Recommend me a sound card for Sennheiser PC 360's

[n0x1ous]

So I finally decided I needed a better headset after using Razer Piranha's for 5 years. They have held up well, but aren't the most comfortable.

In my research for the Senn PC 360's it is almost universally mentioned that a decent sound card is needed to get the most out of them and that will be new ground for me as I have always just used On-board sound.

My requirements are that the card is PCIE x1 and under $100. Not that concerned about the surround stuff, but just want something that will give it that extra thump from an amp.

Card will be going into the rig in my sig.

Motherboard has built in ALC898 FWIW

 

[weez82]

Asus Xonar DGX has very nice headphone features. And the pci version has gotten loads of great feed back. The pci and pci-e version are the same as far as I know, just different interface. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829132052

 

[borisvodofsky]

I don't know why people still use sound cards. Budget Home-theater receivers produce much better sound and they're the same price as those fancy sound cards. and you can plug anything into them, speakers, headphones, anything.

 

[weez82]

I don't know why people still use sound cards. Budget Home-theater receivers produce much better sound and they're the same price as those fancy sound cards. and you can plug anything into them, speakers, headphones, anything.

I dont know why people post things they know very little about. The op's post is about how to get the most out of his quality headset not an HT receiver.

Using a quality headphone or headset like the pc360s will benefit from a discrete sound card. The Asus Xonar DGX has a much better headphone out then any on-board will offer seeing as it has a headphone amp built in. Not to mention that it has dolby headphone for use with movies and games.

 

[BrightCandle]

The alternative is you buy a headphone amp and then your choice of sound cards is your own. I very nearly got a Xonar with an amp but I wanted to keep the option open for 7.1 in the future so I got one without and use my speakers amp to drive the headphones.

 

[n0x1ous]

Asus Xonar DGX has very nice headphone features. And the pci version has gotten loads of great feed back. The pci and pci-e version are the same as far as I know, just different interface. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829132052

Thanks! The DGX looks perfect for my needs and very affordably priced. Going to order.

 

[Joseph F]

http://www.jdslabs.com/item.php?fetchitem=39
You won't find a better DAC for less than $1000, but you need an amp to go with it.
The best solution is to get an ODAC+O2 combo DAC/amp.

Here's some more info on the ODAC and O2:
http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2012/04/odac-released.html
http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/07/o2-headphone-amp.html

 

[cantholdanymore]

Thanks! The DGX looks perfect for my needs and very affordably priced. Going to order.

You have a last generation mobo; If it is anything like mine I doubt you'll get better sound from a $30 card. Anything bellow $200 won't be worth it.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2226311&highlight=

 

[videogames101]

You have a last generation mobo; If it is anything like mine I doubt you'll get better sound from a $30 card. Anything bellow $200 won't be worth it.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2226311&highlight=

I get great benefit with my HD598s from just the $20 Fiio E6, I guess we've had different experiences though. That being said, the PC350 set had a much harder time with onboard given its 150 ohm impedance set against the 360's 50 ohms.

 

[n0x1ous]

You have a last generation mobo; If it is anything like mine I doubt you'll get better sound from a $30 card. Anything bellow $200 won't be worth it.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2226311&highlight=

I didn't know the brand new Z77 motherboards were last generation already

 

[cantholdanymore]

I didn't know the brand new Z77 motherboards were last generation already

OK my bad, latest

 

[n0x1ous]

So you think the amp on the dgx wont make a difference because the pc360 is only 50 ohms compared to 150 on pc 350?

 

[cantholdanymore]

So you think the amp on the dgx wont make a difference because the pc360 is only 50 ohms compared to 150 on pc 350?

Yes, it may be measurably better but in normal listening conditions I don't think it matters. Like I said, for a modern modo like yours you'll need something better to tell the difference (with low impedance headphones). AT least that's my experience.

 

[vbuggy]

Not exactly a recommendation but has anyone tried My Ears (http://www.myears.net.au/homealt) with success? I haven't really played around with it but if this works well then practically speaking all you'd need for gaming if your onboard sucks (and your PC isn't a pile of junk) is something like a Turtle Beach Amigo II (http://www.turtlebeach.com/products/sound-cards/audio-advantage-amigo-ii.aspx)...?

 

[thelastjuju]

I don't know why people still use sound cards. Budget Home-theater receivers produce much better sound and they're the same price as those fancy sound cards. and you can plug anything into them, speakers, headphones, anything.

First of all, its pretty clear why YOU don't know why people use sound cards based off that comment.

Second, for his $100 budget, what the hell kind of rinky-dink home theater system are you going to be able to afford?

Third, your advice still fails to address his headphones that he wants to use.. :awe:

FOURTH.. even if you have a budget home theater system, outputting analog from a quality sound card can make it sound even better. I output analog from my sound card to a budget receiver. The sound card has a superior DAC to the receiver's, so I use the receiver purely for amplification while the sound card does what it does best: the digital to analog conversion. Overall result is significantly improved sound clarity.

 

[BigBarney]

headphone amp...

if you are good with electrical stuff, make your own in an altoids tin.

if not, buy one.

biggest change you can make