

Also, in trying to get the most volume, you are really taxing the little amplifier in your sound card - you are probably not experiencing the best sonic properties of your device when you do this.

Adding a headphone amp will allow you to run a clean signal at low to mid levels to the amp and the amp can then cleanly power your HDs to the hearing damaging levels you crave.

32 ohms are very low when it comes to headphones. They generally don't need amps until around 100+ ohms. However, Sennheisers do tend to have a low sensitivity - what really matters when it comes to "loudness".

 

[kornphlake]

Originally posted by: thebluecoat
mind linking me to some cheap heaphone amps?

Maybe I'm thinking a little too far out of the box, but you mention the headphones sound great plugged into your home stereo. Seems to me like the cheap amp is the one you already own. Run the line out on your PC to the Aux input on your receiver then plug the headphones into the receiver. I'll bet that music sounds a lot better though your home stereo than it does through computer speakers too.

 

[imported_thebluecoat]

Additional specs : Hd485


* Frequency response:
16 Hz (min)
24 KHz (max)
* Impedance:
32 ohms
* Sensitivity:
110 dB
* Total harmonic distortion:
0.2 %

I have a sharp home stereo but the a/v cable that I'd have to run would be insanely long to my pc, and then run a double back to my desk would be outside of a possible configuration. I'm no audiophile, but what I'm trying to explain is, if I have my headphones connected to my home stereo with the big plug to small plug adapter, and I jack the volume up to maximum, the bass just makes these headphones literally move. Since they are open air, I can take them off my head and if I leave them on the bed, I can clearly hear the song playing from them in another room.

Since the ASUS XONAR ESSENCE has a built in amplifier, could I expect the same qualities or near it?
I'm looking for 100% volume to be INSANITY level. 80% is where i like to get my deaf on etc..

 

[ChaiBabbaChai]

The cheapest and best solution I have found is a M-Audio Delta-44 to 1/4" (big plug) TRS balanced outs into the 1/4" TRS ins of my Samson C-que 8 ($100) headphone amp. It's been real, but next week I'll have an Echo AudioFire 4 to a Samson Servo 201a over some Mogami balanced 1/4" TRS cables. Or, there's these if you don't need to drive speakers: http://www.meier-audio.homepage.t-online.de/index.htm

the SWING offers this feature:

... as well as a gain-switch to accommodate the use of low-impedance, very high sensitive headphones.

which your phones are.

The cheapest stand-alone head amp I've heard is an ART and it totally ruins the music, hence why I only offered >$150 options.

 

[murphyslabrat]

Originally posted by: thebluecoat
Additional specs : Hd485


* Frequency response:
16 Hz (min)
24 KHz (max)
* Impedance:
32 ohms
* Sensitivity:
110 dB
* Total harmonic distortion:
0.2 %

Since the ASUS XONAR ESSENCE has a built in amplifier, could I expect the same qualities or near it?
I'm looking for 100% volume to be INSANITY level. 80% is where i like to get my deaf on etc..

Dude, those headphones are just fine. The problem is that you have crap for an onboard soundcard. One of Creative's $30 soundblasters would be a HUGE step up. It isn't very good, but this is a good value for the money: the creative X-Mod USB Soundcard for $20 @ Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Creative...&qid=1256146376&sr=8-1

 

[terentenet]

Originally posted by: thebluecoat
Additional specs : Hd485


* Frequency response:
16 Hz (min)
24 KHz (max)
* Impedance:
32 ohms
* Sensitivity:
110 dB
* Total harmonic distortion:
0.2 %

I have a sharp home stereo but the a/v cable that I'd have to run would be insanely long to my pc, and then run a double back to my desk would be outside of a possible configuration. I'm no audiophile, but what I'm trying to explain is, if I have my headphones connected to my home stereo with the big plug to small plug adapter, and I jack the volume up to maximum, the bass just makes these headphones literally move. Since they are open air, I can take them off my head and if I leave them on the bed, I can clearly hear the song playing from them in another room.

Since the ASUS XONAR ESSENCE has a built in amplifier, could I expect the same qualities or near it?
I'm looking for 100% volume to be INSANITY level. 80% is where i like to get my deaf on etc..

I have a Xonar Essence ST card. I listen to my Denon AH-D5000 headphones, plugged directly into the sound card. It beats the separate Yarland P100 headphone tube amplifier.
I like the headphones plugged directly into the sound card, it has good amplifier qualities.
Get it, you will like it; it can drive headphones up to 600ohms impedance.