Need Desktop DAC/Amp for Audioquest Nighthawk

[Anon_Watch2]

Hi everyone,

I use my AQ Nighthawk on my PC for Spotify and Gaming via the Asus Xonar DGX. Does an upgrade make sense? I just want to improve my sound quality and I'm not sure if my Xonar DGX lacks anything to use my headphones in the best way. I don't care about features like Bluetooth, being portable etc.


I already did a bit of research and found the following devices:
Used:
Mojo Chord used for 210 Dollar
Topping DX3 Pro+ for 160 Dollar
Schiit Hel 2E used for 225 Dollar

New:
Khadas Tone2Pro for 149 Dollar
Qudelix 5K for 110 Dollar

Since I'm also a gamer I thought the Schiit Hel 2E with a microphone input would be nice. Tbh I don't know if I need a new cable to connect my headphones to the DAC because I'm overwhelmed with all the ports.

I'm also open to other suggestions.


Best regards

 

[AnalogSteph]

AQ Nighthawk

Oof.

Does an upgrade make sense? I just want to improve my sound quality and I'm not sure if my Xonar DGX lacks anything to use my headphones in the best way.

Yes and no. While driving a 25 ohm load is not likely to see the DGX entirely happy (not to mention that classic Xonars are cumbersome to handle, "shared mode or die" and can be quite problematic with modern hardware), the issues with shared ground resistance even in the better of the two cables supplied with the Nighthawk (which happens to be the one with the lowly nickel-plated plugs) and nearly perfectly ohmic impedance response of planars mean that I'd prefer having an output with non-negligible output impedance for these cans. You may be better served with something that sports maybe 22 ohms but still a healthy amount of output. An Audient iD4 MKII comes to mind - which would happen to get you ready for a decent microphone as well.

 

[staticV3]

Personally, I'd buy a USB DAC simply because it'd play nicer with Equalizer APO frequency response correction (doesn't work super well with integrated/PCI soundcards).

Since the Nighthawk is a fairly sensitive headphone, I'd just buy a Topping DX1. It's got plenty enough power for the job.

If you still have some free USB ports left over, you can connect your microphone via an Apple headphone adapter (that's what I'm doing), or you could look into a ModMic USB.

Below are links to oratory1990's frequency response correction presets for the Nighthawk with two different target curves (with/without bass shelf):

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

Both of them have instructions for fine-tuning to preference.

If you'd like to give them a try, tell me and I'll convert them to .txt files which you can import into EQApo like so: https://youtu.be/jkgcsVNTJvc

It's a shockingly easy and effective way to boost sound quality.

 

[Anon_Watch2]

If you'd like to give them a try, tell me and I'll convert them to .txt files which you can import into EQApo like so: https://youtu.be/jkgcsVNTJvc

It's a shockingly easy and effective way to boost sound quality.

Sure, I'd give it a try! Actually I installed EQApo and Peace 1-2 years ago and used the configs from innerfidelity, crinacle and oratory1990 but never spent much time with choosing one config.

Since I read positive comments about Topping I'd probably prefer to buy a DAC/AMP combo from them instead of the Audient iD4 MKII.

Tbh I'm a bit afraid of spending not enough money (probably just overthinking) and therefore getting a "cheap" solution (not trying to disrespect the DX1). Spending 150-200 dollar (and a bit more for an absolute steal) would be fine for me. But if there's no need I'm fine with spending less.

 

[twsecrest]

I use my AQ Nighthawk on my PC for Spotify and Gaming via the Asus Xonar DGX. Does an upgrade make sense? I just want to improve my sound quality and I'm not sure if my Xonar DGX lacks anything to use my headphones in the best way. I don't care about features like Bluetooth, being portable etc.
I already did a bit of research and found the following devices:
Used:
Mojo Chord used for 210 Dollar
Topping DX3 Pro+ for 160 Dollar
Schiit Hel 2E used for 225 Dollar
New:
Khadas Tone2Pro for 149 Dollar
Qudelix 5K for 110 Dollar
Since I'm also a gamer I thought the Schiit Hel 2E with a microphone input would be nice. Tbh I don't know if I need a new cable to connect my headphones to the DAC because I'm overwhelmed with all the ports.

Asus Xonar DGX sound, great bang for the buck.
I would go for the Topping DX3 Pro +

 

[staticV3]

Sure, I'd give it a try!

Attached below are the two presets

Edit:
Keep in mind that both of them are intended for the Velour earpads.
If you use the leather pads, then they won't work as intended.

 

[Anon_Watch2]

Attached below are the two presets

Edit:
Keep in mind that both of them are intended for the Velour earpads.
If you use the leather pads, then they won't work as intended.

Thank you! Unfortunately I'm not using the velour earpads. I also realized that I use my AQ Nightowl (got the Nighthawk aswell), so I took the parameters from https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wwqi....pdf?rlkey=qamzmhlqvu6plihwsozdjgl3s&e=1&dl=0 and changed your config template. I'll check how the sound changed.

Btw I got a Mojo Chord via Amazon Warehouse and will test it for 1-2 weeks.

 

[twsecrest]

Thank you! Unfortunately I'm not using the velour earpads. I also realized that I use my AQ Nightowl (got the Nighthawk aswell), so I took the parameters from https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wwqi....pdf?rlkey=qamzmhlqvu6plihwsozdjgl3s&e=1&dl=0 and changed your config template. I'll check how the sound changed.

Btw I got a Mojo Chord via Amazon Warehouse and will test it for 1-2 weeks.

I hear positive things said about the Mojo Chord.