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cavilikon
180
Jan 25, 2018
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Is the sound so much better through the DAC that it can justify this price?
shimage
228
Jan 26, 2018
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cavilikonWhat do you mean "justify this price"? The LCX was $300, right? and the SDAC was $80? Sure, you would think that they could cut you some slack on the price since obviously there's just the one enclosure, etc, but it's not like it's so high they need to justify it.
cavilikon
180
Jan 26, 2018
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shimageI mean in general.
Compared to the PC motherboard audio is the DAC/AMP setup that much better compared to the cost?
Tsiklon
148
Keyboard Club Member
Jan 26, 2018
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cavilikonThis depends entirely on what you're listening to audio with.
Some headphones can be quite difficult to drive - for example; the Sennheiser HD600 and HD6XX. A more powerful amplifier can help get the most out of these headphones.
Compared to motherboard DAC and Amp sections? Most high quality DACs and DAC/Amp combinations will offer improvements, both in terms of the supported output (Higher Bit Rate and Hardware decode of different formats of files like DSD etc). Plus, as a separate device in a separate chassis, interference from other components in the computer system will be lessened, however for most people this isn't too much of a problem.
Plenty of fans of high end audio like to experiment with different Amplifiers, as they can impart a different character to the sound when compared to other amplifiers - for example amplifiers using Vacuum tubes as part of the amplification topology tend to be regarded as "warmer" - meaning that the sound they produce can have a richer sound.
Past a certain price point however, the improvements per $ spent tend to tail off. This DAC/Amp will certainly be a step up over most on-motherboard solutions.
Some headphones can be quite difficult to drive - for example; the Sennheiser HD600 and HD6XX. A more powerful amplifier can help get the most out of these headphones.
Compared to motherboard DAC and Amp sections? Most high quality DACs and DAC/Amp combinations will offer improvements, both in terms of the supported output (Higher Bit Rate and Hardware decode of different formats of files like DSD etc). Plus, as a separate device in a separate chassis, interference from other components in the computer system will be lessened, however for most people this isn't too much of a problem.
Plenty of fans of high end audio like to experiment with different Amplifiers, as they can impart a different character to the sound when compared to other amplifiers - for example amplifiers using Vacuum tubes as part of the amplification topology tend to be regarded as "warmer" - meaning that the sound they produce can have a richer sound.
Past a certain price point however, the improvements per $ spent tend to tail off. This DAC/Amp will certainly be a step up over most on-motherboard solutions.
cavilikon
180
Jan 26, 2018
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TsiklonThank you for the extensive answer. For a moment I thought the audiophile community is too unwelcoming for new people asking beginner questions.
I'm mostly interested in getting better sound from my HyperX Cloud headphones because I've noticed that my motherboard output has a hard time driving them. Even if I turn them up to 100% they are not really loud like they are on my sound system.
Tsiklon
148
Keyboard Club Member
Jan 26, 2018
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cavilikoncavilikon - Don't worry about it, This community can be quite difficult to get involved with - lots of jargon, genital waving, and misconceptions.
This amp would certainly be a comprehensive upgrade, however it's probably not going to be a good value if you're just looking for a step up from your Onboard Sound Card.
For a better value setup, if you're just getting started out, I'd consider a Fiio Q1 (Second Generation) - it's significantly less expensive and still very capable. As a plus, due to it's size, it'll afford you the ability to take it on the go and use it with your phone if you wish.
Check out reviews and don't forget, it's all about whether you're enjoying the listen.
This amp would certainly be a comprehensive upgrade, however it's probably not going to be a good value if you're just looking for a step up from your Onboard Sound Card.
For a better value setup, if you're just getting started out, I'd consider a Fiio Q1 (Second Generation) - it's significantly less expensive and still very capable. As a plus, due to it's size, it'll afford you the ability to take it on the go and use it with your phone if you wish.
Check out reviews and don't forget, it's all about whether you're enjoying the listen.
shimage
228
Jan 26, 2018
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cavilikonOh, ok. In that case, I don't have a real answer. Audiophiles are the wine tasters of the tech world. They're always "hearing" things that don't exist, etc. Solderdude, who runs diyaudioheaven and designs amps recommends that no one ever spend >$250 on an amp. This isn't that far off, taking the dac into consideration.
I would say the amp is probably worth it for difficult to drive headphones, the dac is honestly probably not better enough from an objective standpoint. However, the way we experience music is affected by mood, state of mind, etc, including how we feel about looks or what we think should make a difference or even what we subconsciously hope might maybe make a difference. So the only correct way to judge a piece of equipment is to use it and then decide for yourself whether it was worth it to you or not.
I would say the amp is probably worth it for difficult to drive headphones, the dac is honestly probably not better enough from an objective standpoint. However, the way we experience music is affected by mood, state of mind, etc, including how we feel about looks or what we think should make a difference or even what we subconsciously hope might maybe make a difference. So the only correct way to judge a piece of equipment is to use it and then decide for yourself whether it was worth it to you or not.
shimage
228
Jan 26, 2018
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rhenomNo I meant what I said. It's been demonstrated empirically that "golden ears" in the audiophile sense is a fiction.
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