AMP/DAC for Speakers and Audio

[Zachary Ferch]

I'm wondering if I should get a amp externally and then an actual sound card in my computer. Would that improve the sound quality compared to just getting a sound card? Also I want a dac/amp for my speakers which are the AV30's. I want to improve the quality of both my speakers, and my headphones which are the Audio Technica M50X. So basically I need a sound card, external amp so I can control the volume of whatever I plug into them, and a amp/dac for my AV30's.

External Amp Idea (Around $100 if you have any other ones)

Sound Card Idea (Around $100 if you have any other ones)

Then around or under $100 for the dac/amp for the speakers.

 

[ssddx]

av30 are self powered and have no need for an amplifier.

m50x do not benefit much from an amplifier and only very slight gains to bass will be had.

if you really wanted an external, the fiio e10k would work and has a line out (unamped) on the rear for your speakers (the volume knob will not work for this, use the one on your speakers) while the front has a volume knob and headphone jack which you can adjust headphone volume on. stereo 2.0 sound only but its a good product.

or, you could get the xonar dx soundcard. same dac as the much more expensive stx but without the strong amp. no external volume control, but not many soundcards (besides external units) do. the creative omni is an external with a volume control for headphone.