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Topic: Internal soundcard (with ext. dock for Senn hd-555 (Read 4982 times) previous topic - next topic
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Internal soundcard (with ext. dock for Senn hd-555

Changed my mind: (repost)
I am buying new headphones (Sennheiser hd-555) and I would like to benefit as much as possible from their sound quality. (I will be using them a lot more than my speakers).
I will be using them for: Music > Gaming > Movies > TV
My budget is 350$. Soundcard requires a good headphone jack. I would like an internal card with an external extension, similar to the EMU 1820. I would also like to switch between my speakers and headphones instantly without having to unplug them al the time. I was considering the 1820 but I wasn’t sure about something: Do you need a surround soundcard to down mix surround sound signals to the headphone or 2.1 speakers – considering quality? My best guess is that you don’t need a surround card but the CPU will be stressed with all the work. I am using Power dvd to watch dvd movies and I always use the “Dolby headphone” feature. I would like to experience nice headphone surround during gaming too (doesn’t have to be perfect).

Another option would be an internal surround + a headphone amp instead of an external dock.
Any recommendations, amps? soundcards?

Perhaps??
Aureon 7.1 Universe
http://www.driverheaven.net/reviews/terratec/index.htm
DMX 6FIRE 24/96
http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/terratecdmx6fire/

MY HARDWARE:
Sennheiser HD-555:
Open, dynamic
Nominal impedance: 120 Ohm
Jack plug: 6,3 mm stereo + (3, 5 mm Adapter)
Frequency response (headphones): 15 - 28000 Hz
Sound pressure level (SPL): 103 dB (1 kHz and 1 Veff)
Total harmonic distortion: < 0, 2 %

Panasonic 25$ business mic: (nothing special)
15-22000 Hz
Sensitivity: 100 dB
Impedance 32 Ohm
Max 500mW

My speakers: 2.1 Harman/Kardon HK395 (nothing special)
Total Power: 30 Watts @ 10% (THD+N)
Input Sensitivity: 380 mV rms
S/N Ratio: > 80 dBA
Frequency Response: 45 Hz to 20 kHz

Internal soundcard (with ext. dock for Senn hd-555

Reply #1 –
Soundblaster Audigy 2(low as 60-70USD online) is an excellent card for playback, gaming and general purposes. It already measures between 97-99dB(A) signal/noise ratio in a feedback loop and has distortion levels and frequency response magnitudes lower then is detectable by humans in music program. It also has suitable output amplitude to drive most headphones. No reason to purchase more expensive cards that have no provable benefit for playback use if that is your primary use.

-Chris

Quote
Changed my mind: (repost)
I am buying new headphones (Sennheiser hd-555) and I would like to benefit as much as possible from their sound quality. (I will be using them a lot more than my speakers).
I will be using them for: Music > Gaming > Movies > TV
My budget is 350$. Soundcard requires a good headphone jack. I would like an internal card with an external extension, similar to the EMU 1820. I would also like to switch between my speakers and headphones instantly without having to unplug them al the time. I was considering the 1820 but I wasn’t sure about something: Do you need a surround soundcard to down mix surround sound signals to the headphone or 2.1 speakers – considering quality? My best guess is that you don’t need a surround card but the CPU will be stressed with all the work. I am using Power dvd to watch dvd movies and I always use the “Dolby headphone” feature. I would like to experience nice headphone surround during gaming too (doesn’t have to be perfect).

Another option would be an internal surround + a headphone amp instead of an external dock.
Any recommendations, amps? soundcards?

Perhaps??
Aureon 7.1 Universe
http://www.driverheaven.net/reviews/terratec/index.htm
DMX 6FIRE 24/96
http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/terratecdmx6fire/

MY HARDWARE:
Sennheiser HD-555:
Open, dynamic
Nominal impedance: 120 Ohm
Jack plug: 6,3 mm stereo + (3, 5 mm Adapter)
Frequency response (headphones): 15 - 28000 Hz
Sound pressure level (SPL): 103 dB (1 kHz and 1 Veff)
Total harmonic distortion: < 0, 2 %

Panasonic 25$ business mic: (nothing special)
15-22000 Hz
Sensitivity: 100 dB
Impedance 32 Ohm
Max 500mW

My speakers: 2.1 Harman/Kardon HK395 (nothing special)
Total Power: 30 Watts @ 10% (THD+N)
Input Sensitivity: 380 mV rms
S/N Ratio: > 80 dBA
Frequency Response: 45 Hz to 20 kHz
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=242458"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
 

Internal soundcard (with ext. dock for Senn hd-555

Reply #2 –
http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=59

Notice no one there even recommends any Sound Mangler A2/A2 ZS as souncard of choice? 

http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=86094

Quote
I'll give you that A2s don't sound as bad as the A1 or the old SBLive!, but compared to even the mere Chaintech or other Envy24 based cards, like your own, Paul, the shortcomings are clearly audbile.It is like putting thick drapes between youself and the music, just like what I hear with Realtek ALC650 onboard sound chips, or your typical $10 "5.1 surround" card. Boring, flat lifeless sound, whereas the SBLive! could only be described as terrible sound. So the A2 is not the bottom of the barrel, but close enough, expecially when there are so many better options out there. There is certainly nothing hi-fi or audiophile about the Audigy2 (or its' many permetuations).

Internal soundcard (with ext. dock for Senn hd-555

Reply #3 –
Quote
http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=59

Notice no one there even recommends any Sound Mangler A2/A2 ZS as souncard of choice? 


So? I'm not concerned with what subjectivists believe. If they ever get past the standard ignorant and psycholigally biased opinions... let me know.

BTW, a couple of the posters seemed to think that AUdigy 2 cards resample to 48kHz. This is true, if you insist on using the FX feature for listening(echo, reverbs, etc.). Otherwise this is outright false.

-Chris

Internal soundcard (with ext. dock for Senn hd-555

Reply #4 –
Look on a headphone forum where they can make recommendations based on what you hear. If you want recommendations based on measurements, go to the Rightmark site. You should be able to get a good setup.

Internal soundcard (with ext. dock for Senn hd-555

Reply #5 –
Quote
BTW, a couple of the posters seemed to think that AUdigy 2 cards resample to 48kHz. This is true, if you insist on using the FX feature for listening(echo, reverbs, etc.). Otherwise this is outright false.

-Chris
[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


[a href="http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=74021]http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=74021[/url]

All the evidence is presented there(see halycon's post for best examples) or you can see any review on any website that knows. The resampling cannot be turned off or avoided at all.

http://www.techspot.com/reviews/hardware/a...udigyzs-9.shtml

Quote
Effects engine & 44.1kHz sources resampled to 48kHz (Still)


http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/creati...igy2/index.html

Quote
Direct playback in 16/44 unsupported;


It's a universally known fact ALL Sound Manglers from Live to A2 ZS resample internally to 48khz.

Outright false? Try to do your homework before making false statements like A2 doesn't resample to 48khz. 

Internal soundcard (with ext. dock for Senn hd-555

Reply #6 –
I will revise my statement--I'm sorry, their seems to be a misunderstanding: I mean that in 96/24 mode, it does not resample unless the FX are used. I thought this was what you were referring too, becuase the original AUdigy 1 did not support actual 96/24, though the marketing made it seem that way and this was a big deal at that time.  I should not have made this assumption. I apologize for that error.

In the case of 44.1khz, where it is resampled to 48khz, I do not see a proof that this is of any significant audible consequence.As curiousity, I downloaded and looked at the udial waveform that was mentioned in the first link. This is not represenative of any music program I have ever witnessed; it contains extraordianrly high energy modulations at the maximum possible amplitudes. Music has magnitudes lower amplitudes within this band. It is possible to elicit audible problems using specialized test signals that are not represenative of actual music program. None the less, this is some reason to avoid the Audigy 2 (IF) another card of similar price is available that does feature superior measured(not nescarrily better audibly) performance.

-Chris

Quote
Quote
BTW, a couple of the posters seemed to think that AUdigy 2 cards resample to 48kHz. This is true, if you insist on using the FX feature for listening(echo, reverbs, etc.). Otherwise this is outright false.

-Chris
[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


[a href="http://%5b/url]

All the evidence is presented there(see halycon's post for best examples) or you can see any review on any website that knows. The resampling cannot be turned off or avoided at all.

http://www.techspot.com/reviews/hardware/a...udigyzs-9.shtml

Quote
Effects engine & 44.1kHz sources resampled to 48kHz (Still)


http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/creati...igy2/index.html

Quote
Direct playback in 16/44 unsupported;


It's a universally known fact ALL Sound Manglers from Live to A2 ZS resample internally to 48khz.

Outright false? Try to do your homework before making false statements like A2 doesn't resample to 48khz. 
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=242539"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Internal soundcard (with ext. dock for Senn hd-555

Reply #7 –
I was emphasising on the 44.1khz to 48khz resampling, not 24bit 96khz support. But even then, websites still find ambiguities with the "24bit" support of the A2/A2 ZS.

http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/creati...2-zs/index.html

Quote
Unclear 24-bit support by the existing drivers;


http://www.techspot.com/reviews/hardware/a...udigyzs-9.shtml

Quote
24-Bit/96kHz playback/recording support ambiguity (Still)


But then again, thats to be expected of Creativity. 

Internal soundcard (with ext. dock for Senn hd-555

Reply #8 –
Quote
Quote
24-Bit/96kHz playback/recording support ambiguity (Still)


But then again, thats to be expected of Creativity. 
[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=242551"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


Well, since EMU is a subsidary of Creative Labs, I suppose it's hard to tell what to 'expect'.

-Chris

Internal soundcard (with ext. dock for Senn hd-555

Reply #9 –
I think the way to go would be an internal surround card. Unless these 2 are good?

Aureon 7.1 Universe
http://www.driverheaven.net/reviews/terratec/index.htm
DMX 6FIRE 24/96
http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/terratecdmx6fire/

The e-mu 0404/1212as far as I know it doesn't support EAX dolby or DTS. Would it suit my needs? For gaming the audigy 2 zs would be the best choice. But the quality isn't as good as other cards concerning music and dvd. I do not need special recording features. Which one is best? I will hook up an amp to it for my hd-555

- M-audio revolution 7.1 or 5.1
- Audiotrak prodigy
- Chaintech AV 701
- Audigy2 zs
- Aureon 7.1 Universe
- DMX 6FIRE 24/96 (is this an old model?)
- Aureon 5.1 Sky
- Audiophile 2496
- Delta 1010

Internal soundcard (with ext. dock for Senn hd-555

Reply #10 –
Quote
For gaming the audigy 2 zs would be the best choice. But the quality isn't as good as other cards concerning music and dvd.


It does seem the Audigy 2 has some 'meaused' issues at 44.1kHz sample rates, as shown in WIsh's links. The effect on audibility of music program is another issue, and not demonstrated. DVD standard is 48kHz, so the 44.1 issue is not a problem here. For music playback, if you use Foobar, this program has a resampling function to correct just such problems with some soundcards' internal resampling. In this case, one would activate the SSRC in the DSP menu and then in the Rsampling parameters, select the native rate of the card (48kHz in this case).

-Chris