So, I guess I have a hobby and the will to waste money.

I'm running my Windows in a VM with GPU passthrough and all that. I'd like to be able to use the host or even another Linux VM smoothly, preferably with no unplugging and replugging headphones, kb, mouse or such.

Honestly, Synergy does it's job just fine, but redirecting audio to Pulse Audio is a bit so so, especially if I want to do it from VM to VM in a everchanging environment (which my PC is / OS' are).

So what I'd like to do is to use my USB DAC in my Windows OS and use the onboard audio (or possibly a soundcard/DAC) for another VM or the host OS. Ez pz, that's not the issue.

TL;DR skip here
Now, I'd like to have both audio sources (or possibly more than two in the future) combined to single output - my headphones. Do I need an active mixer to not get static from my onboard audio or is a Y-splitter going to do the trick?

I unfortunately own an O2 DAC + Amp combo, so I can't just plug Windows -> USB DAC -> mixer -> amp -> headphones (Sennheiser HD650), therefore I would need to buy a new DAC or an amp too. It's noteworthy that I'd like to also have two outputs for headphones, but only one needs to be amplified since my other pair of headphones are noise-cancelling and therefore self-amplifying.

Honestly, the O2 DAC + Amp combo's input can be used as a secondary output when connected to a pair of self-powering headphones, so I could use it with a mixer with only one output and just buy a new DAC (either a USB desktop model or a soundcard).

- Do I need an active mixer? (And if I do, anyone have experience with models with low background static/noise?)
- Any decent desktop headphone amps with two outputs that can still comfortably drive the HD650's? (just out of curiousity)
- Any recommendations on DAC's/PCI soundcards? (Honestly, I'm already aware of these and more than capable of picking one if so be it, finding the most efficient combination of hardware is more difficult)

I'm an audiophile to an extent, but I'm willing to lose some audio quality for both ease-of-use in future projects and just so could I have new toys to play with. Budget $50~250 (depending on which gear needs to be bought), I live in Finland. I want to spend money but it's not like I have abundance of it.

I guess I could use something along the lines of Focusrite Scarlett Solo to replace my O2 instead of DAC + mixer + amp. Sure, it's not perfect in terms of audio quality but it would be a very clean and easy setup.

I already have a Scarlett Solo I can try, but I'm using it as an XLR input for my microphone. That'd mean if I would stick to that setup I'd need 1) another Scarlett Solo 2) alternative audio interface.

and we are the audio autists

hmm

Lmao i thought the same thing, calls us autists, proceeds to type out a 400 word essay with a TL:DR that was longer than the first part.

I never said I wasn't one I was hoping someone else had an idea of the gear I know nothing of (mixers) or could come up with a better approach.

This post was edited by nexcoor on Aug 27 2017 11:56am

I used a mixer with bunch random stuff
Like 02 combo, mono price, fiios, zxr, receiver etc
I wanted my set up for multiple sources and be able to handle phone calls
Took alot of space though
Ended up getting x7
Been using it since never looked back

This post was edited by yupitsmeh on Aug 27 2017 12:01pm

That thing seems to be extremely feature-rich. By looking at the menus, I'm going to assume I can have RCA input mixed to the USB DAC input while having a line-in input in the microphone jack and have all that go through to the output(s) at the same time?

It's note-worthy that the bluetooth would not go unused either. Honestly, I might get the X7 and sell my O2 afterwards.

E: found answer to my aforementioned question already.

Any idea can it still output with optical out and headphones at the same time?

This post was edited by nexcoor on Aug 27 2017 01:26pm

not sure
and dont know if I would test for ya considering have alot going on right now

missilaire has one too

Yeah, that's fine. It's a tertiary feature I wouldn't even have a use atm, I just want to be aware of my options.

In the fringe case I wouldn't have been able to find out by myself, I'll keep Missalaire in mind.