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First amp

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CarlToft

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Mar 22, 2020
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Hey, I want to buy an amp for my desktop PC, I just got the Hifiman Sundara. I currently own a M-track solo I am pretty sure it has a preamp, is it good enough or is it worth buying an amp?
I have looked at the topping L30. The measurements seem good.
The specs of my mobo are: SupremeFX S1220A codec, plus Texas Instruments® RC4580 and OPA1688 op-amps
The amp has to be able to be sent from the EU warehouse or bought from EU websites.
My max budget is $150/ 137€.
 
Last edited:
AnalogSteph said:
With JDS Labs Atom Amp+ and Schii Magni Heresy currently unavailable in Europe, the L30 is by far and away your best bet. The only other model I'd even remotely consider in this price class is the Pro-Ject Head Box S2.
Click to expand...
Thanks a lot :)
 
Since you have no idea how good your motherboard DAC is, maybe you should also consider a combined DAC+headphone device. For a little bit more money you could buy TOPPING DX3 PRO which, while above your budget is still cheaper than the E30+L30 combo.
 
digitalfrost said:
Since you have no idea how good your motherboard DAC is, maybe you should also consider a combined DAC+headphone device. For a little bit more money you could buy TOPPING DX3 PRO which, while above your budget is still cheaper than the E30+L30 combo.
Click to expand...
I am pretty sure my DAC is fine a lot of people said it was pretty good.
 
CarlToft said:
I am pretty sure my DAC is fine a lot of people said it was pretty good.
Click to expand...
You wish... Did you consider Creative SBX G6? And even so power it with USB charger and use Toslink from SupremeFX to G6 (on high gain) after you initially set G6 up.
 
ZolaIII said:
You wish... Did you consider Creative SBX G6? And even so power it with USB charger and use Toslink from SupremeFX to G6 (on high gain) after you initially set G6 up.
Click to expand...
No. I don't really need a DAC and I have heard that Creative's products are pretty bad.
 
You are already using old co op Creative - Asus product. G6 is mesured hire.
And it's not really about DAC alone (DAC, DSP, AMP, Dolby decoder...).
www.audiosciencereview.com

Review and Measurements of Sound BlasterX G6

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Sound BlasterX G6. I purchased it last month for USD $150 from Amazon including shipping. Typical of PC audio connectivity devices, the Sound BlasterX G6 is a combo device which includes an audio DAC, ADC, and headphone amplifier. This being...
www.audiosciencereview.com www.audiosciencereview.com
But how you wish.
 
CarlToft said:
No. I don't really need a DAC and I have heard that Creative's products are pretty bad.
Click to expand...
Most Creative products are still good. Creative speakers are terrible value for money but the DACs are pretty good and well priced.

CarlToft said:
I am pretty sure my DAC is fine a lot of people said it was pretty good.
Click to expand...
The DAC chip could be good but the way it's being used matters. You don't have to get a brand new DAC, it can be used. I seen Topping D10's sell for $50 to $60, I'm sure it's the same in Europe.
 
ThatM1key said:
Most Creative products are still good. Creative speakers are terrible value for money but the DACs are pretty good and well priced.


The DAC chip could be good but the way it's being used matters. You don't have to get a brand new DAC, it can be used. I seen Topping D10's sell for $50 to $60, I'm sure it's the same in Europe.
Click to expand...
Thanks. But I don't really need a DAC.
 
@CarlToft well get a JDS or Schiit amp (which ever of two is better available where you are) as already suggested (also reviewd hire) and problem solved.
G6 is just enough power to drive those but I would go for at least 2x higher output power (6 dB more and not for mind blowing reasons but to have headroom for equal loudness normalization eventually DSD and such).
You don't need "great" DAC how ever one isolated from PC is recommended.
 
digitalfrost said:
Since you have no idea how good your motherboard DAC is, maybe you should also consider a combined DAC+headphone device. For a little bit more money you could buy TOPPING DX3 PRO which, while above your budget is still cheaper than the E30+L30 combo.
Click to expand...
The DX3 Pro+ will have more headphone amp power output than the S1220A CODEC motherboard. I looked up the headphone amp IC's for the S1220A CODEC system and compared that to a EVGA Nu Audio Pro (Atom Amp has same amp IC's.) and the headphone amp output current capability was ~5x the amount in favor of the EVGA Nu Audio headphone amp. I used a ASUS ROG S1220A CODEC motherboard for several years and found there to be ample power output although I have fairly efficient headphones in the HD 598SR. I use the motherboard's performance setting for headphone impedance detection and it's loud but I still have the extreme setting available if I wanted more headphone amp output from the motherboard.
 
CarlToft said:
No. I don't really need a DAC and I have heard that Creative's products are pretty bad.
Click to expand...
The drivers are reputed to be a repetitive issue. I've owned Creative stuff and found the drivers to be average in issues but that was way back in XP days and Win98 stuff.
 
Doodski said:
The drivers are reputed to be a repetitive issue. I've owned Creative stuff and found the drivers to be average in issues but that was way back in XP days and Win98 stuff.
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I had so much problems over the time with Creative driver's (but the god damn things just continued to work) the Realtek ones are let's just say huge mess. I can not prise enough simplicity of TempoTec one's and that they just work. Anyway as necessary evil use them only as much as you must and if you must of course (Realtek to set the PCM and beat stream out to Toslink and Creative one's for initial setup and corrections [trough optical in] in G6 case).
 
Doodski said:
The DX3 Pro+ will have more headphone amp power output than the S1220A CODEC motherboard. I looked up the headphone amp IC's for the S1220A CODEC system and compared that to a EVGA Nu Audio Pro (Atom Amp has same amp IC's.) and the headphone amp output current capability was ~5x the amount in favor of the EVGA Nu Audio headphone amp. I used a ASUS ROG S1220A CODEC motherboard for several years and found there to be ample power output although I have fairly efficient headphones in the HD 598SR. I use the motherboard's performance setting for headphone impedance detection and it's loud but I still have the extreme setting available if I wanted more headphone amp output from the motherboard.
Click to expand...
Thanks but i don't really need a DAC only an amp
 
ZolaIII said:
@CarlToft well get a JDS or Schiit amp (which ever of two is better available where you are) as already suggested (also reviewd hire) and problem solved.
G6 is just enough power to drive those but I would go for at least 2x higher output power (6 dB more and not for mind blowing reasons but to have headroom for equal loudness normalization eventually DSD and such).
You don't need "great" DAC how ever one isolated from PC is recommended.
Click to expand...
None of them are unfortunately
 
CarlToft said:
None of them are unfortunately
Click to expand...
Where do you live if I may ask? Basically you do need a amp with high output on low impedance (that it's not limited there). So go to the index and use 33 Ohm's hedaphone amp output as reference and see what ever you can find there (where you live). It will take you some time but you will get there.
 
ZolaIII said:
Where do you live if I may ask? Basically you do need a amp with high output on low impedance (that it's not limited there). So go to the index and use 33 Ohm's hedaphone amp output as reference and see what ever you can find there (where you live). It will take you some time but you will get there.
Click to expand...
Denmark. Our import taxes are around 27% if outside of Europe
 
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