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Best Dac / amp for HD660s
Hey guys, new to this so im not sure if this will work haha!
Im a gamer, moved from console around 7 months ago to PC. I play alot games, mainly being FPS shooters like call of duty, escape from tarkov and the like.
I purchased some DT990 pro 250ohm, with the Fiio E10k, as this was a budget kind of setup to get into 'decent audio quality'. These seemed fine on escape from tarkov as the audio on there isnt perfect. I went back to call of duty today and realised that the audio on this setup, compared to my old setup of some 8 year old Steel series with an astro mix amp was no way near as good. Footsteps were quiet, and unclear, if turned up to be able to hear the footsteps the highs would almost deafen me (also on tarkov).
So i did some digging around and settled on some HD660s as apparently the audio quality is very good along with the sound imaging, which it is. Very good. However, ive now been researching a better amp / dac than the e10k as a few people have told me its pretty terrible compared to alot of others.
So after that long winded, and pretty pointless story thatll probably bore people before they even read this, im after the best dac / amp combo, paired with 660s that'll help with the foot steps, the reloads, the normal gamer needs, but also sound good for music and the like. After a bit of looking the soundblaster and the topping DX3 seem to pop up alot, but ive not seen anything to do with Gaming, 660s and dac/amp! if anyone could help me out from experience, that would be more than great.
Thanks for your time!
Jack
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keyboard_arrow_downFuuFuu
0
Dec 8, 2020
Any luck? I have the nuraphone a and the sennheiser 660S. I’m debating which ones I want to keep for gaming. The nuraphone a are absolutely a bang for the buck but not being able to control the loudness of them through custom EQs is annoying. I ordered the 660S to test out they are definitely more precise when it comes to gaming. I feel the nura is to loud and echoing when it comes to footsteps not as accurate of a sound stage and imaging. I am also a newb to this stuff though. I am not running my 660S on a sac/amp yet straight off my nvidia hidef sounds. I guess I’m curious to if I buy a nice Dax/amp will that give me control over the amounts of bass and treble I am hearing? Or am I an idiot and looking for the wrong tools for the job. I need guidance.
rastus
1391
Aug 15, 2020
I would also consider this internal option, a collab made by dedicated enthusiasts:
https://www.evga.com/articles/01281/evga-nu-audio/
“The connection between Audio Note (UK) and EVGA goes back a long way. Andrew, CEO of EVGA is a lifelong, dedicated audiophile and music lover, and when he was seeking the best system to explore his passion for the recorded arts, he of course chose Audio Note (UK). The driving forces behind the two companies have a lot in common; Andrew, Peter Qvortrup, the head of Audio Note (UK) and Andy Grove, the company’s designer in chief are all driven by the desire to make the best products possible, regardless of the development costs and challenges that may occur. Audio Note (UK) has taken this commitment to excellence to levels unseen in the audio industry for decades, not only building a vast range of ultra-performance audio products but also a wide selection of exclusive internal components, some of which can be found in the NU Audio soundcard. So it was only natural that the two companies should decide to collaborate on a ground-breaking project.”
https://www.dagogo.com/story-evga-nu-audio-card-engineered-audio-note-uk/
Do swap-out the HP opamp for something like a MUSES02, from a authorized distributor, many fakes.
https://www.njr.com/MUSES/
(Edited)
Gramblor
83
Aug 10, 2020
There's no way to gaurantee that the 660s paired with any amp will highlight footsteps in Call of Duty as well as your old setup, because your Steelseries headphones paired with the Astro mix amp are specifically designed for gaming, and are tuned in an unnatural way that emphasizes sounds like footsteps. Can you use the Astro mix amp on your PC? That might help you out with your DT990. If you want a really good amp for gaming, Zreviews on YouTube just reviewed the Schiit Hel and gave it a rave review. The Hel is an "audiophile quality" amp, though, and won't unnaturally highlight sounds like footsteps in COD. It will give you a natural, wide soundstage. The Sennheiser 660s supposedly is great at imaging, which means it should give you good spatial awareness, but I don't think it will emphasize footsteps. Good luck with this!
Gramblor
83
Aug 10, 2020
Amps will do very little to change the sound in the way you're looking for (they're also a lot less impactful on general sound quality than a lot of audiophiles make them out to be). The most important component in an audio setup is the headphones or speakers. It sounds like you need some kind of device like your Astro mix amp or possibly the soundblaster you speak of to alter the sound to your liking. I don't have any experience with either of those devices, but if you can use them with your Sennheiser 660s you should get a much better experience than with an inferior headphone.
JxstJxckk
1
Aug 11, 2020
GramblorYeah these 660s are definitely a solid base for the sound quality and purpose i want them for, you can tell immediately when you jump into a game or put on some music. Everything just sounds more natural, the bass is clear and punchy, as i said you can crank them quite loud so you can hear everything you need to without gun shots making you need a new set of ears. So i am definitely pleased with the headphones themselves. The SoundblasterX G6, has specific modes with gaming in mind, it also has software to be able to edit different audios. So i think with this, with it being relatively cheap too may be worth a try as ill have better audio, the most natural 7.1 surround sound according to others (which i probably wont use), along with it being able to do what id like it to do. Always worth a shot off amazon and can send it back if it isnt very good. Reviews seem good though!
Sheller
0
Aug 10, 2020
I have a Sound Blaster X7 powering a pair of Beyerdynamic DT 177X GO and it works very well.
JxstJxckk
1
Aug 11, 2020
ahh great, call of duty is what made me realise I was missing ALOT of sound that I was dependant on for competitive games etc.
The hd660s feel absolutely great, and can tell they're going to be hard to beat. I just feel the Fiio E10k is letting them down.
I think im going to give the Topping DX3 pro V2 a go as one of my friends has recommended it to me, shame I can't try before I buy but atleast with amazon I can always send it back haha!
DylanWiggins
0
Dec 13, 2020
JxstJxckkI just got the 660s and I'm looking for a good amp. How do you like the Topping DX3 pro V2?
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