Need some suggestions

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filthysanchez

2[H]4U
Joined
Jul 19, 2006
Messages
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I'm looking for a soundcard, and some circumaural headphones.

I'd prefer to not have to use an external amp, but if I have to, I will.

I don't want a 5.25" front panel, but I do want to be able to use the front panel connectors built into the case.

My general budget is up to 130 for the card, 100 for the headphones, and if I have to have an amp, I wanna keep it under 70.

I'm not doing any critical work, just general use, which is why I don't want to have an amp, I just want to use my headphones on my ipod too.

The system it will be used with is:
Core 2 duo e6750
eVGA 8800gt
4 gigs G.Skill ram(2x2)
Abit IP35-e
Windows XP x64, maybe vista when I decide it's time
All housed in a Lian Li PC-A16b when Christmas comes
and a 4th gen iPod 20 gig.
 
Do they make any model without the twisted cord?

I like the HD280s and the A700s, but I'll have to read up on both.
 
if you can add 3 bucks to your total for headphones. newegg sells the ATH-AD700 for 103 dollars. The XFI Gamer is 79 dollars. Its basicly a XTreme music without the connection for the box.
 
I would definitely look at the Sennheiser HD555 for your headphones. It is $99.99 with free shipping from J&R. I love my pair, the sound is so clear. Check out some reviews, the most comfortable!
Edit: I just looked around, and they are also at the Egg for $150.
 
The front panel of the x-fi is a joke for a headphone out. Do not use it as such unless desperate beyond measure.
 
Use the FL/FR out on the card's panel instead. For a while, I was using a fairly beefy extension so that I could swap my 280s between that output and the Mbox 2, and while the output is easily less impressive than the Mbox's (which really isn't that stellar to begin with, but certainly passable, in my opinion), it's still quite usable, especially with low- or mid-impedance cans. A dab of EQ can make it work fairly well.

Personally, I wouldn't go for an amp with the cans you're looking at, OP. I don't truly believe it's going to benefit you significantly enough to warrant spending more money on it. When you're ready for some higher-end cans, then, by all means, come back around and get some direction on what amp you'll need to maximize them.

Oh, and no headsets. Wrong choice for what you're looking to achieve.
 
phide said:
Use the FL/FR out on the card's panel instead. For a while, I was using a fairly beefy extension so that I could swap my 280s between that output and the Mbox 2, and while the output is easily less impressive than the Mbox's (which really isn't that stellar to begin with, but certainly passable, in my opinion), it's still quite usable, especially with low- or mid-impedance cans. A dab of EQ can make it work fairly well.

Personally, I wouldn't go for an amp with the cans you're looking at, OP. I don't truly believe it's going to benefit you significantly enough to warrant spending more money on it. When you're ready for some higher-end cans, then, by all means, come back around and get some direction on what amp you'll need to maximize them.

Oh, and no headsets. Wrong choice for what you're looking to achieve.
Click to expand...

I didn't really want an amp, I don't know much about headphones, and I don't know what does and doesn't need one.

I like the feel and the blocking of ambient noise that circumaural phones have.

I think I'm going to go with some audio technicas in the end.
 
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