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Is the built-in amp of the motherboard good enough

gogeta01

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Nov 2, 2025
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Hello guys,
I am a complete noob when it comes to audio. All these years I've been using gaming headsets and recently I decided to give iems a try. I decided to go with the KZ Gale since it is cheap and I have heard good things about it. Currently I have it connected directly to the front jack of the PC (ALC4080 + SV3H712 Amp). I would like to try more pairs and I do not know if the amp is good enough for iems that are harder to drive. I am interested in the KZ PRX (If you have anything else to recommend around that price please do). Do I need an external DAC like the Apple one (I can get the US version and I have an iPhone) or the jm20 Max?
Here are the specs of the built-in amp
εικόνα_2025-11-02_045640747.png

Thank you very much.
 
If it is good enough, it is good enough.

If it is not good enough, you will know.

-90dB THD+N is not top of the world but you won't hear a difference compared to more expensive products.
 
In this case the weak link may well be shared ground return resistance, mostly from the front audio cable (i.e. not even the electronics themselves but rather the case). Don't be too surprised if you find an entire ohm there. With the PRX being rated at 15 ohms, that's not entirely ideal, especially in case the headphone cable already adds some shared resistance by itself (though it looks like the aftermarket job I have on my ZSX these days, and I don't think that does). If too high, (L+R) to (L-R) balance shifts audibly, giving a stereo widening / weaker bass effect (as wbass is usually center-panned).

I would assume that output impedance is lower than the 75 ohms you often find on run-of-the-mill onboard outputs. Possibly in the 5.6 to 22 ohm vicinity. That should ensure adequate output level. Planars tend to be entirely impedance-uncritical otherwise.
 
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