StarDestroyer.Net BBS

I've been using headphones for years, and I'd like to explore other options with the meager equipment I do have

I have a Sound Blaster PCI 128 built in to my motherboard

Looking for some way to utilize my KOSS DBBS speakers, a Spacetech K-500 Mixer Amplifier, and/or whatever else I have around hyeah. I'm talking real speakers with red/black wire, not those puny PC speakers. However, my equipment is quite old. I'm talking 8 years or older.

I'm totel newblet at this btw

What's your budget?

Basically, run wires from the soundcard output to the amp, and run wires from the amp to the speakers. Use adaptors as needed to accomodate the different jacks.

Other options, scour the local pawn shops and garage sales for old Technics, Kenwood, Pioneer, Sony, or other such integrated recievers/amps, you should be able to get one for well under 50 bucks. You might even have one in your home already that no one's using. When I say old I mean stuff that's about 15-25 years old or so. If you can't find it in your area, hit up ebay. Also check newspaper classified ads. Then go about finding the speakers using the same basic procedure, but make sure you listen to them first so you know if you like the sound or not.

If you want some newer stuff, you can usually find refurbished low-end Onkyo surround receivers for ~$120. That'll provide an upgrade path if you want to go from stereo to surround later on.

I don't suppose this would be a good time to try and sell him my Senn 580's and one of my Gilmore amps so I can buy the Senn 650's when it comes out?

aerius wrote:I don't suppose this would be a good time to try and sell him my Senn 580's and one of my Gilmore amps so I can buy the Senn 650's when it comes out?

HD650s??

Bah. You know you want the DT880. It comes in an aluminum box, how can you lose?

phongn wrote:HD650s??

Yes, the new & improved version of the HD600. They did some tweaks to it to improve the sound and it's supposedly more stylish as well. IIRC the release date for the thing was sometime this fall.

Bah. You know you want the DT880. It comes in an aluminum box, how can you lose?

The HD600's come in a nice box too, chances are the new 650's will also come in a nice aluminum box. Besides, I'm a Sennheiser person....

If you're seriously thinking about selling your HD580s, send me a note or PM. I can send you real money (i.e. US Dollar ) for them

I have an older NAD preamp that should be servicable as a headphone amp (discrete headphone amp on it).

The only way to get good sound out of a computer is to get a soundcard with digital outputs and then run a coax or optical digital link to an amp with a digital input. The signal amps on computer soundcards are shitty, they're in a horrendously noisy environment, and their voltage regulation is only as good as that of the motherboard they're on.

phongn wrote:If you're seriously thinking about selling your HD580s, send me a note or PM. I can send you real money (i.e. US Dollar ) for them

Nah, I'm just kidding about it, I'll have to do a serious source upgrade before I even consider getting new headphones. That ain't gonna happen for a while since I'm putting away money for a new bicycle frame to replace my dented & damaged one.

Darth Wong wrote:The only way to get good sound out of a computer is to get a soundcard with digital outputs and then run a coax or optical digital link to an amp with a digital input. The signal amps on computer soundcards are shitty, they're in a horrendously noisy environment, and their voltage regulation is only as good as that of the motherboard they're on.

You can also use one of the higher-end FireWire or USB external sound 'cards' to do the same thing. In addition, a lot of sound cards (e.g. SBLive) automatically upsample everything to 48kHz - but do so in a very poor fashion.