Sennheiser HD650 advice (Headphone amp/Soundcard)

Valleyman

Valleyman

Valleyman

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I have recently come into possession of a set of Sennheiser HD650s that were purchased for someone a while ago and they've never been used. I offered them a good home, because I'm kind like that, and to be honest am pretty excited about making use of them.

I realise these are really good headphones and I don't think my current setup can drive them (i.e lack of headphone amp), or the soundcard in my PC (Onboard Realtek ALC888 HD Audio) can cut it.

This will be used for PC use and with my Hi-Fi, but mainly late night PC gaming + PC based music. So if anyone has any headphone amp ideas, one that I could transport between the HiFi and PC would be good.

Can someone give me some advice on what I should get to make the most out of them?

Thanks for your help ;)
 
Thanks, trying to wrap my head around it.

blaineoliver, you're saying the Xonar range of soundcards is best? Cheers, will look into them. Are they also good for gaming? And why do X-fi seem to get all the press?

Markop2003. Sorry, bit confused here, the V-can is a headphone amp right? What's the V-DAC for? You put the digital out from the souncard into it, then pass it through the v-can? Do I have this right.

Sorry guys, being a bit of a newbie here. Digital audio is new to me. I've been living with various analogue Hi-fi separates for years.
 
i run mine from an m-audio 2496 with a Pro-Ject Head Box II amp and i think its great.

i find they fall short when playing hard music like rock and messy dance music but they are so sweet for the soft and clear dance music its unreal :)

edit - they are amazing for any type of soft music not just dance
 
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Valleyman, time to let me confuse you as you did to me :P lol

Well, first of call if you prefer using the headset via gaming then I certainly recommend the Asus Xonar DX2. I've heard them with a Senheisser HD595 and they are amazing especially for gaming. I can't stress enough.

An alternative as someone suggested is a DAC. Something like a Beresford 7520 or Beresford Caiman, their just like an external soundcard for sound quality only and if you wanted portability. If the soundcard might not cut it to perfection with them headphones then I you should go with a DAC and use it off there. Perhaps, a crisp and clear sound but really depends on your uses and budget.

I'm on the same boat, however, I want it for speakers. I'm going with the Asus Essence STX and hopefully it will fulfill my requirements since I'm an audiophile.

If that won't cut it then I will try a DAC setup.
 
I just did a bit of reading on the Beresford TC-7520, it sounds like the perfect all in one box (for the PC anyway)

So this just plugs into my computer, is basically an external sound card, AND amplifies my headphones? Sounds great. I understand this will be good for music. But how will it be for games? I understand all the "real" soundcards support things like EAX etc. Will I miss that?

Cheers for the help guys.

An also interested in the Essence STX, but I think I'd like a physical knob to twiddle to change the sound volume. If the volume control all by software, so would it be hard to turn down in game volume etc on the fly?
 
fizzle-187 said:
An alternative as someone suggested is a DAC. Something like a Beresford 7520 or Beresford Caiman, their just like an external soundcard for sound quality only and if you wanted portability. If the soundcard might not cut it to perfection with them headphones then I you should go with a DAC and use it off there. Perhaps, a crisp and clear sound but really depends on your uses and budget.
Click to expand...

Im sure ive heard this before :p
 
james.miller said:
soundcards without dedicated headphone amps will not drive the 650s!
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How about getting the STX/ST and hooking it up to an amp that has a headphone port?

My Sony MDR V700DJs shake off my head on 1/3 volume when plugged into my amp (100w Marantz) and dont sound distorted at all

If a DAC has a volume control, which takes priority, the DAC or the Amp? Or do both work together
 
you could do that. I'd question the reason to do so though - you by the st/stx for the built in amp. With an external amp driving the headphones, a d2/x would almost very nearly just as good and half the price.

If a DAC has a volume control, which takes priority, the DAC or the Amp? Or do both work together
Click to expand...

both together. Neither tqake priority, but the first in the chain will always set the limit for everything that follows. with a soundcard and seperate amp, i'd leave the card at 100% volume.
 
james.miller said:
you could do that. I'd question the reason to do so though - you by the st/stx for the built in amp. With an external amp driving the headphones, a d2/x would almost very nearly just as good and half the price.
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No, i would be buying the ST not for the built in amp but for the superior DAC. (This - http://www.wolfsonmicro.com/products/WM8740/)
I hardly ever use my headphones

Theres loads of info on headfi and avforums...

http://www.avforums.com/forums/hi-f...-time-dacmagic-vs-asus-xonar-essence-stx.html

Depends on other things to...
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I've used Beresford and it made even MP3s on the PC sound good. To some that's a good thing and to some its bad.

I'm presently using the Asus Xonar Essence STX and its on the other side of the spectrum wherein it strips down everything and reveals what has been recorded like it really is. In terms of specs too the Asus Essence is way ahead of the pack.

Knowing personally about your quest for the perfect sound and the perfect player I would say the Asus wins hands down.

Like Supra said the folks with WDTV, Popcorn Hour, PS3 and the like will appreciate the ease of use of a DAC, not fiddlers like us.

On the other hand if you really want to explore or go the route of an external DAC then look for something better than a Beresford. For starters something like the Peachtree Audio Nova, Buffalo, etc. Since you are already using an Asus SC, the Beresford is not really going to be that much of an improvement.

A friend is getting the Benchmark and I will be checking it out in a couple of weeks. Will keep you posted.

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http://www.hifivision.com/home-thea...5-beresford-caiman-vs-asus-xonar-essence.html
 
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not worth it for a couple of £3.75 dac's imo. You're choice though.

personally it'd be spdif to a usb dac/amp for me, in which case the dac's arent even used.
 
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According to what I've read on Head-Fi, the ST (closely followed by the STX) is currently the best source hardware available in its price range, in spite of being an internal soundcard rather than external DAC. You can't get better for the money by buying beresford etc. The headphone amp is also very handy but not the only reason for getting one.

Edit: And as james miller says, SPDIF out can be used to an external DAC, should you want to spend some ridiculous amount of money in future.
 
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