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Help a noob with his first headphone set up?


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Hey guys, I am new to audio and I wanted to experience my first audiophile headphones! So I have some questions for you guys and I hope you'll forgive my ignorance. Okay so here's what I'm thinking... I want to listen to DSD's from my computer, use a Marantz HD-DAC1 headphone amp, and finally Audeze EL-8 open back headphones. So my question(s) is, do I need to buy a sound card? I want to use an optic cable from the computer to the amp so I need to use a sound card but I don't want the audio being processed in my computer. So how does that work? Also will this amp be playing DSD files? And also I'm open to any other advice including other equipment I should be using. Thank you for your help!

 

Amp - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NTR459S/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1PMWUAUS27HJ1&coliid=I1FTIDO69WQZPS&psc=1

 

Headphones - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AIHUHUW/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1PMWUAUS27HJ1&coliid=I2267VZPZNQE9F

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Optic Cable may not DoP over this connection, if DSD is played back via USB native. Wilhelm (CA's resident fanboi for Marantz) will no doubt post as many you tubes and links for you to search yourself and give little direct advice.

 

No, you don't need a sound card, only a USB port from the computer. The driver works out the DAC exists and funnels the sound through that. I would budget a USB fixer, recommend the Intona isolator.

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USb will transmit DSD To your marantz. You dont need any external soundcard since the Marantz will decode the USB digital signal. All you need is software to play the DSD files. The USB fixer is not a requirment, I would just connect USb directly and see how you like it. Later you can add the USB fixer if you want

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  • 2 months later...

Always a fun time picking out your first "serious" headphone setup! :)

 

I've been through many iterations of portable studio setup to help with my quick vlogging edits on the road, and I ended up settling for a pair of these https://www.amazon.com/Samson-SR850-Professional-Reference-Headphones/dp/B002LBSEQS/ref=sr_1_20?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1480366877&sr=1-20&keywords=open+back+headphones with my focusite 2i2.

 

Incredibly affordable and really fantastic response for audio editing. Hope you find your first pair!

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  • 11 months later...
On 11/29/2016 at 2:09 AM, topherbeats said:

Always a fun time picking out your first "serious" headphone setup! :)

 

I've been through many iterations of portable studio setup to help with my quick vlogging edits on the road, and I ended up settling for a pair of these https://www.amazon.com/Samson-SR850-Professional-Reference-Headphones/dp/B002LBSEQS/ref=sr_1_20?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1480366877&sr=1-20&keywords=open+back+headphones with my focusite 2i2.

 

Incredibly affordable and really fantastic response for audio editing. Hope you find your first pair!

 

On 11/29/2016 at 2:09 AM, topherbeats said:

 

 

That's great.

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