Need Advice on a USB DAC Options

[Konigsberg]

I'm making a new computer and need a new USB DAC. Before, I didn't really care too much about audio and just use this Creative SoundBlaster Xi-Fi 60 dollar USB DAC. Any of you guys know a good USB DAC for a PC? I've looked at a lot of "top rated" lists supplied by several sites and they all seem to vary quite a bit (some of these lists dont even show the same company). My headphones are the HD650's and I use like 60-80 dollar Logitech speakers..

I don't really have a budget which is what also makes it harder to find a good one. since a lot of these "top 10/rated" lists also factor in cheapness. However, If it has insane bang for buck, I wouldn't mind. Right now, from what I've seen, I'm thinking of the Fiio e17.

This post has been edited by Konigsberg: Sep 3 2012, 15:30

[Konigsberg]

The HD650 is very quiet. I plugged it into my on-board EVGA soundcard and with foobar all the way blasted, it was unusually quiet. Which one of these amps supply a very loud sound?

[skamp]

Which one of these amps supply a very loud sound?

The O2(/ODAC). The HD650 are 300 ohms, with a sensitivity of 98 dB/mW, which means they require 15.8 mW of power to reach a peak SPL of 110 dB (very loud). Many amps can't output that amount of power into 300 ohms. The O2 can.

Example: the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 can output 15 mW into 150 ohms, while the O2 can output 355 mW into the same load.

This post has been edited by skamp: Sep 6 2012, 08:48