Creative Sound Blaster Zx + FiiO E10K + Audio Technica ATH-AD900X best audio setup ?

[E-AlRomaithi]

Hello,

So I'm wondering if this setup is the best to maximize my gaming experience ?

+ is there any guides for audio setup, I mean how to connect everything together and get most of it in terms of hardware and software configuration ?

Thanks in advance!

 

[ssddx]

no. just no.

first, the ad900x is fairly easy to drive. with 38ohm impedence and 100db sensitivity even most portables can power it. generally any soundcard, onboard sound or similar can as well. pairing it up with two powerful amps is not going to help.

the creative Z has a very powerful amplifier and with headphones that are easy to drive you're going to be running the volume control at low settings (otherwise the volume level on the headphones will be loud enough to damage your ears). that without putting an auxilliary amp on them like the fiio.

the fiio e10k is also a pretty powerful headphone amplifier and if you used this (without the soundcard on just an aux-out jack) you would be running it below half gain.

if you have both connected using both amplifiers, you would need both at minimum settings in order to even listen to it and you would be getting more distortion due to amplification than you really need. a big waste of money as well. the creative z doesnt have an aux-output or line-output which makes it a poor choice for external amps unless you're trying to power some really hefty headphones like the dt990-250 or 600's

--

back to square 1....

first... are the ad900x what you really want in a pair of headphones? while they have absolutely superb soundstaging and positional audio as well as crisp clean sound they are also incredibly bass light. while this gives them draw as good gaming headphones for fps (gives you an advantage in this case) they also arent very "fun" headphones to listen to because of this unless you really enjoy that type of sound signature.

second... why did you want both a soundcard with powerful amp AND an external amp? why not just a soundcard? even the xonar dx which doesnt have a strong amplifier should be able to handle them fine and the dx uses the same DAC as the top-of-the-line STX (but doesnt have the amp and a few other things). the dx also pairs better with external amps (shouldnt be needed for the 900x) provided you went with one since it doesnt have as strong of an amplifier than cards like the z. a line-out would be best though.

third... what are you expecting out of the system (why all the amplifiers and high power soundcards?). if you liked creative better than asus you could still use the Z (at low volume levels in windows) with the ad900x but you definitely do not want to put an external amp in the loop as well.

 

[E-AlRomaithi]

no. just no.

first, the ad900x is fairly easy to drive. with 38ohm impedence and 100db sensitivity even most portables can power it. generally any soundcard, onboard sound or similar can as well. pairing it up with two powerful amps is not going to help.

the creative Z has a very powerful amplifier and with headphones that are easy to drive you're going to be running the volume control at low settings (otherwise the volume level on the headphones will be loud enough to damage your ears). that without putting an auxilliary amp on them like the fiio.

the fiio e10k is also a pretty powerful headphone amplifier and if you used this (without the soundcard on just an aux-out jack) you would be running it below half gain.

if you have both connected using both amplifiers, you would need both at minimum settings in order to even listen to it and you would be getting more distortion due to amplification than you really need. a big waste of money as well. the creative z doesnt have an aux-output or line-output which makes it a poor choice for external amps unless you're trying to power some really hefty headphones like the dt990-250 or 600's

--

back to square 1....

first... are the ad900x what you really want in a pair of headphones? while they have absolutely superb soundstaging and positional audio as well as crisp clean sound they are also incredibly bass light. while this gives them draw as good gaming headphones for fps (gives you an advantage in this case) they also arent very "fun" headphones to listen to because of this unless you really enjoy that type of sound signature.

second... why did you want both a soundcard with powerful amp AND an external amp? why not just a soundcard? even the xonar dx which doesnt have a strong amplifier should be able to handle them fine and the dx uses the same DAC as the top-of-the-line STX (but doesnt have the amp and a few other things). the dx also pairs better with external amps (shouldnt be needed for the 900x) provided you went with one since it doesnt have as strong of an amplifier than cards like the z. a line-out would be best though.

third... what are you expecting out of the system (why all the amplifiers and high power soundcards?). if you liked creative better than asus you could still use the Z (at low volume levels in windows) with the ad900x but you definitely do not want to put an external amp in the loop as well.

Thanks for the informative reply!

Now I've understand what is not necessary and what is necessary.

AD900x is affordable headset and based on reviews its one of the best for gaming, but as you said it lacks the bass

Basically,what I want is a setup that is very good for competitive gaming (Virtual surround sound) + watching movies (Bass?).

My budget is 300$ and currently I'm using asus rampage v extreme on-board sound (SupremeFX) + Beats solo

Can you please suggest some good headsets/headphones, sound cards... etc ?

As i mentioned before, the setup will be for gaming and watching movies.

Please note that what you will suggest is what I will actually buy!

Thank again for you time!

 

[ssddx]

the ad900x is good for gaming, i'm not deputing that. all i'm saying is that they do not have much bass output so if bass and a more engaging sound are important to you then there are other options. still not a bad choice as long as you realize its shortcomings.

if you're looking for a little more of a neutral sound, with a bit less soundstage but a little more bass then the hd598 (or cheaper 558/518 if you're on a budget) are good choices). they do not need an external amp. sound is a bit smoother (less detailed) but this makes for easy listening.

if you're looking to retain soundstaging of open cans but want a bit more kick to bass then the dt990pro-250 is worth thinking about. it has a v shaped sound profile with somewhat recessed mids but excellent clarity. they are very detailed and bright (though some find detailed to be fatiguing and bright to be harsh). bass is punchy considering they are still open cans. these DO need an amp typically. something like that fiio e09k would work.

if you wanted to keep things more neutral than the dt990 but liked its description otherwise, then the dt880 might fit the bill. this one needs an amp like the 990.

what headphone would work best for you depends on your sound preferences. what sounds like it suits you the best?


edited, meant e09k.

 

[maxtex]

The E11 and E12 are heaphone amps, but the Fiio E10K is actually primarily a USB DAC, so it's no use using it only as an amp.
But you don't need a headphone amp anyway for the Sound Blaster Z, since it already has a powerful amp. And if you start stacking amps then it's just gonna have a negative effect on the sound quality, it's gonna be even louder but you'll get more distortion.

 

[ssddx]

i mixed up the numbers there. i should have said e09k which is the amplifier only. yes, the e11 and e12 would also work.

as for the z, it depends on his choice of headphones. if he goes with easy to power headphones like the ad900x or hd598 the z is actually a bit too much and he would be running at low windows volume levels to get manageable audio levels. if he goes with the dt990/880 it might actually not be quite enough and he may not get 100% out of the headphones. its a hard call.