love the vid, ive got the hyper x cloud II wired headset and running it through a soundblaster X3... but can never decide if its better if the cloud II are lower volume (through provided amp dac) or louder through my X3... as i play scum and sometimes my X3 can make the game sound overwhelming
Beautifully clear and easy to understand. I had watched some previous hardware reviewers try to describe it but nobody put it as simply for beginners as you. Thank you Techne!
I run the DT 900 Pro X out of the iFi Zen DAC V2 and absolutely love it for gaming and music. Nothing compares to the very first time you hear your favorite song with TrueBass turned on. It makes you "feel" the music without distorting it. In games, I have no problem picking up footsteps and their exact direction. I have had this setup for a year and a half and I feel like I could use it for the rest of my life.
@@musamajid1726 i mainly use my Moondrop Katos now for gaming. They're definitely not as good as the 900 Pro X but it is a lot more comfortable and doesn't give me a dent. Looking for better IEMs but may check out the 1990.
I also just got the dt 900 pro x , and im really stuck between either getting the ifi zen dac v2 (mostly becuse the bass boost, and primarly for gaming use) OR going for the, magni-unity DAC/AMP, As nice as these headphones are i'm very used to quite high bass from my old ones. any advice for either amp/dac is welcome!
i was really happy with the k702. it doesn't have a huge amount of bass but everything else about it is brilliant and i found them to be perfect for positional audio for games. they broke and i changed to some phillips fidelio x2hr. more bass but the k702 is definately better in every other way.
Recently also bought ifi audio zen dac v2 +IpowerX+HD650S I have the same feelings as you~ In the past, I only focused on gaming headsets and DACs Now I have used products like IFI~ It really is a completely different world~ Incredibly beautiful!! There is no need for any EQ adjustment at all~ It is very pleasant to use on my FF XIV and R6.
Short answer no you dont need one, unless you use very high ohm headphones. Do you want one? Maybe, if you are running the motherboards internal soundcard. Even separate soundcard is a big upgrade. The biggest benefit of the dacs imo is that they remove all or most of the electrical interference from the audio. And sure they do change the sound a bit, but you can do a lot with just a software Eq also.
they change the sound more then a bit even with a normal pair of headphones you'll get way better sound quality. I have an older creative sound blaster k3. Looking to upgrade. Made my speakers and sub sound way better too, gave it the oomph it needed, the power.
Motherboard audio is actually pretty good now days. The real problem is with the microphone input and amplification. Often it's fairly noisy because the electronics aren't isolated and many power supplies aren't particularly clean. I use a Soundblaster AE-5 and a Rolls microphone amp going into the sound card's line in. Mic input quality is so important if you do any kind of online gaming or voice recording. We've got great electret and MEMS microphones out there now on headsets and desktops, but the mic inputs are often not keeping pace.
Just buy the Qudelix 5K. Great small portable dac amp. With great eq software. It's super that they work on the usb a port from your ps5. Set your eq with a smartphone and your good to go. They have bluetooth so you can stream to the dac and enjoy high quality sound on the go or at home 💪🏼
I use the GC7 with Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Gen 2s and its really great, i hear things i never heard before in games like Tarkov, massive upgrade from my A40 with Mixamp, would recommend the upgrade to anyone willing to spend the cash!
Drift do you think it’s the headphones or the amp that is the difference? Can you compare the new headphones without the amp. I’m specifically and exclusively interested in the difference in what you hear in Tarkov. I upgraded from wireless closed ear turtle beach stealth 700s to open ear wired sennheiser HD 560s but I’m not running an amp/dac currently. I’m wondering if adding that would also make a noticeable difference in Tarkov.
@@Chris.Cliver hi! I definitely think its the combination of the both, as i’ve not tried them without the amp i could not say for sure, all i can say for certain is the combo i use has amazing clarity and crispness compared to the A40 TRs with Mixamp Pro, i find myself hearing people in Tarkov way before they hear me, its that good i sometimes second guess myself actually hearing something! Also with the amp you have good EQ customization which you can also use to enhance many things such as gunshots, footsteps etc
Hey i know it's been 2 years since your comment but I'm currently thinking of getting that exact setup. I currently am using the astro a40s gen 3with the mix amp. How has the mmx 300 been for you and also the gc7? is the gc7 similar to the astro mixamp?
@@nate5211Hi! i have long since got new equipment, but the MMX300 is probably still the best gaming headset money can buy imo, the GC7 is also very good and plenty of features if you require them, i would definitely still use them:)
Love my mmx300. I. Using it with the astro mixamp but I'm looking to upgrade to a dac amp. Think it's worth the purchase or should I stick with the astro mixamp?
Thanks for picking up my setup :) iFi CAN/DAC is an amazing combo for the price. I've tried things twice as expensive and they did not sound that great. It's a neat, not so pricey setup that works wonders.
I’m using a Gamedac with my PC38x paired with a Helm DB12 aaamp. I know there are better set ups, but this works well for me because I have an Xbox one from what I’ve heard the usb audio can be finicky. So far this set up works flawlessly and allows me to chat and hear my party without having to have an external mic, I also love the fact that I can control my chat mix/game audio with a screen right in front of me, that was the biggest selling point for me
I can't emphasize enough how important is good audio for competitive gaming, I'm a pro FPS player, and most of the time, I just turn around and click the enemies head just because I know exactly where they are, because of the good audio system, thanks to the techne ofc who reviewed almost every single device that I have
No. What you need as an ASUS HDAV 1.3 Deluxe card with the 6-channel daughter board. You feed the 8 analog channels into a 7.1 surround NAD amplifier. You tap off the front two channels to a NAD 2600 Power Amp. You tap off the center channel to another NAD 2600 and you bi-wire and bi-amp the center speaker. Send the sub channel out to the powered subwoofer. You let the 7.1 amp handle the surround channels and the rear channels. Then you've got the most kickass sound it is possible to achieve on a PC. Period.
Not sure why you'd want one. The embedded DAC in your headphone dongle, is more than sufficient. Semi-conductor industry hasn't been twiddling their thumbs for the last 50 years! And unless you're sticking with puzzle games, you're gonna want the shortest latency possible, even if it negatively impacts fidelity. In competitive play, 10ms is a very long time. And as far as my understanding of the human brain goes, we rely heavily on our ears for timing.
Love the information and have the arctis pro already with dac and getting some iem. Can just plug them into the dac so is it worth getting a separate dac ?
I bought an ifi zen dac V2 fo my gaming set up after watching this video. Im now thinking to pair it with the mobius. Thanks man, your videos are great to watch, there is so much details! keep up the good work.
@@afroditta6950 i had this problem with the same hyperx headset, the cloud revolver. My old cloud revolver(pre hp buyout) sound phenomenal with a dac, the new revolver(after hp buyout, (they dont make either anymore i dont think)) have a dac built in and they sound like crap pretty much no matter what you do unless plugged into the computer and you cant get any extra punch out of them.
Schiit Hel or mayflower arc if you need a mic input, schiit modi\magni stack if you don't. JDS makes some good stuff too, like the Atom series if you want $200 or less. Once you get over $200 there's a ton of options and most are pretty good, you'd have to do some research to find the one for you.
I have Sennheiser HD 660S + iFi audio NEO iDSD + Beyerdynamic FOX for gaming and TIDAL. Never going back to gaming headset again. I know it's more expensive but the sound in music and games is so clear and precise.
It gaves me feelings looking a fox mic with tygr300r and knowing that hd560s run better for games than hd660s(still funnier in music) in my experience.
@@pc_decisions8764 fox mic is more than enough even for big names on youtube, I use fox mostly for voice chat in discord when I play games with my team. The Sennheiser HD 560S are slightly better for neutral listening than the Sennheiser HD 660 S. The HD 560S have a better-balanced bass and treble range, a more natural soundstage, and a more comfortable fit. However, the HD 660 S are better-built, deliver a slightly more neutral mid-range, and provide superior stereo imaging performance.
I'm looking into getting the Sennheiser HD560S and pairing it with my Schiit Hel 2 gaming dac/amp for fps games. I've heard good things about those headphones in terms of its great audio cues and neutral sound in general. Great video my guy.
I’d recommend the Drop X Sennheiser 6xx’s . That’s what I use with my Hel 2 for PS5 and it also works awesome with Xbox! For the true setup I recommend pairing it all with a Woojer Vest Edge to really feel that bass!
@TheTechne can you please answer me, is the sound blasterx g6 good enough for headphones like the 250 ohm dt 770 pro x or is another amp necessary? Thanks a lot
Hey buddy Im lookin to upgrade my audio setup for playstation5 (maybe in the future pc, so thinking alteady about to buy something for pc as well). Im almost only playing fps and open world. Would you recomment the ifi amp and dac with the beyerdynamicdt 1990 for the playstation? Will that work ? And do i need both? I mean amp and dac?… I actually ordered the maxwells, but i think i prefer the open back and want something really good…
thanks , this video really did break it down to the introduction of making up your mind. Currently in searching for a huge audio upgrade experience. I believe i found my answer . thanks again.
what a mind opening clear video! u helped me out so much by understanding the difrence between an AMP and DAC. thank you so much, u earned a new sub :)
Totally relate to what you're saying. I have the ifi audio Zen DAC V2 stacked with the Zen Can Amp with the 4.4mm balanced interconnect and have the Audeze LCD-GX wired to the Zen Can via the stock 3.5mm cable. Works perfectly on my PS5 and MacBook Air (for Apple Music and Netflix) and I totally agree, the audio quality is like nothing I have ever heard before. I use to own the HD800S but found them too revealing, quite sterile and lacking in bass and the LCD-X which were awesome but too uncomfortable to wear for long gaming sessions at >600g. I think I've reached end game with my current set up - at least for top end gaming audio.
Thanks for a great video covering the amp & Dacs, I found it really helpful. I just purchased the GC7 to connect to my NVIDIA shield for watching movies on a night time and it sounds pretty decent with the standard surround simulation (not the sxfi crap), and I love that I can adjust the treble and base to my liking on the fly. I’m curious about the ifi zen dac/amp and but I want to have that wide open feel that the virtual 7.1 gives with the GC7. But to do with with something like the ifi zen. I would then need to buy a high end headphone with a big sound stage and imaging. So it looks like I’m stuck with my GC7 & Sennheiser PC38x combo.
You can use the optical out of a sound blasterx g6 into any dac of your choice and take advantage of the dsp from the g6 and get the sound quality from the higher end dac/amp that you’re using.
If you're using optical just use the one built into most motherboards, the signal is exactly the same. Use the G6 as a dac and run it into an amp would make a lot more sense, or just get rid of it.
I use the HiFiMAN Sundara+Schiit Hel-2. The combo sounds cleaner than any pair of gaming headsets I own. I wouldn't dare to go higher-end until I buy my own home. I don't live in a open back headphone friendly environment. So investing in higher-end would be a waste. One day though....
Honestly i have - had headphone to 1.500 price , like Elear, LCD 2, Clear, etch etch and i Use only 2 , Sundara and HD 660s both of them are like 95% of what others can do and honestly on some aspects are better, For example Nothing can win the Smooth , Warm , vocals, timbre , imaging on HD 660s under 1.500 euro and nothing can win , Separation , speed , tonality , resolution, low end texture that Sundara . So no don buy anything else its just a minor win on something and lose on something else. My opinion is if u are on US get the HD6XX or HD 650 in Europe to have something different than SUndara , something warmer smoother .
Thanks for making this video, I bought the LCD-GX which got me started with this audiophile hobby. Makes me want to literally buy every amp/dac just to test them all 🤣 because all reviews be like these are good!. Your explanation gives a simplified way to understand the differences
With DAC you need to connect to optical output i guess? I use xbox from my couch and my cats EAT cords so I cant run a 8 foot cord from my TV/Xbox I’m afraid. With an amp can you connect it to the xbox controller using 3,5 mm and power it from a wall outlet?
I cant find a proper dac/amp for my oneodio monitor 80 and vmoda boompro. very few have a separate mic input, and those that have are way expensive for me
This is very informational and im in the process of upgrading my setup....i do plan on getting a stack of some sort but how would i incorporate it with my elgato xlr or would it be no need?
when using a dac like in this video is it better have dolby atmos/dts on or everythin off? just wondered on ur setup that gets u the best sound for gaming music etc as a whole? thank you
I love how practical and simple your videos are! Would you say this investment is worth it versus say the Razer Blackshark V2 Wireless headset? It seems like a steep price to pay for an incremental increase in quality and the hassle of wires. Thanks!
@@TheTechne Thanks for the reply! Your videos are so down to earth and refreshing in a crowded and complex tech review world. Love the "how does it actually perform in real life" approach. Just subscribed! Keep it up brother. :)
I bought the audeze lcd-gx and Ifi stack because of your reviews. Thank you. Only problem is, I can’t find any info on how to properly set them up… I have the 4.4mm connector connecting the can and dac but other than that, fixed or variable switch on the back? Do I use the balanced or unbalanced cable to my headset, I have another stand alone mic that I use. Also which input setting to use?
You can't connect mics to ifi stack, you'll have to plug them in your source if it's usb. Fixed - when connecting the ifi DAC to ifi AMP, Variable if you want to use ifi DAC as both dac and amp. Balanced vs unbalanced doesn't really matter, balanced just gives you a bit more power.
@@Evo_mufc Well in that case, G6 is more than enough. It can comfortably drive these cans without any issue, you don't need anything more. I'm using them with my Fidelio X2HR
How can you compare the ifi stack to the astro a40 and steel series wired pro game dac? is it worth upgrading to the ifi? my goal is to upgrade from the headsets i mentioned to the HD660s or Audeze lcd -gx
Just ordered the audeze lcd-gx. What do you recommend for Xbox, I’m planning on using an Astro mix amp for now but would like your recommendation for something better. I know not many work on Xbox.
Hi, I need help. I usually direct plug in my headphone to PC and use Sound Blaster Cinema 3 software while playing FPS games. It has surround effect and right positional. But when I switch my iFi Zen DAC/Amp + Zen CAN Amp (Stack), Sound Blaster Cinema 3 software auto-disable. There is no surround effect and the positional feels very weird which only has left and right positional. So how to get surround effect and right positional while using external DAC AMP? (except those dac amps come with surround sound like sound blaster x3) Or is it there is no way as getting an external DAC would mean no surround sound for movies and gaming, just stereo 2-channel sound?
Hey Techne. I wonder if I can get your opinion on something as I do respect it. I watch a lot of your reviews. I recently bought a set of Beyerdynamic 2nd gen mmx300 gaming headphones. I know that they are a stereo headphone. But Beyerdynamic states that the experience is much better with the Immerse Gaming software. My question is... would virtual surround or spatial audio still work with an amp or dac or possibly both connected? Not sure if you will even see this but if you do have an opinion I would love to hear it. Thanks.
I have a question. 08:30 If I understood correctly you said going from the cheap DAC/amp to a stack Amp/DAC is like going from 60Hz to 144Hz. So what would you say the jump is like going from no amp/DAC to let's say a soundblaster X3? Headphones: Fidelio X2HR. Usage: 50% gaming 50% music. Thanks in advance, i love your videos!
Oh damn, I use the same headphones lol. The X3 is cool but I would strongly recommend you to get a SoundblasterX G6 instead for your Fidelios. I myself use this setup which is why I can personally vouch for it. So if you do end up getting the G6, I would say the jump would be like going from 1080p to a 4K display.
@@princesmith8008 I ended up going for the newer Soundblaster X4. For some reason it was cheaper than the X3 on Cyber Monday. So far watching movies, listening to music and gaming is a whole new experience for me, like damn...
Hi! This video is very intresting. Anyway Did you also tried The Byerdynamic DT 990 Pro on the Shiit Hel 2? i just need to know if the Shiit Hel 2 is good enough like the Ifi Zen! Thank you very much!
I have the Turtle Beach elite pro 2 Xbox with superamp and use it for my PC mostly but I dropped the Amp and it's broken now and I was wondering if I should get a new Amp and if it's worth getting a new one again so I can have the Amp experience again and with that one it does have that streaming setup feature and I was gonna start streaming. I did also buy the Roccat Torch mic so I can get a good streaming mic and the Roccat Syn Air so I can have a wireless headset experience so with that I was wondering if I don't need that streaming feature anymore with those two products and it will just work fine with them. But if I was to stream like a story campaign game instead of a multiplayer game would the Amp give me personally a good experience with the sound so I can enjoy it while streaming or will the Syn Pro Air give me the same experience with the sound or even a better experience or maybe using Syn with the Amp. Is that type of Amp worth getting again with this new setup, I haven't yet setup my torch or Syn yet because I'm finishing up my desk I made myself from Lowes using a flat door haha I just need to finish painting it caz I did build it myself and wanted to give it some personality. I appreciate your time if you did read this and would love your feedback. I love how real you are on these review videos and I always come to your videos to make my final decision on buying something I want. Keep up the great work fam! 😄
Hello i currently have the sennheiser hd 599 and also audio technica ath ad 500x. What kind of set up should i use. I currently plug them right into my pc but i want that next step up of sound. I want to make them sound better so looking for suggestions on what i should get?
Can u please explain a way for streamers. I have goxlr mini but I notice a huge difference in audio from my fiio K5 pro in my 1990 Bear Dynamics. Is it possible to have the best of both worlds use the clean audio of these great dac amp with goxlr or wavexlr.
Do you use an amp/dac for gaming? If so what one?
9:30 I do that with my qudelix 5k, and I answers calls with my headset or bring my playlist from my phone (on LDAC or APTX adaptive).
I'm running the sound blaster g6 with a Drop pc38x
love the vid, ive got the hyper x cloud II wired headset and running it through a soundblaster X3... but can never decide if its better if the cloud II are lower volume (through provided amp dac) or louder through my X3... as i play scum and sometimes my X3 can make the game sound overwhelming
@@Norvile ahhhh i wanted those but realised was open back and only for sale in usa :(
Personally never really used one before, I guess maybe I really thought it was worth spending loads of money on.
Beautifully clear and easy to understand. I had watched some previous hardware reviewers try to describe it but nobody put it as simply for beginners as you. Thank you Techne!
thank you
I run the DT 900 Pro X out of the iFi Zen DAC V2 and absolutely love it for gaming and music. Nothing compares to the very first time you hear your favorite song with TrueBass turned on. It makes you "feel" the music without distorting it. In games, I have no problem picking up footsteps and their exact direction. I have had this setup for a year and a half and I feel like I could use it for the rest of my life.
time to upgrade to 1990 pr my friend, stack with zen can
@@musamajid1726 i mainly use my Moondrop Katos now for gaming. They're definitely not as good as the 900 Pro X but it is a lot more comfortable and doesn't give me a dent. Looking for better IEMs but may check out the 1990.
I also just got the dt 900 pro x , and im really stuck between either getting the ifi zen dac v2 (mostly becuse the bass boost, and primarly for gaming use)
OR going for the, magni-unity DAC/AMP, As nice as these headphones are i'm very used to quite high bass from my old ones. any advice for either amp/dac is welcome!
6:00 Thank you so much for the explanation, I've been trying to find out what were the differences between them. A++ comparison!
This is perfect timing as I’m getting an AKG K702 and a Schiit stack tomorrow
Thats pretty shiity
i was really happy with the k702. it doesn't have a huge amount of bass but everything else about it is brilliant and i found them to be perfect for positional audio for games. they broke and i changed to some phillips fidelio x2hr. more bass but the k702 is definately better in every other way.
Recently also bought ifi audio zen dac v2 +IpowerX+HD650S
I have the same feelings as you~ In the past, I only focused on gaming headsets and DACs
Now I have used products like IFI~ It really is a completely different world~
Incredibly beautiful!!
There is no need for any EQ adjustment at all~ It is very pleasant to use on my FF XIV and R6.
I'm planning to get the same setup with the same headphones. Really excited.
There is no HD 650s ... there is HD 560s or HD660s or HD 650
@@Tripokaridos22 I made a mistake. I did ask 560s. Sorry...
What you recommend for gaming ( hearing footsteps clearly ) and some music
Short answer no you dont need one, unless you use very high ohm headphones.
Do you want one? Maybe, if you are running the motherboards internal soundcard.
Even separate soundcard is a big upgrade.
The biggest benefit of the dacs imo is that they remove all or most of the electrical interference from the audio. And sure they do change the sound a bit, but you can do a lot with just a software Eq also.
eq sucks ass lmao.
Is there a universal software to edit EQ. Just bought a PC38x and it feels very meh.
@@SofaKingA equalizer apo with peace ui works wirh pretty much anything
they change the sound more then a bit even with a normal pair of headphones you'll get way better sound quality. I have an older creative sound blaster k3. Looking to upgrade. Made my speakers and sub sound way better too, gave it the oomph it needed, the power.
Motherboard audio is actually pretty good now days. The real problem is with the microphone input and amplification. Often it's fairly noisy because the electronics aren't isolated and many power supplies aren't particularly clean.
I use a Soundblaster AE-5 and a Rolls microphone amp going into the sound card's line in. Mic input quality is so important if you do any kind of online gaming or voice recording. We've got great electret and MEMS microphones out there now on headsets and desktops, but the mic inputs are often not keeping pace.
Just buy the Qudelix 5K. Great small portable dac amp. With great eq software. It's super that they work on the usb a port from your ps5. Set your eq with a smartphone and your good to go. They have bluetooth so you can stream to the dac and enjoy high quality sound on the go or at home 💪🏼
you made me buy the dac amp lmao
Get me one? I'm broke
U are in for a treat!
@inkycat8 get a job, quit begging
I don't think he got you one did he@@inkycat8
I use the GC7 with Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Gen 2s and its really great, i hear things i never heard before in games like Tarkov, massive upgrade from my A40 with Mixamp, would recommend the upgrade to anyone willing to spend the cash!
Drift do you think it’s the headphones or the amp that is the difference? Can you compare the new headphones without the amp. I’m specifically and exclusively interested in the difference in what you hear in Tarkov. I upgraded from wireless closed ear turtle beach stealth 700s to open ear wired sennheiser HD 560s but I’m not running an amp/dac currently. I’m wondering if adding that would also make a noticeable difference in Tarkov.
@@Chris.Cliver hi! I definitely think its the combination of the both, as i’ve not tried them without the amp i could not say for sure, all i can say for certain is the combo i use has amazing clarity and crispness compared to the A40 TRs with Mixamp Pro, i find myself hearing people in Tarkov way before they hear me, its that good i sometimes second guess myself actually hearing something! Also with the amp you have good EQ customization which you can also use to enhance many things such as gunshots, footsteps etc
Hey i know it's been 2 years since your comment but I'm currently thinking of getting that exact setup. I currently am using the astro a40s gen 3with the mix amp. How has the mmx 300 been for you and also the gc7? is the gc7 similar to the astro mixamp?
@@nate5211Hi! i have long since got new equipment, but the MMX300 is probably still the best gaming headset money can buy imo, the GC7 is also very good and plenty of features if you require them, i would definitely still use them:)
Love my mmx300. I. Using it with the astro mixamp but I'm looking to upgrade to a dac amp. Think it's worth the purchase or should I stick with the astro mixamp?
how do we connect the amp and dac to the xbox series x please help me ''''
Would Sony MDR'7506's benefit from a DAC/AMP setup? They are only 63ohm
I've seen the new "Ifi Zen Dac v2" which supposedly is the dac AND amp, right? Will that be enough to power and run my dt990's?
It's just the dac. You'll need the amp as well. Yes its more than enough to push the DT990.
@@Princeton_James wrong
@@Princeton_James it inlcludes an internal amp
The first and second version of Ifi Zen Dac are both a dac and amp. I'm new to amp and dacs so I don't know if you would need the stack for dt990's.
I just got 990s recently .. Curious what you’ve learned in the past few months and if you have any recommendations. Thanks!
Thanks for picking up my setup :) iFi CAN/DAC is an amazing combo for the price. I've tried things twice as expensive and they did not sound that great. It's a neat, not so pricey setup that works wonders.
Really good description for us who like it described in a simple way.
Keep it up man I always love your videos
I’m using a Gamedac with my PC38x paired with a Helm DB12 aaamp. I know there are better set ups, but this works well for me because I have an Xbox one from what I’ve heard the usb audio can be finicky. So far this set up works flawlessly and allows me to chat and hear my party without having to have an external mic, I also love the fact that I can control my chat mix/game audio with a screen right in front of me, that was the biggest selling point for me
Excellent how you simplified that on all levels...
Just when I was thinking whether do I need a amp/dac for gaming headset, you just cleared my doubts. Thanks man. Best video explanation so far.
Which amp/dac would you recommend for a ps5? Or should I just buy a gaming headset like a steelseries arctis nova pro instead?
Did you recently start recording in 4K? It looks extra crispy today!
Have been. But had a diff angle, not sure if that was it
I use the Steel Series Pro wired w/gamedac. I love them. I might get the wireless pro just for when I want to move away from my desk.
but the wireless pro doesnt sound that good like the wired version with dac
@@shutdown8230 I would still use my wired for when I'm at my desk but my wireless for when I need to be mobile.
Audio Technica ATH M50X vs Blackshark V2.
Which is more good for gaming and clear.
If you play fps games possibly look into the ath-ad700x
Sennheiser Hd58x
I can't emphasize enough how important is good audio for competitive gaming, I'm a pro FPS player, and most of the time, I just turn around and click the enemies head just because I know exactly where they are, because of the good audio system, thanks to the techne ofc who reviewed almost every single device that I have
specs?
@@beebread._.m8 I'm using Beyerdynamic dt880 32ohm with a Creative sound blaster GC7
@@xxsirxfuryxx6122 do you use surround sound in fps games or do you use just the stereo of the headphones. What's best for locating enemies?
@@Obito_RLsurround sound is the enemy if you’re playing competitive imo.
No. What you need as an ASUS HDAV 1.3 Deluxe card with the 6-channel daughter board.
You feed the 8 analog channels into a 7.1 surround NAD amplifier.
You tap off the front two channels to a NAD 2600 Power Amp.
You tap off the center channel to another NAD 2600 and you bi-wire and bi-amp the center speaker.
Send the sub channel out to the powered subwoofer.
You let the 7.1 amp handle the surround channels and the rear channels.
Then you've got the most kickass sound it is possible to achieve on a PC. Period.
i still don't know whether to get the dac or the amp for gaming
the question i have is how do you hear yourself in audiofile headphones? if i use an xlr mic where does that go?
Not sure why you'd want one. The embedded DAC in your headphone dongle, is more than sufficient. Semi-conductor industry hasn't been twiddling their thumbs for the last 50 years! And unless you're sticking with puzzle games, you're gonna want the shortest latency possible, even if it negatively impacts fidelity. In competitive play, 10ms is a very long time. And as far as my understanding of the human brain goes, we rely heavily on our ears for timing.
Very interesting man. So DAC is a no what about an amp?
what about a dedicated sound card
Dude I love how you explain things
Love the information and have the arctis pro already with dac and getting some iem. Can just plug them into the dac so is it worth getting a separate dac ?
I bought an ifi zen dac V2 fo my gaming set up after watching this video. Im now thinking to pair it with the mobius. Thanks man, your videos are great to watch, there is so much details! keep up the good work.
I don't think it will make a difference for Mobius since those are gaming headsets that already have a dac integrated. It might actually sound worse.
@@afroditta6950 i had this problem with the same hyperx headset, the cloud revolver. My old cloud revolver(pre hp buyout) sound phenomenal with a dac, the new revolver(after hp buyout, (they dont make either anymore i dont think)) have a dac built in and they sound like crap pretty much no matter what you do unless plugged into the computer and you cant get any extra punch out of them.
Thanks for the comparison. For someone with the Sennheiser hd600. Which amp/dac will you recommend for a 70 gaming / 30 music
Schiit Hel or mayflower arc if you need a mic input, schiit modi\magni stack if you don't. JDS makes some good stuff too, like the Atom series if you want $200 or less. Once you get over $200 there's a ton of options and most are pretty good, you'd have to do some research to find the one for you.
I have Sennheiser HD 660S + iFi audio NEO iDSD + Beyerdynamic FOX for gaming and TIDAL. Never going back to gaming headset again. I know it's more expensive but the sound in music and games is so clear and precise.
It gaves me feelings looking a fox mic with tygr300r and knowing that hd560s run better for games than hd660s(still funnier in music) in my experience.
@@pc_decisions8764 fox mic is more than enough even for big names on youtube, I use fox mostly for voice chat in discord when I play games with my team. The Sennheiser HD 560S are slightly better for neutral listening than the Sennheiser HD 660 S. The HD 560S have a better-balanced bass and treble range, a more natural soundstage, and a more comfortable fit. However, the HD 660 S are better-built, deliver a slightly more neutral mid-range, and provide superior stereo imaging performance.
I'm looking into getting the Sennheiser HD560S and pairing it with my Schiit Hel 2 gaming dac/amp for fps games. I've heard good things about those headphones in terms of its great audio cues and neutral sound in general. Great video my guy.
I’d recommend the Drop X Sennheiser 6xx’s . That’s what I use with my Hel 2 for PS5 and it also works awesome with Xbox! For the true setup I recommend pairing it all with a Woojer Vest Edge to really feel that bass!
560s ja a great choice
I have both of them , HD 560s are better for gaming and HD 650 are waaaaay better for Stereo music.
@TheTechne can you please answer me, is the sound blasterx g6 good enough for headphones like the 250 ohm dt 770 pro x or is another amp necessary? Thanks a lot
Hey buddy
Im lookin to upgrade my audio setup for playstation5 (maybe in the future pc, so thinking alteady about to buy something for pc as well). Im almost only playing fps and open world. Would you recomment the ifi amp and dac with the beyerdynamicdt 1990 for the playstation? Will that work ? And do i need both? I mean amp and dac?…
I actually ordered the maxwells, but i think i prefer the open back and want something really good…
thanks , this video really did break it down to the introduction of making up your mind. Currently in searching for a huge audio upgrade experience. I believe i found my answer . thanks again.
what a mind opening clear video! u helped me out so much by understanding the difrence between an AMP and DAC. thank you so much, u earned a new sub :)
Totally relate to what you're saying. I have the ifi audio Zen DAC V2 stacked with the Zen Can Amp with the 4.4mm balanced interconnect and have the Audeze LCD-GX wired to the Zen Can via the stock 3.5mm cable. Works perfectly on my PS5 and MacBook Air (for Apple Music and Netflix) and I totally agree, the audio quality is like nothing I have ever heard before. I use to own the HD800S but found them too revealing, quite sterile and lacking in bass and the LCD-X which were awesome but too uncomfortable to wear for long gaming sessions at >600g. I think I've reached end game with my current set up - at least for top end gaming audio.
Hey teche, for gaming I can only buy one of the ifi. Would you recommend the amp or dac ? I play only fps
amp for sure
@@TheTechne thank you!
@@TheTechne can i get ifi zen air which has both dac and amp? For dt770 pro 80 ohm.
Brilliant now I understand amp Dac brilliant very educational thanks 👍👍👍
did you ever plug the gc7 in virtual sound into the nice dacks you are talking about
Thanks for a great video covering the amp & Dacs, I found it really helpful.
I just purchased the GC7 to connect to my NVIDIA shield for watching movies on a night time and it sounds pretty decent with the standard surround simulation (not the sxfi crap), and I love that I can adjust the treble and base to my liking on the fly.
I’m curious about the ifi zen dac/amp and but I want to have that wide open feel that the virtual 7.1 gives with the GC7.
But to do with with something like the ifi zen. I would then need to buy a high end headphone with a big sound stage and imaging.
So it looks like I’m stuck with my GC7 & Sennheiser PC38x combo.
I was gonna get an amp/dac stack, but I also needed analog-in.
For mobile gaming what do you recommend I'm planning on buying yanyin Canon iems
You can use the optical out of a sound blasterx g6 into any dac of your choice and take advantage of the dsp from the g6 and get the sound quality from the higher end dac/amp that you’re using.
If you're using optical just use the one built into most motherboards, the signal is exactly the same. Use the G6 as a dac and run it into an amp would make a lot more sense, or just get rid of it.
Bro much appreciated needed to know this
I use the HiFiMAN Sundara+Schiit Hel-2. The combo sounds cleaner than any pair of gaming headsets I own.
I wouldn't dare to go higher-end until I buy my own home. I don't live in a open back headphone friendly environment. So investing in higher-end would be a waste.
One day though....
Honestly i have - had headphone to 1.500 price , like Elear, LCD 2, Clear, etch etch and i Use only 2 , Sundara and HD 660s both of them are like 95% of what others can do and honestly on some aspects are better, For example Nothing can win the Smooth , Warm , vocals, timbre , imaging on HD 660s under 1.500 euro and nothing can win , Separation , speed , tonality , resolution, low end texture that Sundara . So no don buy anything else its just a minor win on something and lose on something else. My opinion is if u are on US get the HD6XX or HD 650 in Europe to have something different than SUndara , something warmer smoother .
The schiit Hel is pretty solid, it doesn't put out the power of a Magni 3 but it's no slouch.
should I get an audio mixer and a amp and connect them together or should I just get the amp or audio mixer
Thanks for making this video, I bought the LCD-GX which got me started with this audiophile hobby. Makes me want to literally buy every amp/dac just to test them all 🤣 because all reviews be like these are good!. Your explanation gives a simplified way to understand the differences
Can you tell me how to use the ifi idsd with my xbox x please
With DAC you need to connect to optical output i guess? I use xbox from my couch and my cats EAT cords so I cant run a 8 foot cord from my TV/Xbox I’m afraid. With an amp can you connect it to the xbox controller using 3,5 mm and power it from a wall outlet?
How does the sound blaster G6 compare to the ifi amp and dac
I cant find a proper dac/amp for my oneodio monitor 80 and vmoda boompro. very few have a separate mic input, and those that have are way expensive for me
Does the chord mojo 2 sound better than the ifi Amp dac combo
This is very informational and im in the process of upgrading my setup....i do plan on getting a stack of some sort but how would i incorporate it with my elgato xlr or would it be no need?
when using a dac like in this video is it better have dolby atmos/dts on or everythin off? just wondered on ur setup that gets u the best sound for gaming music etc as a whole? thank you
great video thanks for the honest opinion on amp dac for gaming I've been curious of the benefits of these. great guide.
I love how practical and simple your videos are! Would you say this investment is worth it versus say the Razer Blackshark V2 Wireless headset? It seems like a steep price to pay for an incremental increase in quality and the hassle of wires. Thanks!
I love and still use gaming headsets daily, and I love wireless! but yes the quality diff is amazing, but that also come with a fair price increase
@@TheTechne Thanks for the reply! Your videos are so down to earth and refreshing in a crowded and complex tech review world. Love the "how does it actually perform in real life" approach. Just subscribed! Keep it up brother. :)
So if I have the Astro mix amp, can I just use that in conjunction with other headsets/headphones?
what if i like play FPS game? i want buy some external soundcard that can plug in hyperx cloud earbuds. i love to hear some detail of the footsteps
the FPS reference is really good btw
I was confused when he had the amp on top of the dac It made me think you needed both for it to work lol ended up getting the dac.
I just bought dt 900 pro x with the zen dac v2 .. should ill buy the zen can aswell ?
i am getting the xenns tops iem do you know what amp or dac for gaming playing fps games
Do you recommend the Hel2 pared with a Sennheiser 660s for gaming ?
I bought the audeze lcd-gx and Ifi stack because of your reviews. Thank you.
Only problem is, I can’t find any info on how to properly set them up… I have the 4.4mm connector connecting the can and dac but other than that, fixed or variable switch on the back? Do I use the balanced or unbalanced cable to my headset, I have another stand alone mic that I use. Also which input setting to use?
You can't connect mics to ifi stack, you'll have to plug them in your source if it's usb. Fixed - when connecting the ifi DAC to ifi AMP, Variable if you want to use ifi DAC as both dac and amp. Balanced vs unbalanced doesn't really matter, balanced just gives you a bit more power.
Do audio interfaces soind better than dac/amp combos? As im looking at the rme ucx ii audio interface.
Hello, I am a bit late here, but does your Neo IDSD work on a PS5?
yo , how you connect the ifi zen stack between them , the 4,4mm balanced connector or rca
I have the dt990’s with soundblaster g6, upgrading to the ifi zen dac and amp will it make much difference?
Are you using that setup for PC or console??
@@princesmith8008 pc mate
@@Evo_mufc And what is the impedance of your Beyer cans? Is it more than 80 ohms??
@@princesmith8008 yeah they’re the 250ohm ones
@@Evo_mufc Well in that case, G6 is more than enough. It can comfortably drive these cans without any issue, you don't need anything more.
I'm using them with my Fidelio X2HR
Im using a SBX G6 with a pair of hifiman sundara closed back right now. would the ifi stack be a noticeable upgrade?
got the SHIIT STACK! hmmmmm love it
Do u use GTO filter on iFi or the older warmer one ?
Just bought the dac v2 for gaming hope they go good with my hd6xx
I love his cheapy and confident smile
would you still stay on the lower end with VZR model 1?
My fulla 4 has been on backorder for a few weeks☹️
My Fulla 4 won’t connect anymore :(
I change my mind when i saw the delivery time and got a qudelix 5k instead. I wanted to be the btr5 but it doesn't support mic on usb mode.
How can you compare the ifi stack to the astro a40 and steel series wired pro game dac? is it worth upgrading to the ifi? my goal is to upgrade from the headsets i mentioned to the HD660s or Audeze lcd -gx
What would you recommend for the dt990 pro 250ohms, looking for an dac and amp in one. And relatively lower budget. From Au :)
Can you review the game ones from sennheiser. Also do I need a amp for them?
So do u need to have the amp to use the Dac or can u just use the dac
ok i have DT 1990 PRO , what should i buy ? DAC or AMP ?
Just ordered the audeze lcd-gx. What do you recommend for Xbox, I’m planning on using an Astro mix amp for now but would like your recommendation for something better. I know not many work on Xbox.
Hi, I need help. I usually direct plug in my headphone to PC and use Sound Blaster Cinema 3 software while playing FPS games. It has surround effect and right positional.
But when I switch my iFi Zen DAC/Amp + Zen CAN Amp (Stack),
Sound Blaster Cinema 3 software auto-disable. There is no surround effect and the positional feels very weird which only has left and right positional.
So how to get surround effect and right positional while using external DAC AMP? (except those dac amps come with surround sound like sound blaster x3)
Or is it there is no way as getting an external DAC would mean no surround sound for movies and gaming, just stereo 2-channel sound?
If I was to buy the ifi can or dac first which would you recommend? I also have a scarlett 2i2 to go through.
For gaming where I need footsteps
what if you use 560s ?
for gaming
Right now I’m rocking the Hifiman Ananda with the Singxer SA-1 amp & Singxer SDA-6 dac. It’s a buttery smooth combo. 👌🏽
That's endgame right there my friend 👌👌👌👌
Hey Techne. I wonder if I can get your opinion on something as I do respect it. I watch a lot of your reviews. I recently bought a set of Beyerdynamic 2nd gen mmx300 gaming headphones. I know that they are a stereo headphone. But Beyerdynamic states that the experience is much better with the Immerse Gaming software. My question is... would virtual surround or spatial audio still work with an amp or dac or possibly both connected? Not sure if you will even see this but if you do have an opinion I would love to hear it. Thanks.
what should i get for dt770 pro 250 ohm for my pc playing competitive shooters
I have a question. 08:30 If I understood correctly you said going from the cheap DAC/amp to a stack Amp/DAC is like going from 60Hz to 144Hz. So what would you say the jump is like going from no amp/DAC to let's say a soundblaster X3? Headphones: Fidelio X2HR. Usage: 50% gaming 50% music. Thanks in advance, i love your videos!
Oh damn, I use the same headphones lol.
The X3 is cool but I would strongly recommend you to get a SoundblasterX G6 instead for your Fidelios. I myself use this setup which is why I can personally vouch for it.
So if you do end up getting the G6, I would say the jump would be like going from 1080p to a 4K display.
@@princesmith8008 I ended up going for the newer Soundblaster X4. For some reason it was cheaper than the X3 on Cyber Monday. So far watching movies, listening to music and gaming is a whole new experience for me, like damn...
@@Obito_RL Lol yeah no shit bro
Thanks for this vid!
thank you for watching
Another great topic Techne!!! 🔥🔥🔥
Hi! This video is very intresting. Anyway Did you also tried The Byerdynamic DT 990 Pro on the Shiit Hel 2? i just need to know if the Shiit Hel 2 is good enough like the Ifi Zen! Thank you very much!
I have the Turtle Beach elite pro 2 Xbox with superamp and use it for my PC mostly but I dropped the Amp and it's broken now and I was wondering if I should get a new Amp and if it's worth getting a new one again so I can have the Amp experience again and with that one it does have that streaming setup feature and I was gonna start streaming. I did also buy the Roccat Torch mic so I can get a good streaming mic and the Roccat Syn Air so I can have a wireless headset experience so with that I was wondering if I don't need that streaming feature anymore with those two products and it will just work fine with them. But if I was to stream like a story campaign game instead of a multiplayer game would the Amp give me personally a good experience with the sound so I can enjoy it while streaming or will the Syn Pro Air give me the same experience with the sound or even a better experience or maybe using Syn with the Amp. Is that type of Amp worth getting again with this new setup, I haven't yet setup my torch or Syn yet because I'm finishing up my desk I made myself from Lowes using a flat door haha I just need to finish painting it caz I did build it myself and wanted to give it some personality. I appreciate your time if you did read this and would love your feedback. I love how real you are on these review videos and I always come to your videos to make my final decision on buying something I want. Keep up the great work fam! 😄
Can I run headphones with just an amp? (Is a dac necessary) for example can I just run dt990s with a schiit magni 3 or another amp like that?
Hello i currently have the sennheiser hd 599 and also audio technica ath ad 500x. What kind of set up should i use. I currently plug them right into my pc but i want that next step up of sound. I want to make them sound better so looking for suggestions on what i should get?
Can u please explain a way for streamers. I have goxlr mini but I notice a huge difference in audio from my fiio K5 pro in my 1990 Bear Dynamics. Is it possible to have the best of both worlds use the clean audio of these great dac amp with goxlr or wavexlr.
can i ask whats better the dt990 pro or the m50x? im thinkin of gettin the ifi dac v2 thanks