1. #1
    The Patient Sartharias's Avatar
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    New headphones and sound card help.

    Hello everyone, I am looking for a new set of headphones and a sound card. I am looking to spend roughy $200 maybe a little more. Was just looking for some suggestions. I usually use turtlebeach x41s but looking for something of better quality. Thanks in advance

  2. #2
    Pardon me asking, but I thought sound cards were mostly for home theaters?
    Sorry if I have nothing to suggest, but if you have the money to spend, then go ahead!
    Cool tat btw.

  3. #3
    Maybe this will sound dumb, but is there a reason you're looking for a new sound card as well as the headphones? Are you having a problem with noise with your current setup?

    On the headphones, are you looking for a headset like what you currently are using or just headphones? Do you care if they are open or closed?

    If you want open headphones, the Grado SR125i are great. The drawbacks will be they filter no outside noise and your sound will leak pretty heavily out of them. They also aren't super strong at bass response.
    If you don't want as much of your sound leaking out the Audio-Technica ATH-M50 is a good set as well.
    If you need as much sound isolation as possible, or really need bass response the Shure SRH750DJ work well; they are what I use. They aren't even close to balanced, however putting much emphasis on the low and high sounds.

    All of those give you plenty of money for a headphone amp/sound card.

  4. #4
    The Patient Sartharias's Avatar
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    Thanks for the compliment on my tat and I see sound cards in pcs more and more often nowadays

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sartharias View Post
    Thanks for the compliment on my tat and I see sound cards in pcs more and more often nowadays
    well this is perhaps true lots of people use inferior devices which won't actually use the potential a dedicated sound card can provide.
    for what intentions do you seek this sort of hardware? (just gaming? music/movies , even things such as genre of music can shift what high end head phones are better)

  6. #6
    The Patient Sartharias's Avatar
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    I generally listen to EDM, but mix in almost every other genre also. I am looking to significantly increase my sound quality from my system for personal enjoyment as most of the music I download is lossless and want to enjoy it truly

  7. #7
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    sennheiser hd650's perhaps ,seen those around more and more lately.

  8. #8
    The Patient Sartharias's Avatar
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    Just a tad out of my $225 budget when they sit at around $450-$500

  9. #9
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    meh didn't know they are that expensive.
    no personal experience with this pair but i do love my in ear head phones from AKG so this might perhaps suit you . (http://us.akg.com/akg-product-detail-us/k-172-hd.html)
    but im guessing there are audiophiles around here that know way more about alternatives in that price range.

  10. #10
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    If you can stretch your budget a bit, You could look at the Grado SR80i headphones and an AudioEndgine D1 DAC.

    That is actually my setup for everything. Sure the Grados leak sound as they are open back, but it is not as much as one would have you believe. The bass response might be a bit low for EDM, but it is quite accurate.
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  11. #11
    I would vote against the Grados for EDM, especially if you like DnB or similar styles. They simply do not have much bass response.

    If you listen to bass heavy styles, the Shure SRH-750DJ are much better. Balanced they are not but they are good for EDM.

  12. #12
    http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-...keywords=hd598
    http://www.amazon.com/Takstar-Monito...s=takstar+2050
    http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica...ywords=ath-m50

    I'd recommend the middle ones with either an internal sound card or external DAC/amp. The latter is significantly more expensive though.
     

  13. #13
    The Patient Sartharias's Avatar
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    Thanks everyone, any good suggestions on a sound card or DAC/amp?

  14. #14
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829132010

    ASUS Xonar Essence STX is the go-to card when you want a good headphone amp in the computer.
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    These are a little more than you want to spend, but I always wondered if they were worth the price. I dont want to buy them to find out. http://www.amazon.com/Ultrasone-EDIT.../dp/B004C3DUFS

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    Thanks guys, I'm going to order the Essence STX and either the Takstars or the ATH M50s. Will just tell the girlfriend I needed to spend more than I originally told her. Oh well, buy her something like new tongue rings or a cinder kitten and she will forget about it.

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by tetrisGOAT View Post
    http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-...keywords=hd598
    http://www.amazon.com/Takstar-Monito...s=takstar+2050
    http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica...ywords=ath-m50

    I'd recommend the middle ones with either an internal sound card or external DAC/amp. The latter is significantly more expensive though.
    I just read about the HI 2050, kinda crazy how good they are considering the price.

  18. #18
    http://brainbit.wordpress.com/2010/0...ified-drivers/

    You will have to use these drivers for any ASUS sound card. These are like the modded creative drivers to get better sound out of those cards. ASUS does a poor job of updated their own drivers for the cards.

  19. #19
    Dreadlord
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    i just bought an asus xonar dx, widely reviewed as the best sub-100$ card and best bang for buck available. its a definite and immediate improvement in every aspect. it really brings some life to my not so special logitech 5.1s, but my modded grado's really love it. grado headphones are where its at, no flash all performance. definetly look into a pair of those.

    if im correct, your headphones will decide what/if amp you will want. alot of headphones in this price range wont go higher then 32 ohms.

    definitely consider the grado sr80i or sr125i's, i find their open sound to be very addicting to listen to in a great way, as do many grado followers. no audiophile following is as loyal as grado's. the company is small and personal to deal with, i posted a pic of my new cans on instagram and the owner of the company thanked me from his personal account! lol.

    Quote Originally Posted by adenosine View Post
    If you want open headphones, the Grado SR125i are great. The drawbacks will be they filter no outside noise and your sound will leak pretty heavily out of them. They also aren't super strong at bass response.
    i know this isnt for everyone, but modding the driver filter which takes all of 15 minutes but has a slight risk completely fixes the lack of bass. although i found adding a soundcard got rid of the lack of bass anyways.
    Last edited by jmacphee9; 2013-01-18 at 07:31 AM.
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  20. #20
    Quote Originally Posted by Sartharias View Post
    Thanks guys, I'm going to order the Essence STX and either the Takstars or the ATH M50s. Will just tell the girlfriend I needed to spend more than I originally told her. Oh well, buy her something like new tongue rings or a cinder kitten and she will forget about it.
    Make sure you're okay with closed style headphones before ordering.

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