Fiio or Audioengine DAC?

[TheDragonBorn]

Been looking into getting a Digital analog converter for my desktop and wanted to know which of these brands to go with and how good the audio quality is. I am new to this and wanted to take my audio quality to the next level. I was thinking either this one http/www.amazon.com/Audioengine-D1-24-bit-Digital-to-Analog-Converter/dp/B006IPH5H2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413503941&sr=8-1&keywords=Audioengine+D1

or this http/www.amazon.com/FiiO-E10-USB-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B005VO7LG6/ref=sr_1_19?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1413504075&sr=1-19&keywords=Fiio

I both game and listen to music.
Thanks in advance.

 

[emdea22]

I've heard bad things from someone using the FiiO. No clue about audioengine.

 

[TheDragonBorn]

What kind of things did you hear?

 

[ssddx]

the fiio e10 isnt terrible really but its not worth close to $200.

for the price the ae d1 is pretty good but its amp is abit underpowered for heavy headphones like the dt990pro 250. for most headphones its more than enough.

a much better solution would be the schiit modi + magni combination (or modi + vali if you prefer tube amps). that combo can drive headphones fine.

 

[TheDragonBorn]

Thanks for the replies. I have a Sennheiser 350 SE and since it also has a mic would this help if I get a DAC with no mic input? http/www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-PCV-05-Combo-Adapter/dp/B00IM36VU0/ref=pd_sim_pc_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0JTMASD3R081F2S6TQG0

 

[ssddx]

no. that cable would not work at all. a dac like the ones you're looking at would be for audio output only not mic input.

for the pc350 the amount you're thinking of spending on a dac amp is a bit much.

you would probably be better served by something like the creative z soundcard (or external soundcard if you have a laptop). that would give you better mic and headphone connections and give you virtual surround. you wont get that with a normal dac.

 

[TheDragonBorn]

Well that's too bad. I'll look into one of those perhaps. Maybe a Xonar? Thank you for your replies you have been quite helpful.

 

[ssddx]

the xonar dx is about equal to the z.