Outputting Two HQ Headphones

[Kevin Carpenter]

Hello everyone!

 

I have been trying to piece together a setup to output to two HQ headphones simultaneously on my PC and have been struggling to find the correct solution. Basically i want to be able to be playing a game, enjoying great audio while being able to offer a friend the same audio experience. I do a lot of co-op working as well where we would be listening to music while working, and it would be nice to be enjoying the same song at a HQ level. Not to mention Co-Op Oculus gaming

 

The headsets i have had my sights on are these:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Performance-Surround-Gaming-Headset/dp/B008O515CK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1404149189&sr=8-1&keywords=Sennheiser+363d

 

I do not have a great soundcard as of yet so i'm imagining i would need one, unless there is an all in one mixer solution i would need to go with.

 

A couple products people have mentioned to me are:

http://www.amazon.com/Audioengine-D1-24-bit-Digital-to-Analog-Converter/dp/B006IPH5H2

 

Amazon.com: ASTRO Gaming MixAmp Pro Kit: Electronics

 

And then having some sort of inline powered headphone splitter, however i have NO idea if this is a good setup or not, or even how to piece it together. As you can tell by my wording, i am very confused! Any help would be greatly appreciated and i apologize for my sporadic writing in advance!

[tgb]

hi

the Dangerous Source DAC has 2 output for headphones

with usb and spdif and analogic inputs.

great dac you will keep for a long time.

Maybe too pricey for you, but try to find a second hand one.

Second hand DAC works like a brand new one, why bother ;-)

rgds

[Boris75]

The Benchmark DAC2 also has two headphone outs, but it's a bit pricey for video games. However, getting a DAC2 makes sense if you also intend to use it to listen to music as it is extremely good.

[pooger]

My take on reading the amazon description is that the headphones come with their own USB 7.1 "sound card." So this leads to a few questions that you'd need to get specific answers to from someone familiar with the sennheisser system: does the 7.1 work through other sound cards? Could you just plug two set ups into two USB ports and be a happy camper? If the included sound card is needed, will it work with output from another sound (internal) card?

 

Its possible that a splitter could be used, going into the output from their USB sound card... Main problem with splitters can be the more difficult load that the amp has to drive. I'd assume that the amp in this case is internal to their USB sound card, so again, you'll really need someone with specific knowledge of the Senn. System.

 

the previous posters have suggested quite good DACs to you, but I believe they are two channel only, so would not meet your gaming needs. (Assuming that 7.1 is important to that). Am also unsure what the sonics of the Senn. sound card is; if you do need to use it, it might lower the SQ from a DAC of that caliber.

[Sam Lord]

For $235, get one of these ($50):

 

Rolls HP4 Headphone amp

 

and one of these ($185), plus 3.5-6.3 adapter cables:

 

Rolls MP222 Studio Pro 2-Channel Microphone Preamp

 

These units are fine, well beyond what you'd ever need for gaming, also useful for other purposes. Now if you want even better sound, there are countless fine headphone amp choices. For example you could buy 2 of these for $200 total:

 

Schiit Audio, Headphone amps and DACs made in USA."]Schiit Modi headphone preamp[/url]

 

It's the same with mic preamps, but you need to read reviews and learn how to connect your 3.5 mm plugs into balanced inputs if you want super good sound, but that's a complete waist for those basic electret mics on the Sennheiser headsets. Anyway you can read Rane Notes for that technical info, then call Sweetwater, they'll set you up:

(800) 222-4700