honestly if you're actually curious: gaming DAC/Amps are just about the same level as most of the newer motherboard. Invest in an actual dac and separate amp with a real headphone from Sennheiser or Drop (HD58x is my favorite with shiit magni+modi)
................................................................................................................................still get a game amp and dac? lol
@@icesco_op yeah I'm still saving for one, but just wrote that comment because of how often frank said, to not plug your audio gear directly into the front IO
Depending on the laptop might not bad, don't waste your money on any of these "gaming" DACs get a proper audiophile and when you get better headphones it will drive them better aswell
@@RyGuyTheAVGuy yea but this keeps you from plugging into the front IO which you and anyone who hears you speaking through your headset will be thankful for
For those people he's also recording into premiere or whatever editing system he's using, he's not speaking into discord or Skype which is going to compress your vocals to take up less bandwidth on your upload
@@epsi9923 TH-cam compresses to 192 kbps (at 1080p) which is more then enough. It is most definitely not hifi quality. But that should not matter when you're recording with a 50-150 dollar mic. Having said that most importantly the sound characteristics for example the mic not having an echo/the sound being fuller is purely caused by his studio setup which due to the acoustic panels etc improve sound quality more then compression matters. People have a hard time distingishing between 192 kbps and uncompressed for example. It is possible with an high-end setup. But why use a high-end setup to listen to low end microphone comparisons to find the most detail in a microphone. Then you should be looking at high-end microphones
@18:30 You have the Blaster X G6 as having no mic volume adjustment; it does, you hold-push the volume control to cycle through headphone and mic options. If you are using the G6 with a console it also offers additional mix options on that button (all colour coded with the LED ring). Make sure the firmware is updated to the most recent version.
I’m not sure if my g6 has a bad mic input or my mod mic that came with my dt990 pros are bad. I tested my mic and it doesn’t work so I’m thinking that’s the issue. I plugged in my Hyper X headsets and audio plus mic worked perfectly
I'm looking for the loudest and clearest sound for footsteps and obviously what direction because my hearing isn't the best so not sure which would be the best, and I'm going to pull my hair out if people keep sneaking up on me lol. Do the GSX do a good job for that or do you think something cheaper might do the same job.
You sold me! I've been wondering what the purpose of AMP and DACs were for the longest time. This was really informative. Thanks! The GSX1000 is mine now!
I strongly recommend a short post called "demystifying onboard audio" in hifi guides that is much more informative about the onboard audio in your mobo and why it matters
It's interesting that this post actually claims the opposite on the subject of the sound quality of the front panel. Quote: "The front panel normally has a better shielding and amp solution compared to the back I/O of your motherboard. Connecting your headphone to the front panel is the best course of action if you don’t have a dedicated external DAC/AMP solution.".
I'd like to see more DACs and interfaces move the I/O to the rear. I don't think the majority of us are unplugging our gear very often so it's silly to me to have the I/O on the front with wires running across the desk
Alternatively, get something with front facing controls and mount it on the underside of your desk. I have an ifi zen DAC/can stack set up this way and it looks really clean, and minimises desk clutter.
I am very indecisive, since I dipped my toes in audiophile stuff, I started collecting iem and chungus headphones, I switch so often depending the situation and type of content that I am considering getting a separate Amp that allows to connect many headphones and iem at once.
Soundblaster is great, had a pair of dt990 pros at 250ohm and it's crazy the sound quality u get but upgraded to the 600ohm version and it still powers it great and sounds fantastic in everything from gaming to just listening to music.
I’m not even kidding when I say that I was just thinking about getting one of these for my speakers and I couldn’t remember which of your 100’s of videos that they were in. You read my mind! Thank you
using the Astro DAC with Virtuosos via optical in/ 3.5 out and in all my years I am blown away by the sound, it is actually the first time I actually could hear the most tiniest details of sound. Also the Realtek 3D audio is enabled. Blows everything I have tested out of the water, but that's my personal opinion. Also the Astro mixamp software is enabled and the ability to have different sound profiles and create your own is my perfect cup of tea.
Uh my dude I play in a lap top as well but I use the corsair ST100 for my headphones and the quality its easily 10 times better dunno whats up with that since its a headset but I guess it has an includes amp
In the same price range you guys should consider the Fiio K5 Pro, I use them with my Dt990 Pros and they're great not only for gaming but for audiophiles
Fiio k5 pro doesn't have a mic input. I think the whole point of this video is having a dac that has a plug for a microphone. Cause if were talking about dacs/amps without microphone ports then there are a countless number of them people should consider before any of these gaming amp/dacs.
I have tested The G6 and the Sennheiser 1200 pro myself, found out after a deep dive the 1200 uses USB 1.1 interface which limits the bitrate of the mic AND 7.1 mode ( 16 bit 48khz ) while the G6 is USB 2.0 or early 3.0 which allows high bitrate across the board.
Thank you I had no idea the Astro mix amp pro could be used with my pc38x headset. gave it so much more volume thanks for the video saved me money from buying another dac.
just an fyi, Soundblaster g6 does have a mic volume adjust. You have to hold the volume dial for the headset till the light turns red, then you can adjust the volume on the mic.
Heey, really appreciate the info and in depth look at all of these! I ended up picking up the Hel from schiit after seeing how their budget version faired in the round up!
I’m glad you used the pc38x for the sound test. I bought them because of your best headsets of the year video and I’ve been enjoying them for a while now. Super happy with the sound quality but I’m gonna have to get and amp/dac to improve mic quality. It’s decent but not quite up to par with my old headset.
I personally have the gsx 1000. Games chat volume is fantastic and has brought me back to watching movies ever so often as the 7.1 on back gsp 500 headphone is soo good. I would have bought the shiit fulla 3 if was more readily available in the UK.
all i have is 2 usb hubs plugged into the back. one for usb-b and one for usb-c. no reason to plug them directly into the pc and have all the cables over there when a usb hub makes it easy to just put them under the desk
Hey @randomfrankp, with the ALC1220 Audiochip in "newer" Motherboards, Port-D (Front Panel Audio and Mic) is actually preferred. With ALC1220 the Front Panel Mic Connector has better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). 120 dB to 110 from the 1200. It also comes with impedence Detection. This headphone amplifier at port D has a high output voltage of up to 2.1 Vrms and can drive high impedance headphones (up to 600 Ω), which is not possible with the ALC1200. TlDr; if u have a Motherboard with ALC1220 Audiochip, Front Panel is probably better, espacially if u have high Impedance headphones.
In practice, those dB's in the brochures are completely meaningless BS. In reality, none of those chips meant for the Integrated audio are actually great. My motherboard (Asus X570-E) has ALC1220. In practice, with my case (Fractal Design R6) and its stock cable, Front Panel Headphone jack is unusable. Insulated cable might've helped for the horrible buzz, but I didn't bother. If cable is needed due to latency, I always use Optical Out, from my motherboard to the AV Receiver. Works as intended. Luckily, most of the time I use Bluetooth 5.0 integrated on that motherboard (Intel AX200). It too works as expected, including too much latency for many Gamers. Realtek SW is carbage. Windows 11 seems to create some extra challenges. In the future I might buy a real sound card, external propably. Perhaps G6, perhaps something else.
Blasterx is really good trust me, the front plugs are good in my opinion because otherwise you’re bending audio cables if you’re running them in the back, the blaster has optical in the back which is fine and headphone jack in the front is awesome and you have a shooter eq for shooter game it’s awesome and it has software too
thank you for the comparison! i use a Motu m2 for my setup as I only use a headphone about 30% of my time for the rest I use active studio monitors and a cheap xlr mic. for me this audio interface is perfect!
for years ive been using the mixamp pro tr with game audio coming down optical cable and discord/any other voice chat though usb and it works amazingly and allows me to have 2 separate audio channels with out software allowing me to record clips for montages with out my friends talking in the back ground where as before i used to have to plane alone if i ever wanted to record
Nice video, many thanks, ....AMEND MICROPHONE VOLUME....id like to add that the G6 has a microphone volume so please add a note to video that the volume button has to be pushed in and held for 2 or 3 seconds and then the LED changes colour from blue to pink and now you have full contrpol of the microphone .
@@mordante01 I'd disagree. I've been very happy with my Astro A50s. Little to no excess noise, and sound stage and spacial signature are perfect for my ears. The mic is questionable, but I have a separate mic for that.
idk why people make videos on dacs without even mentioning once the dac chip which is under the hood. *edit - All these are marketed as 'Gaming' dac/amps bc of the mic input.
@@xXIamJAEXx You're right. People get lured so easy by seeing "Gaming" in anything lmao. I think the only one worth in this list was Schiit & Senheiser(albeit better options are available)
Hey randomfrankp, love your vidoes man. I am personally looking for a dac\amp to up my audio game, this video was of great help. I have done some research on the soundBlasterX and wanted to correct one little thing in this video, you actually can adjust the mic volume using the volume wheel. hold the volume wheel until the light turns red.
GSX 1000 with a hd58x and the modmic 5 is my setup and I'm loving it. Also have a Polk mini soundbar plugged into it for when I don't want to use the headset.
Man I ordered a schiit fulla like 3 months ago. They have been back ordered for so long, but its worth noting the fulla is an audiophile grade dac, it will sound better with higher end headphones opposed to gaming headsets. There's also the Schiit Hel at about 180 that's a massive step up from the fulla.
Just to add: The Hel is a different tier and will require wall power, but can drive a lot more headphones. It’s just not as clean as a one cable setup for power and data, and takes up more space on a desk.
Already using a FiiO E18 and a set of Audio Technica ATH-m50x's myself The FiiO E18 helps to open the soundstage of the headphones which is a good thing
I own the g6. I'm a little disappointed with the g6 review's inaccuracies. You CAN adjust the microphone volume with the volume knob. Also, the microphone sample rate can go as high as 32-bit 192khz. I'm running it with a AKG-K7XX and a Modmic 5. People comment on how great the mic quality is on Discord and Gaming with it has been an absolute dream. The EQ settings are endless. It's definitely a hidden gem.
I've had one for three weeks now,just simply amazing for gaming on my xbox,I don't think its bass heavy at all,and you can lower the base within the software if you wish,it automatly saves to the xbox if you use sbx!
I'm surprised at the number of people who don't use an amp or DAC. I will never go back after using an Amp + DAC. The GSX is cool and a very nice looking one. It's a little overpriced for it being one of the most underpowered compared to the others you mentioned. My G6 can drive anything that I throw at it. However, I find software and buttons to be overwhelming. I've been using it the longest so I do like it, but it's just hard to try to get the best balance for music, then gaming etc. The Schiit fulla is so straight forward, small, looks cool, and meets all my most important basic needs. If I had to select one for a new user it would be the Fulla 3.
Why would you ask him? So many good audiophile TH-camrs that know what they are talking about. A nice headset for music will be good for games don't be fooled by 'gaming' crap like this guy is pushing
For my sound setup I have my PC routed through my Sony STR-DG720 with the DisplayPort to the receiver's HDMI. I have the PC's sound through the receiver and use the Headphone Jack or I use the Full Speakers combined with a Yamaha YST-SW010 Powered Subwoofer with a 50" TCL TV for the Monitor.
My modi magni schiit stack was the best audio purchase I have made. Using it with my beardynamic 990 250ohm headphones made such a big difference it's crazy.
Yeah....I don't think the majority of his audience are willing to go into that rabbit hole of high end audio. They are probably using wireless, rgb, plastic Corsair crap. Baby steps.
@@5ean5ean22 very true. I used to be like this but now that I'm in, I can't stop using my headphones for anything audio. Wondering if I should maybe get the loki plus as well for EQ
GSX has the two devices showing in sound devices as one is for the game/main audio ('speakers') and the other is for voice comms ('headset') as it doesn't get any of the processing on the voice audio. had the GSX but upgraded to a Schiit Hel, overall quality is much improved, especially the poor GSX mic audio.
Another good way to do this is to just buy an Audio Mixer like the GOXLR or Rodecaster Pro. Of course this is not for everyone, and the price is significantly more but it's another option if you have no idea about audio but want to get into it with top quality and production value.
Yup, he really wasn't kidding when he said the Fulla 3 packs one hell of a punch. The sound it outputs to headphones is also really damn solid. I've used it with my HD 660S and it slaps, but I still prefer using the Schiit Hel or Magni/Modi stack for just pure listening.
Getting a simple Dac/Amp works great too. Many companies just fool everyone by slapping "Gaming" on the product name with no additional useful features.
As a G6 user for the past year, I felt that the recommendations were a little lacking in providing enough information of what distinguishes the products. To classify this as "no software" required is not truly representing the product for it's features. These are for PC right? So why omit the software? The customization available on the G6 is incredible with software, and it can push out a significant amount of power to drive the higher end headphones compared to the other products, not to mention further compatibility with all consoles. Furthermore, if these are for the PC, why wasn’t software discussed? Overall I think the basis of the recommendations for audio barely scratches the surface of what makes the products unique from each other. There’s nothing wrong with the recommendations, but just felt that you had limited time to cover everything, and you left out some important information as a result of it.
Honestly, I have to say, needing extra software is always hit-or-miss from reviews I see online and always makes me feel weird about installing more bloatware.
Frank, good reviews! I have also mixed and matched a lot of Amp/Dac combos. If you get a chance try running the 5.1 optical output of the G6 in speaker mode of course into the TR mixamp and try the Surround that way. I find in a lot of PC games it does a better job of virtual surround sound than the SBX or the TR's usb version for some reason. Not sure why or it is a placebo? I have tried this with the PC38x, TyGR 300s and the A40 and a few others. You are limited to which headphones due to the TR's low Impedance requirements. Also in your review you might Specify which games you used for testing sense the sound design for each game has such a great impact on stereo versus surround. Thanks and good job!
I love my Sound Blaster G6 does a great job at amplifying sound and there is a ton of customization in the software. It powers my Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro (250 ohm) headset. In this video only 2/5 DAC/AMP’s could even power the headset. Also at the time of purchase nothing else was available on Amazon.
I’m having issues using a mod mic with the g6. I think the mod mic came broken because it won’t work at all. My hyper x headsets work perfectly fine. Chat and audio is good. I also have the dt990 pros and it sounds amazing. Just bummed about the stupid boom mic
@@spawnandbatman6975 Did you ever manage to get this fixed? I'm planning on getting the G6 with a DT770 pro and a ModMic. Just wondingen if it was a compatibility issue or just a faulty product.
I wonder if he talks so cheerfully in game chat? I wonder what a Randomfrankp rage compilation would look like
You just had an amazing video idea for Frank man haha, I would pay to see that 😂
That's hot
Accidentally cursing
i bet he the type of guy that says stuff like "dang it!" or "what the fudge!" or "you son of a gun!" when he rage on a game.
I wonder how many "your mom" jokes he'd make?
“Because we would be here for 3 hours”
Very bold of you to assume I wouldn’t listen to you for 3 hours.
honestly if you're actually curious: gaming DAC/Amps are just about the same level as most of the newer motherboard. Invest in an actual dac and separate amp with a real headphone from Sennheiser or Drop (HD58x is my favorite with shiit magni+modi)
Me with a Laptop: Yeah, I should really not plug it in the front IO
................................................................................................................................still get a game amp and dac? lol
@@icesco_op yeah I'm still saving for one, but just wrote that comment because of how often frank said, to not plug your audio gear directly into the front IO
Very few headphones used for gaming need and AMP and DAC..... they simply do not require enough power to benefit from using and AMP and DAC.
Depending on the laptop might not bad, don't waste your money on any of these "gaming" DACs get a proper audiophile and when you get better headphones it will drive them better aswell
@@RyGuyTheAVGuy yea but this keeps you from plugging into the front IO which you and anyone who hears you speaking through your headset will be thankful for
For those people he's also recording into premiere or whatever editing system he's using, he's not speaking into discord or Skype which is going to compress your vocals to take up less bandwidth on your upload
tbf youtube will compress the audio so it will probs sound similar
@@Mr_Meeks He is also talking in a studio setup which makes everything sound 10x better
@@ianbot9389 Which is still compressed after the fact, so not really.
@@ianbot9389 not really
@@epsi9923 TH-cam compresses to 192 kbps (at 1080p) which is more then enough. It is most definitely not hifi quality. But that should not matter when you're recording with a 50-150 dollar mic. Having said that most importantly the sound characteristics for example the mic not having an echo/the sound being fuller is purely caused by his studio setup which due to the acoustic panels etc improve sound quality more then compression matters. People have a hard time distingishing between 192 kbps and uncompressed for example. It is possible with an high-end setup. But why use a high-end setup to listen to low end microphone comparisons to find the most detail in a microphone. Then you should be looking at high-end microphones
@18:30 You have the Blaster X G6 as having no mic volume adjustment; it does, you hold-push the volume control to cycle through headphone and mic options. If you are using the G6 with a console it also offers additional mix options on that button (all colour coded with the LED ring). Make sure the firmware is updated to the most recent version.
I’m not sure if my g6 has a bad mic input or my mod mic that came with my dt990 pros are bad. I tested my mic and it doesn’t work so I’m thinking that’s the issue. I plugged in my Hyper X headsets and audio plus mic worked perfectly
Me who uses a wireless headset : this looks important ...
Me who doesn't have headphones
Same
I know it’s a joke, but your headphones *should* have a 3.5 mm cable that you plug into the headset. :]
same kinda
There are wireless DACs
I absolutely love my Sennheiser GSX1000. Being using it for almost two years. The best surround sounds and it looks fantastic
I'm looking for the loudest and clearest sound for footsteps and obviously what direction because my hearing isn't the best so not sure which would be the best, and I'm going to pull my hair out if people keep sneaking up on me lol. Do the GSX do a good job for that or do you think something cheaper might do the same job.
schiit knows their shit.
That amp is fulla schiit.
And I’m writing this while taking a schiit. 😂😂😂
@@BurningMoreXP Remember kids, robbery is bad.
Very few headphones used for gaming need and AMP and DAC..... they simply do not require enough power to benefit from using and AMP and DAC.
@@RyGuyTheAVGuy ikr? still love his videos though
i bought one that Frank recommended a while back in his Top Tech under 50$ and it gets the job done, way better than my front IO
Can you give me the link? Or just tell me what episode was it
You sold me! I've been wondering what the purpose of AMP and DACs were for the longest time. This was really informative. Thanks! The GSX1000 is mine now!
I strongly recommend a short post called "demystifying onboard audio" in hifi guides that is much more informative about the onboard audio in your mobo and why it matters
It's interesting that this post actually claims the opposite on the subject of the sound quality of the front panel. Quote: "The front panel normally has a better shielding and amp solution compared to the back I/O of your motherboard. Connecting your headphone to the front panel is the best course of action if you don’t have a dedicated external DAC/AMP solution.".
I am now more confused about what to buy than before I watched this vid. x) lol
The sound blasterx G6 does have mic volume control. You have to push in and hold the volume knob for 3-5 seconds and then you can adjust the Mic gain.
i have the G5x, will try that mic "trick" with it.
I've been waiting for this video, I'm one of the 50% using my front IO and really want better audio
I'd like to see more DACs and interfaces move the I/O to the rear. I don't think the majority of us are unplugging our gear very often so it's silly to me to have the I/O on the front with wires running across the desk
Alternatively, get something with front facing controls and mount it on the underside of your desk. I have an ifi zen DAC/can stack set up this way and it looks really clean, and minimises desk clutter.
It's for consoles
I am very indecisive, since I dipped my toes in audiophile stuff, I started collecting iem and chungus headphones, I switch so often depending the situation and type of content that I am considering getting a separate Amp that allows to connect many headphones and iem at once.
I totally agree
Directly into the motherboard I plug my speakers that have mic and headphones outputs, sorted!
You were right, it is instant! I just ordered a dac amp combo, they haven't arrived yet but my audio is already better!
I needed this, thank you! My front was broke anyway but my cable barely reaches to the back.
Soundblaster is great, had a pair of dt990 pros at 250ohm and it's crazy the sound quality u get but upgraded to the 600ohm version and it still powers it great and sounds fantastic in everything from gaming to just listening to music.
IVE BEEN WAITING ON THIS SINCE YOU MENTIONED IT!
I’m not even kidding when I say that I was just thinking about getting one of these for my speakers and I couldn’t remember which of your 100’s of videos that they were in. You read my mind! Thank you
Just last night I was looking for these on youtube, what a coincidence that you decided to upload this lol
AudioQuest Dragonfly Cobalt user here. Perfect tiny USB DAC for those who also want something when on the road.
using the Astro DAC with Virtuosos via optical in/ 3.5 out and in all my years I am blown away by the sound, it is actually the first time I actually could hear the most tiniest details of sound. Also the Realtek 3D audio is enabled. Blows everything I have tested out of the water, but that's my personal opinion. Also the Astro mixamp software is enabled and the ability to have different sound profiles and create your own is my perfect cup of tea.
I’ve had my (older generation Astro a40 TR) for 8 years now and it still works great
This is some good schiit. Thanks for the content.
If you're on a budget I highly recommend the Syba Sonic, it's less than $50
Uh my dude I play in a lap top as well but I use the corsair ST100 for my headphones and the quality its easily 10 times better dunno whats up with that since its a headset but I guess it has an includes amp
Hardware Canucks covered that one in their almost-identical roundup from last month. Its really good for the money.
@@gammatech4476 becuase you play on a mf laptop 😐😑😐 frank is talking about audio ports for legitimate computers
@@lucasmabrgaming4141 laptops are legitimate computers...
@@louisgarbour2737 I meant a desktop ...
In the same price range you guys should consider the Fiio K5 Pro, I use them with my Dt990 Pros and they're great not only for gaming but for audiophiles
Fiio k5 pro doesn't have a mic input. I think the whole point of this video is having a dac that has a plug for a microphone. Cause if were talking about dacs/amps without microphone ports then there are a countless number of them people should consider before any of these gaming amp/dacs.
I have tested The G6 and the Sennheiser 1200 pro myself, found out after a deep dive the 1200 uses USB 1.1 interface which limits the bitrate of the mic AND 7.1 mode ( 16 bit 48khz ) while the G6 is USB 2.0 or early 3.0 which allows high bitrate across the board.
dude, plugged my speakers into the back i/O and omg, there legit is a difference, I never knew. Thanks for that advice
No way frank, I was just looking at your videos trying to find where you mentioned a audio port, I can’t believe this lets go
Thanks for the vid man, I really needed to get an honest review about the best Dacs and Amps.
Randamfrank: top 5 gaming something that will make you broke!!!!
true I got the astro mixamp pro a year ago at it was $145
@@SleepyVxbezZ That's no small change for sure but compared to others it is a pretty good price for what it is and a lot are a lot more expensive.
This is nothing. He took it easy.
Audio is hella expensive....there are DAC/AMPs that cost over 1k. Don't get me started how high headshines can get.
@@5ean5ean22 yeah lol. And in some case only audiophile will spot the difference even though the price gap is sooo huge
@@SleepyVxbezZ why?!?! 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Haha I just realized I need one of these then went on TH-cam and your video was sitting right there for me to watch thanks bro!
Been waiting for this for forever. thank you mr frnak !! :)
Just the video I was looking for. Thanks Frank!
Thank you I had no idea the Astro mix amp pro could be used with my pc38x headset. gave it so much more volume thanks for the video saved me money from buying another dac.
I was astonished to see the difference between the front output and back directly from the motherboard, Thanks.
just an fyi, Soundblaster g6 does have a mic volume adjust. You have to hold the volume dial for the headset till the light turns red, then you can adjust the volume on the mic.
Heey, really appreciate the info and in depth look at all of these! I ended up picking up the Hel from schiit after seeing how their budget version faired in the round up!
I’m glad you used the pc38x for the sound test. I bought them because of your best headsets of the year video and I’ve been enjoying them for a while now. Super happy with the sound quality but I’m gonna have to get and amp/dac to improve mic quality. It’s decent but not quite up to par with my old headset.
Definitely gonna use these for my airpods lol
I personally have the gsx 1000. Games chat volume is fantastic and has brought me back to watching movies ever so often as the 7.1 on back gsp 500 headphone is soo good.
I would have bought the shiit fulla 3 if was more readily available in the UK.
For me, the front IO is for emergency use only. Having things plugged into the top/front of your case just looks tacky imo.
TRUE
all i have is 2 usb hubs plugged into the back. one for usb-b and one for usb-c. no reason to plug them directly into the pc and have all the cables over there when a usb hub makes it easy to just put them under the desk
Hey @randomfrankp,
with the ALC1220 Audiochip in "newer" Motherboards, Port-D (Front Panel Audio and Mic) is actually preferred.
With ALC1220 the Front Panel Mic Connector has better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). 120 dB to 110 from the 1200. It also comes with impedence Detection.
This headphone amplifier at port D has a high output voltage of up to 2.1 Vrms and can drive high impedance headphones (up to 600 Ω), which is not possible with the ALC1200.
TlDr; if u have a Motherboard with ALC1220 Audiochip, Front Panel is probably better, espacially if u have high Impedance headphones.
In practice, those dB's in the brochures are completely meaningless BS.
In reality, none of those chips meant for the Integrated audio are actually great.
My motherboard (Asus X570-E) has ALC1220. In practice, with my case (Fractal Design R6) and its stock cable, Front Panel Headphone jack is unusable. Insulated cable might've helped for the horrible buzz, but I didn't bother.
If cable is needed due to latency, I always use Optical Out, from my motherboard to the AV Receiver. Works as intended.
Luckily, most of the time I use Bluetooth 5.0 integrated on that motherboard (Intel AX200). It too works as expected, including too much latency for many Gamers.
Realtek SW is carbage. Windows 11 seems to create some extra challenges.
In the future I might buy a real sound card, external propably. Perhaps G6, perhaps something else.
Wow I literally was lookin for such a video yesterday
Please look at a proper audiophile TH-camrs, you will be wasting money on any of this stuff, this guy doesn't know what he's talking about
I think what determines whether the amp/dac is marketed to gaming is whether or not it has a mic input.
For the most part. Audio Interfaces can also be used in a similar fashion but may not be as good for being a headphone amp compared to one of these.
damn i just realized your shirts tight as hell
I’ve been using the same cloud 2’s for like 3 years now
well, Very few headphones used for gaming need and AMP and DAC..... they simply do not require enough power to benefit from using and AMP and DAC.
Blasterx is really good trust me, the front plugs are good in my opinion because otherwise you’re bending audio cables if you’re running them in the back, the blaster has optical in the back which is fine and headphone jack in the front is awesome and you have a shooter eq for shooter game it’s awesome and it has software too
thank you for the comparison! i use a Motu m2 for my setup as I only use a headphone about 30% of my time for the rest I use active studio monitors and a cheap xlr mic. for me this audio interface is perfect!
for years ive been using the mixamp pro tr
with game audio coming down optical cable
and discord/any other voice chat though usb
and it works amazingly and allows me to have 2 separate audio channels with out software allowing me to record clips for montages with out my friends talking in the back ground where as before i used to have to plane alone if i ever wanted to record
This was awesome, know it was a ton of work, copped the headset and the senheiser amp. Thanks bro!
I just got done watching Hardware Canucks's version of this. I'm glad this came out too
Nice video, many thanks, ....AMEND MICROPHONE VOLUME....id like to add that the G6 has a microphone volume so please add a note to video that the volume button has to be pushed in and held for 2 or 3 seconds and then the LED changes colour from blue to pink and now you have full contrpol of the microphone .
Glad this video finally dropped. You've been teasing us for way too long .
I'm looking into getting the Sound Blaster GC7 myself. Been really interested in AMPs and DACs lately.
This video is specific to Headset/Headphones and Mics that connect via 3.5mm jacks. Does not apply to USB or Wireless Headsets and Mics.
Since they are all shit.
@@mordante01 I'd disagree. I've been very happy with my Astro A50s. Little to no excess noise, and sound stage and spacial signature are perfect for my ears. The mic is questionable, but I have a separate mic for that.
Can confirm once i got the Sound Blaster G6, my kdr in Battlefield 5 got so much better
Me too,they are mint,couldn't game without one now!
idk why people make videos on dacs without even mentioning once the dac chip which is under the hood.
*edit - All these are marketed as 'Gaming' dac/amps bc of the mic input.
Mate it's titled gaming DACs can't expect much from him, just feel bad for the people actually listening to this rubbish
@@xXIamJAEXx You're right. People get lured so easy by seeing "Gaming" in anything lmao.
I think the only one worth in this list was Schiit & Senheiser(albeit better options are available)
@@gnb_ absolutely, people learn the hard way, or apparently don't learn at all by the looks of things. If you need audio advice check z reviews 😉
Hey randomfrankp, love your vidoes man.
I am personally looking for a dac\amp to up my audio game, this video was of great help.
I have done some research on the soundBlasterX and wanted to correct one little thing in this video, you actually can adjust the mic volume using the volume wheel. hold the volume wheel until the light turns red.
GSX 1000 with a hd58x and the modmic 5 is my setup and I'm loving it. Also have a Polk mini soundbar plugged into it for when I don't want to use the headset.
fulla is gaming just because if the mic input. I loved it so much I got the HEL when I was looking for an upgrade for beefier headphones.
was waiting for this video!
Man read my mind I needed one of these so I tried to see if he had a video on these yesterday.
Man I ordered a schiit fulla like 3 months ago. They have been back ordered for so long, but its worth noting the fulla is an audiophile grade dac, it will sound better with higher end headphones opposed to gaming headsets.
There's also the Schiit Hel at about 180 that's a massive step up from the fulla.
Just to add: The Hel is a different tier and will require wall power, but can drive a lot more headphones. It’s just not as clean as a one cable setup for power and data, and takes up more space on a desk.
Schiit is well known brand
Well-known if you're into audio, yes. I think among just general crowds, a lot of people aren't familiar with Schiit.
Hi frank, you should do a budget keyboard build for beginners. i have been trying to put together a parts list, but no luck yet.
I was just looking into this! That Was some good timing!
Already using a FiiO E18 and a set of Audio Technica ATH-m50x's myself The FiiO E18 helps to open the soundstage of the headphones which is a good thing
I own the g6. I'm a little disappointed with the g6 review's inaccuracies. You CAN adjust the microphone volume with the volume knob. Also, the microphone sample rate can go as high as 32-bit 192khz. I'm running it with a AKG-K7XX and a Modmic 5. People comment on how great the mic quality is on Discord and Gaming with it has been an absolute dream. The EQ settings are endless. It's definitely a hidden gem.
I've had one for three weeks now,just simply amazing for gaming on my xbox,I don't think its bass heavy at all,and you can lower the base within the software if you wish,it automatly saves to the xbox if you use sbx!
Excellent review man , i was just looking out for one of these two days ago.
I'm surprised at the number of people who don't use an amp or DAC. I will never go back after using an Amp + DAC. The GSX is cool and a very nice looking one. It's a little overpriced for it being one of the most underpowered compared to the others you mentioned. My G6 can drive anything that I throw at it. However, I find software and buttons to be overwhelming. I've been using it the longest so I do like it, but it's just hard to try to get the best balance for music, then gaming etc. The Schiit fulla is so straight forward, small, looks cool, and meets all my most important basic needs. If I had to select one for a new user it would be the Fulla 3.
IVE BEEN WAITING SOOOO LONG FOR THIS VID
You are using my favorite headphones. I love those!
The G6 is an absolute beast! It can power headsets up to 600 ohms!
I bought a PC38x and a schiit HEL I cant wait for it to arrive.
Im gonna buy MoonDrop Blessing 2's, So thank you for helping with my search for perfect sound.
Can you do a video on best headphones with out a mic for gamming
Why would you ask him? So many good audiophile TH-camrs that know what they are talking about. A nice headset for music will be good for games don't be fooled by 'gaming' crap like this guy is pushing
For my sound setup I have my PC routed through my Sony STR-DG720 with the DisplayPort to the receiver's HDMI. I have the PC's sound through the receiver and use the Headphone Jack or I use the Full Speakers combined with a Yamaha YST-SW010 Powered Subwoofer with a 50" TCL TV for the Monitor.
as an owner of a gsx myself but it is completely worth the amount of sound improvement
I use the Schiit Fulla 3 already! It's great!!! It's Fulla Schiit!!!
Always creating awesome content keep up the good work!
My modi magni schiit stack was the best audio purchase I have made. Using it with my beardynamic 990 250ohm headphones made such a big difference it's crazy.
Yeah....I don't think the majority of his audience are willing to go into that rabbit hole of high end audio. They are probably using wireless, rgb, plastic Corsair crap.
Baby steps.
@@5ean5ean22 very true. I used to be like this but now that I'm in, I can't stop using my headphones for anything audio. Wondering if I should maybe get the loki plus as well for EQ
I'm enjoying my Sennheiser GSX1200 paired with my JDS Atom amp. Primarily using Beyerdynamic DT990 pro's :)
Damn, I just started looking into upgrading my headphone setup today. I don’t usually watch Randomfrankp videos, but this has been given to me by fate
GSX has the two devices showing in sound devices as one is for the game/main audio ('speakers') and the other is for voice comms ('headset') as it doesn't get any of the processing on the voice audio. had the GSX but upgraded to a Schiit Hel, overall quality is much improved, especially the poor GSX mic audio.
If you've got the cash, get the GSX1000 and matching Sennheiser headset. I've been using (GSX1200) them for about one year and they're awesome.
G6! i have this 2 days is awesome sound ^^
Fantastic video! Keep up the good work.
Another good way to do this is to just buy an Audio Mixer like the GOXLR or Rodecaster Pro.
Of course this is not for everyone, and the price is significantly more but it's another option if you have no idea about audio but want to get into it with top quality and production value.
15:33 that is actually really surprising
Yup, he really wasn't kidding when he said the Fulla 3 packs one hell of a punch. The sound it outputs to headphones is also really damn solid. I've used it with my HD 660S and it slaps, but I still prefer using the Schiit Hel or Magni/Modi stack for just pure listening.
Getting a simple Dac/Amp works great too. Many companies just fool everyone by slapping "Gaming" on the product name with no additional useful features.
As a G6 user for the past year, I felt that the recommendations were a little lacking in providing enough information of what distinguishes the products. To classify this as "no software" required is not truly representing the product for it's features. These are for PC right? So why omit the software? The customization available on the G6 is incredible with software, and it can push out a significant amount of power to drive the higher end headphones compared to the other products, not to mention further compatibility with all consoles. Furthermore, if these are for the PC, why wasn’t software discussed? Overall I think the basis of the recommendations for audio barely scratches the surface of what makes the products unique from each other. There’s nothing wrong with the recommendations, but just felt that you had limited time to cover everything, and you left out some important information as a result of it.
Honestly, I have to say, needing extra software is always hit-or-miss from reviews I see online and always makes me feel weird about installing more bloatware.
I also love the G6,changing the game
Personally think the Sound blaster has best mic sound 👍🥰
Frank, good reviews! I have also mixed and matched a lot of Amp/Dac combos. If you get a chance try running the 5.1 optical output of the G6 in speaker mode of course into the TR mixamp and try the Surround that way. I find in a lot of PC games it does a better job of virtual surround sound than the SBX or the TR's usb version for some reason. Not sure why or it is a placebo? I have tried this with the PC38x, TyGR 300s and the A40 and a few others. You are limited to which headphones due to the TR's low Impedance requirements.
Also in your review you might Specify which games you used for testing sense the sound design for each game has such a great impact on stereo versus surround. Thanks and good job!
I love my Sound Blaster G6 does a great job at amplifying sound and there is a ton of customization in the software. It powers my Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro (250 ohm) headset. In this video only 2/5 DAC/AMP’s could even power the headset. Also at the time of purchase nothing else was available on Amazon.
I’m having issues using a mod mic with the g6. I think the mod mic came broken because it won’t work at all. My hyper x headsets work perfectly fine. Chat and audio is good. I also have the dt990 pros and it sounds amazing. Just bummed about the stupid boom mic
@@spawnandbatman6975 Did you ever manage to get this fixed? I'm planning on getting the G6 with a DT770 pro and a ModMic. Just wondingen if it was a compatibility issue or just a faulty product.
@@worstenbroodje6832 probably faulty product. I just ended up going with a elgato mic way happier. More expensive but it’s worth it
@@spawnandbatman6975 Ah good stuff, those mics do look very nice too!
Still happy with the DT990 pros and G6 combo?
Currently have the fulla schiit, but that sennheiser is tempting.
I intend to buy a Drop + Sennheiser PC38X to play PS4/PS5 and would like to know which Gaming Amp is the best for this?
iFi Zen DAC V2. Don’t look elsewhere for entry level imo.
I own the Creative G5, G6, Sennheiser GSX 1200, Schitt Hel, and Xduoo TA-10R. I have most of these collecting dust.
Why? What do you use and would recommend for mic + headphone dac/amp?