amp for headphones

[yaniv]

The Little Dot MK1 has a valve/tube pre amp and a solid state amp to drive the headphones.

The MK2 has all valves. No transistors. However, because of that the power output is very very low. I do not recommend using the LDMK2 as you will probably find like me that you need a more powerful amp to drive your headphones.

Can I ask you? how do you find the overall sound? not the volume, the actual sound quality? if you are happy with it at lower volumes then an amp will bring your headphones to life

It's really diffrwnt sound from what i used to... I had gamer headphones - razer kraken pro .
They was very nice and sound very good and full of bass.
The senhisser game zero that i have now sound really differently.
Its doesnt have bass like the others, i dont know how to explain, it feels.like the bass is missing but they sound really good expect from that.
But its feels like something is missing and i cant tell what and i cant tell.if i really need amp
The headphone are sound more realistic and good then other gamers headphones but without the bass

 

[Wraith]

As interesting as this debate on Audio has been, could we please keep the thread on track and to the OPs original question. If you guys would like a further detailed debate on the finer points of AMPs, On board chipsets over sound cards please feel free to start a fresh thread and above all remember to keep it civilised.

 

[AlienALX]

they are not random pics but exact pics that you wanted. i simply found patch cable and ran 30 second test , real that it cant be more real.

actualy i am not debating with you i provide you with everything you ask from first hand experience,knowledge and measurments ,you provide me youtube video

please buy anything else that is solid state, valves are not good if you seek high fidelity.

All your opinions again.

Maybe I shouldn't have posted a video. Might have been a bit too complicated for you.

As for your graphs? they could be from anywhere at any time, given that the sound cards you are comparing are just names with one of them having the name of the card Xed out.

 

[SPS]

I have done that from the get go. In fact, I have even kept my wit to myself and deleted quite a lot of what I have typed up. However, this is insulting.

See, not at any point have I insulted any one. Funny, because I usually get warned as soon as I type anything even remotely insulting, yet this guy has been allowed to do so freely and openly.

He's rather aggressive too.

As for the debate? I'm done thanks

Wraith never mentioned anyone by name, it was a general warning for all parties.

 

[dabar_šolta]

All your opinions again.
..
As for your graphs? they could be from anywhere at any time, given that the sound cards you are comparing are just names with one of them having the name of the card Xed out.
..

all my measurments not opinions, measured exactly what you want , xxx is marked becouse i cant disclose information on that sound card (cos its not very best as seen by graphs attached) becouse its irelevant.

i put it there just for that you see difference on same graph,for to compare fiio 10 or your mbo audio with this you should have downloaded rightmark audio analyser and make levels to read -5dB, do measurments ,and then we could compare data to see wich one is measuring better.

now i attach noise,dynamic range and crosstalk graphs of creative card alone for simpler readout and if someone else measures their card so its easy to compare, note-measurments are adjusted to -5dB.

btw sorry for going too far but i hate when people try to convince me in stuff i know for 110% its not true.

 

[AlienALX]

all my measurments not opinions, measured exactly what you want , xxx is marked becouse i cant disclose information on that sound card (cos its not very best as seen by graphs attached) becouse its irelevant.

So you are basing your facts on something you have to hide?

Yup, that makes sense ! This is why I do not take you seriously, because you are posting random pictures of graphs with stuff hidden. Meaning that could be a ten year old sound card you are comparing it to.

Seriously, how do you expect any one to believe that? "Oh here are some random pics with the sound card XXXed out because I can't tell you what it is".

Back in 2006 sound cards were like that. Onboard was rubbish and you had hardware accelerated sound. Having a proper dedicated sound card could even gain you FPS. But that isn't true any more and companies like Realtek have really brushed themselves up.

It's that you seem to have a problem understanding.

i put it there just for that you see difference on same graph,for to compare fiio 10 or your mbo audio with this you should have downloaded rightmark audio analyser and make levels to read -5dB, do measurments ,and then we could compare data to see wich one is measuring better.

With a sound card you can not tell us about. Have you compared the actual sound card in question with an XFI? what XFI is it? what model? which number?

Do you see?

now i attach noise,dynamic range and crosstalk graphs of creative card alone for simpler readout and if someone else measures their card so its easy to compare, note-measurments are adjusted to -5dB.

btw sorry for going too far but i hate when people try to convince me in stuff i know for 110% its not true.

You can post as many pics as you like. It's all a moot point because you can not back up those pictures with actual fact, as seen in the two videos I posted. And yes, before you say it again videos do count because this is 2016, not 2006.

As for 110%? now you are exaggerating to try and get your point across.

's always a bit dodgy when some one does that.

 

[dabar_šolta]

creative soundblaster xfi 5.1 usb,i said few times and its shown on graphs.
standard 44.1kHz 16bit rmaa test.


xxx card is irelevant, look results from last pictures with xfi only ,there is lot of data on those graphs its up to you if you want to read that data or if you want to include tests of your mbo so we can compare ,or continue to ridicule and bend all i say.


measured more than 10dB difference in noise alone between integrated soundcard vs external one, is not 0,1dB or similar that we can argue is it possible to hear or not.

about that louder is not better ,well it is not but if its same level of noise ,card that do 3dB louder will have 3dB more dynamic range so actualy it is little better.

btw when he says that if there is small hole in shielding its not shielding its hillarious becouse he obviously doesnt know that is frequency dependent and for audio range not problem at all.

 

[NeverBackDown]

Guys stop. Stay on topic, this is not going to help OP here.

OP have you decided on getting the Fiio E10k?

 

[dabar_šolta]

sry maybe to much into details but it is on topic .
have suggested creative 70$ card and i bet that no one can find one that measures better under 150$

 

[AlienALX]

sry maybe to much into details but it is on topic .
have suggested creative 70$ card and i bet that no one can find one that measures better under 150$

Too much into details that only make sense to you because you won't even divulge what products you are testing.

 

[dabar_šolta]

creative soundblaster xfi 5.1 usb,i said few times and its shown on graphs.
...

.... you won't even divulge what products you are testing.

 

[Kilbane]

Yaniv,

Have you made a decision on what your original question?

As for everyone else,

We all need to calm down and respect each opinion as it is given. As previously stated, if you feel the need to continue the debate on which audio device choice is better than another, feel free to create a dedicated thread on the subject. And keep it civil and respect each other!

 

[yaniv]

Yaniv,

Have you made a decision on what your original question?

As for everyone else,

We all need to calm down and respect each opinion as it is given. As previously stated, if you feel the need to continue the debate on which audio device choice is better than another, feel free to create a dedicated thread on the subject. And keep it civil and respect each other!

I'm very glad to see all the guys responding and talk here , it's ok to contine the talking after i will choose
But i still dont know...im alittle bit confused...
There is the fiio e10k and the e17
And there is the little dot mk1/mk2
And there are more but i dont know ehat is better and what is more recommended out from this thread

 

[dabar_šolta]

had writen another big post but somehow it didnt post here very outdated forum engine ?

in short fiio e10k is ok but lacks mic input
e17 is portable device and lacks mic input
little dot mk1/2 is valve so it is not high quality output in any stretch of imagination


some cards that are designed to work with usb power and are using solid state electronics and have all stuff that you need(headphone amplifier,dedicated line out,microphone input):

asus xonar x5,x7
soundblaster omni-bonus can power 600 ohm cans if you ever decide to upgrade
small turtle beach amigo 2 for 20$ plus shipping but lacks dedicated line output

there is one old creative card that some local fellas are using as measuring equipment but its old and not available new anymore.(creative e-mu 0202)

dont buy cheap ebay china made ones as that cards in best case need heavy moding to get good quality output.

 

[SPS]

The Xonar Essence STX II would be more than capable. I can't find what your budget was again? And whether or not you preferred an internal or external solution?

 

[dabar_šolta]

best bet is to go to external solution becouse of 2 factors, 1 is more expensive pcie to audio instead of usb to audio implementation so you get more value for money from usb card, other is that usb card is further away from computer emi.

 

[SuB]

best bet is to go to external solution becouse of 2 factors, 1 is more expensive pcie to audio instead of usb to audio implementation so you get more value for money from usb card, other is that usb card is further away from computer emi.

Unfortunately that's just not true, An STX II will have better isolation from any EMI than any USB solution. USB comes with it's own EMI and noise, especially since it'l be powered from the port, not directly from the PSU. USB ports are noisy, people seem to forget that.. USB3 specs provide 'better' shielding (*hence the massive internal port connectors*) but it's still not as good as pure PCI Express. Believe me the STX I/II are about as good as it gets in terms of shielding from EMI

 

[dabar_šolta]

best emi isolation is distance from source,and if it is by conduction -filtering. you get exactly that with external sound card.

so noisy 5V rail is different kind of problem from cpu vrm related noise that spreads trough air and 12V rail modulation if bad filtering is on mobo.
usb 5V power on back of mobo by standard has more filtering than plain 5V from psu. plus there is filtering in all better soundcards.

so to get rid of emi that goes trough air you move soundcard away from cpu vrm ,and to get rid of noise on 5V rail you filter it both on connector on mobo and after connector in sound card.

there is always possibility of cheap production and cheap components like bad noisy psus and omiting components but thats another story i dont want to get into.

usb3 specs are more data lines on higher frequency and higher current rating on 5V rail. exactly same shielding.read this why is that bad and shouldnt be done that way but they wanted to get some compatibility so this are consequeces.it it has same shielding as 2.0.

you say believe me , i say ok will do but only when you measure stx II and give me way to compare noise profiles with those of external card posted here.

 

[Thelosouvlakia]

Oh give it a rest, there's a whole research field in electronics for smoothing out power lines and inteferences and blocking EMI from getting to the electronic components, that why the expensive sound cards have that metal shield around them, that's why in the power input there are a lot of coils and capacitors. Now regarding the usb outputs Schiit makes this http://schiit.com/products/wyrd and they MENTION it down below that they don't believe that removing any interference from a usb signal is going to do you noticeable difference...

 

[dabar_šolta]

Oh give it a rest, there's a whole research field in electronics for smoothing out power lines and inteferences and blocking EMI from getting to the electronic components, that why the expensive sound cards have that metal shield around them, that's why in the power input there are a lot of coils and capacitors. Now regarding the usb outputs Schiit makes this http://schiit.com/products/wyrd and they MENTION it down below that they don't believe that removing any interference from a usb signal is going to do you noticeable difference...

i hope this is not reply to my post before.
becouse it would be sooo wrong trying to proove me wrong with device that for only 99$ is providing regulated 5V output and is called usb decrapifier literaly.

edit , as i also own schiit modi dac when wyrd first come i made my own wyrd and measured it , in attached picture are results. truth be told i never used it after that testing becouse of too low improovements but improvements are there.