I have a Beyerdynamic DT880 pro with a Creative SoundBlaster-Z soundcard. In Windows the SB-Z works flawlessly and the software provided by Creative has a nice equalizer. It allows for the lower frequencies (<1kHz) to have their volume increased tremendously without distortion. This gives the DT880 pro a really nice and full bass.
I'm planning to use Linux on my system more but unfortunately the Creative software does not have a Linux version. I'm stuck with pipewire and alternatives and they do not play nicely with the SB-Z. They do have an equalizer, but they cause distortion and crackling way before the Creative software does. Effectively I would have to give up most of the bass experience the DT880pro can provide which sucks.
I tried an alternative, a Qudelix 5K which has a built in equalizer, but it reaches nowhere the quality of the SB-Z soundcard and equalizer. Because the DT880pro cable was going bad, I figured I would try some headphones that allow for more bass, needing less amplification of the lower end with an equalizer.
So I bought some Audeze LCD-2c and I assumed correctly that it is easier to win some of the lower end back, but still the SB-Z + accompanying Windows software still has a really audible quality advantage over something like the Qudelix 5K. These are marvelous headphones with the base brought up.
The SB-Z has a (at least for me) surprisingly good headphone DAC that allows for great boosting of the lower frequencies. I'm looking for an alternative USB-DAC (USB audio class compliant so that it actually works properly in Linux without messing around with drivers) that provides me at least the quality of the SB-Z.
The ADI-2 DAC FS appears as a high quality device, but high quality doesn't necessarily mean it has the function I'm looking for: The ability to greatly boost the lower frequencies without distortion/crackling. Would it be able to do that? Is there a way to compare devices and figure out they are able to do this? I don't really know what makes the SB-Z so good in this regard or how it can be measured/specified, which makes it hard for me to find an USB equivalent.
Any suggestion is welcome.
I'm planning to use Linux on my system more but unfortunately the Creative software does not have a Linux version. I'm stuck with pipewire and alternatives and they do not play nicely with the SB-Z. They do have an equalizer, but they cause distortion and crackling way before the Creative software does. Effectively I would have to give up most of the bass experience the DT880pro can provide which sucks.
I tried an alternative, a Qudelix 5K which has a built in equalizer, but it reaches nowhere the quality of the SB-Z soundcard and equalizer. Because the DT880pro cable was going bad, I figured I would try some headphones that allow for more bass, needing less amplification of the lower end with an equalizer.
So I bought some Audeze LCD-2c and I assumed correctly that it is easier to win some of the lower end back, but still the SB-Z + accompanying Windows software still has a really audible quality advantage over something like the Qudelix 5K. These are marvelous headphones with the base brought up.
The SB-Z has a (at least for me) surprisingly good headphone DAC that allows for great boosting of the lower frequencies. I'm looking for an alternative USB-DAC (USB audio class compliant so that it actually works properly in Linux without messing around with drivers) that provides me at least the quality of the SB-Z.
The ADI-2 DAC FS appears as a high quality device, but high quality doesn't necessarily mean it has the function I'm looking for: The ability to greatly boost the lower frequencies without distortion/crackling. Would it be able to do that? Is there a way to compare devices and figure out they are able to do this? I don't really know what makes the SB-Z so good in this regard or how it can be measured/specified, which makes it hard for me to find an USB equivalent.
Any suggestion is welcome.