Audio to low..would external dac help?

Rob_the_scot

New member
The audio from my pc is pretty low no matter what earphones or headphones I use, Iv done the usual played about with all the settings but no luck.

So was wondering if I bought a basic external dac, sound card with volume control would this sort the matter?

I should point out Im not an audiophile so something that is £300 and above would go waste on me.
 
I should point out Im not an audiophile so something that is £300 and above would go waste on me.

300Quid are A LOT for an AMP/DAC -well not exactly :p - I can recommend the FiioE10k that costs below 100Quid and has one port for headphones and one port for speakers. It can easily drive up to 250Ohm headphones. so it's going to be pretty loud with everything your throw at it.
 
I had this problem with my Big Bang Xpower II by MSI. The onboard sound chip was so quiet it drove me nuts.

The cheap way -

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/asus...rd-with-built-in-headphone-amp-sc-015-as.html

Probably about as good as onboard, only it has a headphone amp built in which is pretty good. I have a higher end model (forget which one now) and even for a basshead/sensory overloader* it was sufficient.

The slightly more expensive option.

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/crea...ound-card-retail-70sb150000001-sc-087-cl.html

The Z can be found on Ebay for £40. I know the purists will argue that it's crap, but it's actually one of the best sound cards I've ever used. I say that having owned a Asus D2X at launch when they were £300+.

I prefer the Z's software and drivers tbh. Whilst I've not had any mad issues with the Asus 7.1 card I have it did stop working once and nothing I could do would fix it. Only by removing it and putting it in another PC did I get it working again.

But yeah, the Z is a great sound card.

OK moving onto the more expensive option.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...ne tube dac&qid=1453041477&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

An actual stand alone DAC/Headphone amp. I use that one ^ because I like the sound of tubes/valves but there are many others, some cheaper. The purists will argue that you absolutely must use a DAC if you value audio quality. The Aune runs in USB mode completely replacing your sound card but I had issues with it in a couple of games. The easy fix was to simply run it in 'line' mode, reverting back to my SB Recon as the source.

* I like my music so loud that if some one screamed at me I would not hear them. I like to literally overload my senses so that I can not think nor hear anything else other than music. So the Asus and the Aune get my thumbs up, as with both you will probably quit before they do.
 
What headphones are you using?

I have tried the following
Apple earphones (new ones)
Sony in ear (ones you get with the z3)
Sony XB450AP

tried my mates, beats (horrid things)
Pair of skull candy hesh

No matter what the sound is low drivers and hardware all fine..

I know I cant really describe how it sounds but if I turn the volume all the way up I can still ear someone tapping there fingers on a table across the living room.

I want to be able to drown out background noise

I dont use gaming headsets and I find a lot of over ear headphones sore to tight onthe ears
 
This is unlikely a lack of power issue if you're using 'standard' headphones.
It's more likely a bad connection/driver/OS related issue.

Even though an external DAC/Amp would solve two of those causes it's worthwhile investigating before having to spend extra money.

Try using a different audio connection on the motherboard, you can usually remap the headphone out for other ports. If that fails, try reinstalling or updating your motherboard sound drivers.
 
This is unlikely a lack of power issue if you're using 'standard' headphones.
It's more likely a bad connection/driver/OS related issue.

Even though an external DAC/Amp would solve two of those causes it's worthwhile investigating before having to spend extra money.

Try using a different audio connection on the motherboard, you can usually remap the headphone out for other ports. If that fails, try reinstalling or updating your motherboard sound drivers.

I have tried all the ports I tend to use the rear of the pc any way but no matter what still the same ...speakers obv are fine

check the drivers even did a reinstall just incase but nope...just sucks lol

iyts msi z87I itx mobo Im using
 
Again, I had exactly the same problem with my BBXPII. When I looked at the sound circuitry it was clear that it had hardly any capacitors and was simply rubbish and lame.

Especially this -

I know I cant really describe how it sounds but if I turn the volume all the way up I can still ear someone tapping there fingers on a table across the living room.

Even with over ear headphones I still had that problem ^ I could even hear my clock ticking FFS.
 
I have tried all the ports I tend to use the rear of the pc any way but no matter what still the same ...speakers obv are fine

check the drivers even did a reinstall just incase but nope...just sucks lol

iyts msi z87I itx mobo Im using

In that case it's worth going over your Windows audio device properties carefully and confirming everything is set to the right values.
Which version are you running?
 
Again, I had exactly the same problem with my BBXPII. When I looked at the sound circuitry it was clear that it had hardly any capacitors and was simply rubbish and lame.

Especially this -

I know I cant really describe how it sounds but if I turn the volume all the way up I can still ear someone tapping there fingers on a table across the living room.

Even with over ear headphones I still had that problem ^ I could even hear my clock ticking FFS.

well I can hear my up stair neighbour hoovering as I type this and I have YouTube playing the Soundtrack from The Labyrinth
Pc and YouTube volume is at 100 percent
 
well I can hear my up stair neighbour hoovering as I type this and I have YouTube playing the Soundtrack from The Labyrinth
Pc and YouTube volume is at 100 percent

It drove me crazy. I live in a flat and I'm in the middle of a sandwich. I have a Polish family downstairs with a screaming child (all it ever does is cry) and a bloke upstairs with a wood floor and ten tonne feet.

In the end I splashed out on a £140 DAC and £170 headphones. Suffice to say, I no longer have that problem :D
 
If possible could try and look for a Schiit Magni 2. It's just an amp unlike the fiio e10k(dac/amp) but imo for hardly more money it's probably a better buy. And I own the e10k
 
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