USB Sound Cards Explained: Tech, Benefits, Do I Need One?

[X71200]

It's not %90 better than anything. My DAC will blow it out of the gate as far as being practical goes. It turns on and off in a whim, unlike that tube DAC. No worrying about things going south in terms of an electrical whim ending up in burning the tube stage. Been there, done that. I dealt with high end tube amps for long and I can tell you to stay away from them. Especially now that there's an expected tube shortage due to the Russian stuff.

 

[zlobby]

However, you are indeed blatantly going out on suggesting 3300 quid worth of DAC as if it's worth the expense properly. This is the ultimate tomfoolery of the audiophile market, just checking the page alone can tell you it. Please refrain from giving this kind of bad advice in the future.

Yes, Master!

 

[X71200]

Actually, I wasn't really trying to patronize you or anything. I was just trying to share a light on the fact that what you posted was a "comes with super duper regulated power supply" and an inanely expensive flick with downsides. This is actually pretty objective, you can't deny the negatives of using tubes. It's electricity logic.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

Stuff that the gen pop can afford should be recommended, not what 5% of the pop can. This is not a audiophile's paradise forum.

 

[zlobby]

Stuff that the gen pop can afford should be recommended, not what 5% of the pop can. This is not a audiophile's paradise forum.

Many reasonably priced options were also stated by me. Yet, somehow people choose to focus only on the top model I mentioned initailly.

More so, I asked you personally (check the @ mentions) on several occasions to state your needs, so that we can advise you properly, yet - zero response. You somehow selectively choose to focus only on the end-game model I was mentioning.

The Audacity, man... Pun intended.

Actually, I wasn't really trying to patronize you or anything. I was just trying to share a light on the fact that what you posted was a "comes with super duper regulated power supply" and an inanely expensive flick with downsides. This is actually pretty objective, you can't deny the negatives of using tubes. It's electricity logic.

I never ever mentioned their power supplies in first place.
If you can't or won't measure them for yourself, at least check what others are writing about them on the web.

The model you all so choose to focus on also boasts solid state amp stage as well. It's available at the flick of a switch.

I persoanlly don't like tubes for their "warm", i.e. not faithful reproduction. I prefer absolutley "flat" reproduction where possible. Zero EQ or other deviations from the "zero".
Tubes' life span should aslo be noted, although it shouldn't be much of an issue for someone who can easily spend $4000 on a single piece of hardware.

With proper masters and other priors I personally can distinguish between certain models DAC/amp combos in double blinds.
Not only I have the ears for that but I also trained my brain to "look" for everyrhing it (I?) can. It is often annoying because I can't disengage this mode and just enjoy music.

Edit: I totally forgot the nasty THD tubes create...

 

[X71200]

Many reasonably priced options were also stated by me. Yet, somehow people choose to focus only on the top model I mentioned initailly.

More so, I asked you personally (check the @ mentions) on several occasions to state your needs, so that we can advise you properly, yet - zero response. You somehow selectively choose to focus only on the end-game model I was mentioning.

The Audacity, man... Pun intended.


I never ever mentioned their power supplies in first place.
If you can't or won't measure them for yourself, at least check what others are writing about them on the web.

The model you all so choose to focus on also boasts solid state amp stage as well. It's available at the flick of a switch.

I persoanlly don't like tubes for their "warm", i.e. not faithful reproduction. I prefer absolutley "flat" reproduction where possible. Zero EQ or other deviations from the "zero".
Tubes' life span should aslo be noted, although it shouldn't be much of an issue for someone who can easily spend $4000 on a single piece of hardware.

With proper masters and other priors I personally can distinguish between certain models DAC/amp combos in double blinds.
Not only I have the ears for that but I also trained my brain to "look" for everyrhing it (I?) can. It is often annoying because I can't disengage this mode and just enjoy music.

Edit: I totally forgot the nasty THD tubes create...

Of course we're going to focus on the top model you were totally going on about, you're literally spitting audiofool fantasies. There is no pun intended here.

I'm not going to check what some audiofool says about it. It's no doubt going to be just as cringe as the product page itself.

Also, no... just because you spent $4k on the hardware, doesn't make dealing with tubes a non-issue. You'll still have to open that thing up and mount the tubes sideways. If you ever dealt with high end modern guitar tube amps, you would know that it's easy to mess up the tube pin plugs that the tubes insert in - if the topology is weird for example.

As for you being able to tell the 3.0 TFSI from the 4.2 FSI, I prefer not to comment on that laughable part. Again, this is not an audio fallacy forum. You're not in the right place.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

I asked you personally (check the @ mentions) on several occasions to state your needs

About £250 max. DAC only do not need a HP out as i use USB headphones for discord only, i never game with headphones on, and don't listen to my music with headphones either. Don't really need a amp as i am happy with the onkyo CR-715DAB i am using for amp duty, same for the CA minx min12 speakers, they are perfect and stylish for desk use, though at £80 each were a bit more than i would usually pay.

Do people really sit at their desk with a pair of £500+ headphones listening to their music? maybe they live in a flat with neighbours or spent more on the bloody phones than the rest of their setup. I would deffo prefer a 500 quid pair of desk speakers than headphones.

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

Beyond %90 for sure, https://ifi-audio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/iPower-Elite-8-768x441.jpg

Lol, they're shipping a "muh clean power stage" with it. Looks like something that an audiofool who just rams the deepest pockets would buy.

Not to mention it has tubes in the pre. Warm up section, aging, etc... the best DAC in my book it going to be fully solid state and containing of a fine decoder.

Tube amps can be fine and OK and they don't have to get too crazy pricey either, but yeah kinda silly. Also prices get stupider than that. https://www.headphones.com/collecti...f1000-hybrid-tube-headphone-speaker-amplifier https://www.headphones.com/collecti...la-sr-electrostatic-headphones-and-amp-system

But for ifi you can get a DAC/AMP stack for under 400, still too much. I had this from them https://www.headphones.com/collections/ifi/products/ifi-audio-hip-dac-v2-portable-dac-amp but it was too much of a pain on the subway so I sold it.

I'll note that clean stuff get's stupider. There are multi hundred dollar USB "filters" out there (ifi does those as well) and power cables that cost hundreds, it's stupid.

Stuff that the gen pop can afford should be recommended, not what 5% of the pop can. This is not a audiophile's paradise forum.

Yes! These are both cheap and good. Though schiit does have higher end stuff, but you don't need it. For computer people all you need is the fulla or hell. If you're an audiophile their cheapest dac/amp/eq stack will go beyond what most people need as well.

Mayflower Electronics

mayflowerelectronics.com

Schiit Audio: Audio Products Made in USA

www.schiit.com

JDS Labs - Makers of Element and Atom Headphone Amps + DACs

Helping you enjoy the worlds best headphones with beautifully designed headphone amps and DACs. Backed by a 2 year warranty and world-class customer support. Made in the USA.

jdslabs.com

This is reasonable stuff normal people can afford and unless we are talking headphones in the thousands and lossless non compressed audio you don't need to go higher.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

Can't get schitt in the uk, no pun intended

I really don't understand why the need to have a extra box in your pocket for your headphones. I use just a pair of AKG BT headphones and they are easy good enough for when i am out. Were i live, i dare you you to go out with some £500 headphones on, you would lose them and probably your phone and wallet too, and no guns are not legal in the UK. I see people with big stupid looking headphones on and just think they look like a tit. Does it really matter that much how good it sounds when you are out, or is it about looking cool with your expensive headphones on.

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

Can't get schitt in the uk, no pun intended

I really don't understand why the need to have a extra box in your pocket for your headphones. I use just a pair of AKG BT headphones and they are easy good enough for when i am out. Were i live, i dare you you to go out with some £500 headphones on, you would lose them and probably your phone and wallet too, and no guns are not legal in the UK. I see people with big stupid looking headphones on and just think they look like a tit. Does it really matter that much how good it sounds when you are out, or is it about looking cool with your expensive headphones on.

BT headphones aren't good, I wouldn't use them. Mine aren't all that expensive anyways. Nobody thinks it looks cool. People think crappy true wireless headphones and airpods (mostly airpods) are cool and wires are silly.

I use this https://www.linsoul.com/products/hilidac-audirect-beam2?variant=31773219455115 with these https://www.headphones.com/collections/moondrop/products/moondrop-blessing-2

 

[Deleted member 24505]

BT headphones aren't good, I wouldn't use them. Mine aren't all that expensive anyways. Nobody thinks it looks cool. People think crappy true wireless headphones and airpods (mostly airpods) are cool and wires are silly.

I use this https://www.linsoul.com/products/hilidac-audirect-beam2?variant=31773219455115 with these https://www.headphones.com/collections/moondrop/products/moondrop-blessing-2

These BT phones are surprisingly pretty good.

https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/akg-y400

Jump to sound.

I do have wired ones but the BT's are convenient.

I'm not that obsessed with sound, it's just something to listen to while i'm out.

Can your phone not drive the headphones, or sounds so shitty you need the box?

 

[X71200]

Tube amps can be fine and OK and they don't have to get too crazy pricey either, but yeah kinda silly. Also prices get stupider than that. https://www.headphones.com/collecti...f1000-hybrid-tube-headphone-speaker-amplifier https://www.headphones.com/collecti...la-sr-electrostatic-headphones-and-amp-system

Tube circuitries are better geared towards guitar gear, because then you have a lot of raw power at output. Though, they're still crap in some other areas. Such as carrying them if you're a touring musician, or needing a complete pedalboard to make it sound different.


I have various high end tube amps here, both for guitar and hi-fi and I don't really use them anymore. For PC purposes, they're realistically a fail due to needing a UPS to not burn them out, and the wait for the warm up period sucks. You want something that can turn on and off in the blink of an eye, because you'll turn it on and off when you leave your PC. Tube amps also consume a lot of power. They're on their way to being a thing of past with modelling amplifiers for guitar achieving such good and way more extensive results.

As for the people wearing massive audiophile headphones outside, they tend to be swaggers you don't see every day.

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

These BT phones are surprisingly pretty good.

https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/akg-y400

Jump to sound.

I do have wired ones but the BT's are convenient.

BT is still a downgrade, all be it convienient. I'm an IEM person when I'm out and about anyways and the thing is you can get a BT adapter for two pin or mcx connectors for about 100 bucks if you want to go that route.

 

[X71200]

BT is still a downgrade, all be it convienient. I'm an IEM person when I'm out and about anyways and the thing is you can get a BT adapter for two pin or mcx connectors for about 100 bucks if you want to go that route.

Not really, modern BT doesn't lack. Those that do music on stages have been doing wireless plugs for guitars and stuff for who knows how long. To talk down on wireless is a mishap and one of the most exciting parts of online music stores are in wireless systems.

Besides, you're listening to Youtube audio, it doesn't matter. You don't need no tube amp and the BT doesn't make anything worse there either.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

i guess when walking to the shop sound quality is mega important to you, not to me. Each to their own i guess.

 

[X71200]

Yeah, I don't really care about how good the sound is outside like car audio. I focus on outside anyway...

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

i guess when walking to the shop sound quality is mega important to you, not to me. Each to their own i guess.

I have lossless on my phone and I also listen to it at work. I can also swap the cable on the DAC/AMP and plug it into my docking station. It works! And the hilidac is the size of a AAA battery so no biggie.

 

[zlobby]

And now we got BT and wireless in the mix? With that the circlejerk is complete. It's like throwing proverbial pearls to the proverbial sus domesticus.

I'm out. *drops the proverbial (wired) mic*

 

[X71200]

And now we got BT and wireless in the mix? With that the circlejerk is complete. It's like throwing proverbial pearls to the proverbial sus domesticus.

I'm out. *drops the proverbial (wired) mic*

Yeah, drop the mic. Expected from you, somebody who doesn't have a clear understanding of this stuff. I suggest you actually go search wireless systems, such as Shure's guitar receivers.

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

Yeah, drop the mic. Expected from you, somebody who doesn't have a clear understanding of this stuff. I suggest you actually go search wireless systems, such as Shure's guitar receivers.

I have sure IEMs among my collection. But you know, they are better wired than with Shure's BT adapter. And when they are used on stage with wireless they are not using bluetooth or the sort of wireless you and I would get. The reciever is a bulky belt clip type item and then long wires to your ears. And on stage they use wireless because they don't want to trip and fall. When mastering in the studio they aren't using wireless. I've got a lot of sure kit at home.

But if you look at Shure or say Senheisser and compare their wired vs wireless vs bluetooth solutions the wired ones are clearly better and at the higher end vastly more expensive.

Also a ton of that bluetooth stuff features ANC which isn't the greatest idea either. There are case uses for it. IE you have an iphone, aren't using lossless, and you want all the extra features built into the airpods that only work with iOS, so you can swap from youtube videos to a call and are using ANC so you don't hear your coworkers but still meh. But if you're not getting something that really integrates with your phone because you want that integration why bother?

 

[Deleted member 24505]

And now we got BT and wireless in the mix? With that the circlejerk is complete. It's like throwing proverbial pearls to the proverbial sus domesticus.

I'm out. *drops the proverbial (wired) mic*

Bye

For normal bods, BT headphones are perfectly acceptable. I am not talking about the type of people that carry a portable DAC or use IEMs for normal street use. There are probably thousands of people who will happily wear BT headphones then wear IEMs or carry bulky and imo un needed DACS in their pocket. I like quality sounding music but when i am out i dont need £300 headphones plus a £300 portable dac. connect my BT phones to my phone, and stick em on my head.

I think there is a bit too much fashionista bullshit nowadays.

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

Bye

For normal bods, BT headphones are perfectly acceptable. I am not talking about the type of people that carry a portable DAC or use IEMs for normal street use. There are probably thousands of people who will happily wear BT headphones then wear IEMs or carry bulky and imo un needed DACS in their pocket. I like quality sounding music but when i am out i dont need £300 headphones plus a £300 portable dac. connect my BT phones to my phone, and stick em on my head.

I think there is a bit too much fashionista bullshit nowadays.

"Bulky" is doing a lot of work here. Portable DAC/AMPs range from something slightly larger than your phone to the size of a AAA battery. And the cost can be sub 100 bucks easily for a decent one. For people like me and the others I know who have them the use case is simple. Train or subway to work or for flights. You can swap the (tiny) cables on them so I can plug it into my laptop or my dock at work if I want to as well. It's not fashionable stuff, it's just an upgrade. Most of the fashionista stuff is wireles/BT anyways, see here https://www.masterdynamic.com/

 

[Pictus]

What about latency/efficiency?

Check https://gearspace.com/board/showpost.php?p=15796206&postcount=5092
As we can see at http://www.original.dawbench.com/audio-int-lowlatency2.htm
RTL = round trip latency
RXC/CV/NCV = how many plug-ins you can run simultaneous = efficiency

RME is king, but too expensive.
PreSonus improved the USB driver for its Studio Audio Interfaces
and they have good priced models like the Studio 24c.
The test of the Studio 1824c.

Audio Interface - Low Latency Performance Data Base - Page 172 - Gearspace

On a 2011 Mac Mini 2.5Ghz 8GB RAM, I repeated what I did with a Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 DSP. (stereo TRS cheapo cable [a different cable than last post though] from Outputs 1 & 2 into Inputs 1 & 2). Setting in the MixControl app was the 'low latency' mode, using Loop 1 and 2. Again, I'm not...

gearspace.com

 

[Deleted member 24505]

"Bulky" is doing a lot of work here. Portable DAC/AMPs range from something slightly larger than your phone to the size of a AAA battery. And the cost can be sub 100 bucks easily for a decent one. For people like me and the others I know who have them the use case is simple. Train or subway to work or for flights. You can swap the (tiny) cables on them so I can plug it into my laptop or my dock at work if I want to as well. It's not fashionable stuff, it's just an upgrade. Most of the fashionista stuff is wireles/BT anyways, see here https://www.masterdynamic.com/

Why do you need it though? why not just phone to headphones? does the widget improve the sound so much over the phone? If the phones output is flat is that not good enough?

one of the best sounding phones, i still have is the iphone 4s, no widget or dongle needed, just a fairly good set of wired 3.5mm headphones.

Most fashionista stuff i see is the stuff with fancy expensive cables, which apparently make all the difference.

To me a lot of it seems unnecessary expense for the sake of slightly better sound quality which does not seem worth the $300 headphones for some plus the cost of the widget on top.

i cba with anything extra but my phone and a pair of wireless AKG's though i guess you people would say they sound like shit.

 

[Primordiarch]

Guys, please help. I have G6 and I can't even notice any difference compared to my onboard 2013 mobo.

I've tried lossless 24bit FLAC with WASAPI. My speaker is Swans M50W Mk.I