Amp Advice
- Thread starter sukotto85
- Start date
Less so with the DT990s, and more so with the AKGs.
The headphone output of the CXA60 is rated at 32 Ohms. If we follow the rule of 8 for matching the headphone impedance, then 8x 32 gives us 256 Ohms. What this means is that the headphone output of the CXA60 is good for driving headphones with an impedance of 250 Ohms or more, but low impedance 'phones won't be such a good match.
The DT990 Pros are (I believe) a 250 Ohm headphone. The AKG K712 Pro is 62 Ohms.
When there isn't a big enough impedance difference between the 'phones and the device driving them there can be changes in the tightness of the bass and in the frequency response. In extreme situations where the phones are lower impedance than the driving source then it can look like an electrical short at some frequencies which means almost no sound to the 'phones at all!
Impedance matching is more important than the quality of the components in the headphone amp circuitry. If the headphone isn't being driven properly, then it doesn't matter if the capacitors and other components are higher quality or sprinkled with fairy dust.
The AKGs could really do with being driven from a headphone amp with an 8 Ohm output. The same would work fine with the DT990s since there's a bigger difference than the 8x multiple.
The headphone output of the CXA60 is rated at 32 Ohms. If we follow the rule of 8 for matching the headphone impedance, then 8x 32 gives us 256 Ohms. What this means is that the headphone output of the CXA60 is good for driving headphones with an impedance of 250 Ohms or more, but low impedance 'phones won't be such a good match.
The DT990 Pros are (I believe) a 250 Ohm headphone. The AKG K712 Pro is 62 Ohms.
When there isn't a big enough impedance difference between the 'phones and the device driving them there can be changes in the tightness of the bass and in the frequency response. In extreme situations where the phones are lower impedance than the driving source then it can look like an electrical short at some frequencies which means almost no sound to the 'phones at all!
Impedance matching is more important than the quality of the components in the headphone amp circuitry. If the headphone isn't being driven properly, then it doesn't matter if the capacitors and other components are higher quality or sprinkled with fairy dust.
The AKGs could really do with being driven from a headphone amp with an 8 Ohm output. The same would work fine with the DT990s since there's a bigger difference than the 8x multiple.
I think I'd recommend two things. The first is to hop over to the head-fi forum link: https://www.head-fi.org/forums/ The folk over there are far more knowledgeable on headphone-related items.
The second is to have a look at speaker-out to headphone adapter boxes. It might not be an immediately obvious choice, but an amp will quite happily live with a high impedance load on the speaker terminals. Obviously you'd have to watch the power level, hence using a box with some internal resistance rather than the more risky option of driving the 'phones directly from a potentially high-current source. It's a route that headphone manufacturer Grado and a few others have gone down for home based listening systems.
With the CXA60, you have speakers A+B switching, plus you have pre-amp outputs as well, so you have a lot of options for ways to hook up.
The second is to have a look at speaker-out to headphone adapter boxes. It might not be an immediately obvious choice, but an amp will quite happily live with a high impedance load on the speaker terminals. Obviously you'd have to watch the power level, hence using a box with some internal resistance rather than the more risky option of driving the 'phones directly from a potentially high-current source. It's a route that headphone manufacturer Grado and a few others have gone down for home based listening systems.
With the CXA60, you have speakers A+B switching, plus you have pre-amp outputs as well, so you have a lot of options for ways to hook up.
I was read through quite a few different threads.
I am planning to put the 789 on my computer desk, which is 8 meters from the CXA60. This amp is currently used to power my floor standing speakers. With the distance, shall I still use it?
I am planning to put the 789 on my computer desk, which is 8 meters from the CXA60. This amp is currently used to power my floor standing speakers. With the distance, shall I still use it?
That's new information not previously shared in any of your other posts. We can offer advice, but we need the whole picture.
Now I'm left wondering if this is a system for use with the stereo as I previously imagined since you said you were using the phones with the CXA60, or is it something for desktop use with the PC as a source, or is there something else you have in mind? I think some clarity here would help.
I received the 789 today, and I must say, compared to the CXA60 I am underwhelmed. Albeit I am currently testing it without a dac.
Lucid, you asked why I wouldn't be using the dac on the CXA60. How would I do this? If its possible I would like to test it with the dac
Lucid, you asked why I wouldn't be using the dac on the CXA60. How would I do this? If its possible I would like to test it with the dac