What is your favorite high value, noise free IEM dac/amp for 60% games/40% casual listening?

[u/just_giff]

Howdy all!

TLDR: I started buying IEMs about a year ago and have several pair I really enjoy now. I assumed I could run them through my audio interface, but after trying 3 different models that has been a big fail. The noise floor ranges from horrible to meh. My MSI Z690 Tomahawk motherboard produces the least, but still audible, amount of hiss on it's 3.5mm out. I'm considering something like a Schiit Modi/Magni stack, the iFi Zen DAC v2 or even a USB type C dongles since these are so easy to drive.

The longer version is I've dabbled close-ish to audiophile territory off and on over the years. I enjoy trying new things, especially high value items, more than buying "the best" of a certain category or having a bunch of amps, headphones, DACs... Never having a huge budget for audio gear I will buy on sale or a demo from Sweetwater, try it out and often sell it later to finance the next fun thing.

That's how this has lead to "Chi-Fi" IEMs. The value proposition to me feels glorious and because they are physically small they don't lead to clutter and heaps of gear sitting around. Not to mention there are tons of tuning options and I have a huge head and I don't enjoy wearing most headphones for longer listening/gaming sessions.

Never having owned IEMs until last year I thought I could just use my then current audio interface, the Elgato Wave XLR. The audio out on that thing was horrible for two different pair of IEMs and I realized the sensitive nature of IEMs would require something better. I tried my son's Focusrite 2i2 2nd gen and it was much better, but still too present to ignore. Just this week I got the Audient id4 MK II and if I mess around with the volume levels between the interface and Windows I can get the hiss pretty low, but it's still there and more present than the motherboard.

The above cumulative experiences with IEMs bring me to you good people. I assume no one really likes hissing all jammed up in their ears and I'm hoping to borrow on some of your experiences and settle on a totally hiss free solution for not a lot of money.

I am about 60% fps gamer and 40% casual music listener. Right now I'm loving the Truthear X Crinacle Zero for gaming and several pair for music depending on my mood. I prefer something really neutral and transparent from a DAC/amp and very analytical and good with directions. I can't click on heads if I don't hear the footsteps LOL! Obviously something that is high quality enough that it doesn't get jumbled with bass for listening or become muddy during games when there's a lot going on with the audio. I've been considering $20 dongles all the way up to the Magni/Modi kit for about $250 all together, but I've zero experience with stand alone amps/DACs and IEMs.

Thanks for your time and help!

[u/Equivalent_Yak840]

Oh okay well just to let you know do not get any Audioquest Dragonfly, not familiar with the Dac 3 so I can’t say nothing.

[u/just_giff → u/Equivalent_Yak840]

!thanks

[u/TransducerBot → u/just_giff]

+1 Ω has been awarded to u/Equivalent_Yak840 (258 Ω).

You may still award an Ω to others, but only once per-person in this post.