HD600 Upgrades
- Thread starter smogsy
- Start date
It is apparently an upgraded version of the Matrix M-Stage HPA-3U, a very well regarded DAC/Amp which only seems to be available in the US. The upgrades do seem to be quite extensive though, through board components instead of surface mount, uprated power supply and a truly stunning case designed by BMW (the thickness of the aluminium front and back is very reassuring).
Here is a review of the Matrix M-Stage HPA-3U and he uses it with HD650s, so whatever you get with this pairing will be even better with the Deckard.
http://www.headfonia.com/review-matrix-m-stage-hpa-3u/
Here is a review of the Matrix M-Stage HPA-3U and he uses it with HD650s, so whatever you get with this pairing will be even better with the Deckard.
http://www.headfonia.com/review-matrix-m-stage-hpa-3u/
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$349 (£280 from electromod.co.uk) is ridiculously cheap for me and cheaper than all the other components in my system yet shows the biggest difference, I might buy the Schiit Mjolnir 2 for $849 at some point so I can go full balanced and that does not seem a lot for me.
The time it would cost me to research how to build similar and actually build such vs having a fully built and tested headphone amp is just not worth it and am sure it is the same for most people.
Also LME49600 is a solid state opamp and I have never found anything cheaper or same price that is solid state that comes anywhere close to the sound of a Valve amp at least combined with the HD600's which are very similar to the HD650's.
But nothing really matters other than the person who listens to them, best to take your headphones to a store and demo some different combos. Not sure how easy it is to find some place to test valve amp combos though maybe you could ask at http://electromod.co.uk/contact-electromod.asp etc.
Some are really ridiculously priced I agree. I think the Schiit Valhalla isn't priced too badly though. Some amp/dac companies really do see people coming
Just one more thing to the OP. Amping the HD650 isn't really about power as it is getting the right amp signature to create a nice paring.
I have tried connecting my HD600's to each mobile phone I have ever owned and a few would not even make a sound, my latest Nexus 6P is actually quite reasonable sound but still nothing compared to my Valhalla.
My Arcam A85 integrated amp is beautiful with my Q Acoustic Speakers however the Headphone connection sucks with my HD600's.
Am sure the power does matter, but more in terms of minimum needed and above a certain amount will not matter. Again listening makes the most difference
Fair enough, like my solid state bass personally. Makes me laugh though having got into building my own recently at the prices some amps go for compared to what it would cost to build something comparable.
(As an aside closest I've found to a tube like sound from op amps (without DSP) is the OPA2228 - mid-range is very "tube-a-like" however treble is largely transparent even slightly sterile with none of the tube loveliness and very much solid state bass though the bass is satisfying and personally prefer it to tube bass - the HD600s struggle a bit with mid-range articulation compared to "comparableish" sounding tubes though but I think that is partly due to the current choice of buffer chip).
Some are really ridiculously priced I agree. I think the Schiit Valhalla isn't priced too badly though. Some amp/dac companies really do see people coming
Just tickles me as I recently ran into some amps that sure are a little more professionally designed/constructed than mine but basically use the same circuit and components as one of the ones I made... and cost 700+ euro.
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uim pretty sure on the deckard now, is their anything else before i take the plunge?
it is pretty expensive, but i don't want to be humming and aring after i get the mojo & thinking i could got something better later & spending even more money.
Mojo has a battery which is pointless for me & no offence llooks like a toy
the other idea i had was use my Arcam & just get a headphone amp.
but then i lose the ARCAM on my cinmea area.
or use my DACmagic & get a amp. but then my second entertainment room lose its DAC
or i could look at CAMBRIDGE AUDIO DACMAGIC PLUS, not sure on quality though.
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Just because it's more expensive doesn't mean it is better. Audeze as a company are pretty good but they are quite new to all this. Their products are overpriced and while some of them are good sounding, are not really great value. Their LCD-2 pre 2014 was one of my fav headphones of all time but can be outperformed by the cheaper HD650 in a few areas.
The Mojo is good value and I would personally have more faith in that than the Deckard. At this level in the game you are not going to get something that blows another out of the water. You could simply get a different sound signature and that ends up being more expensive.
You are about to spend £599 on a dac without knowing anything about it! Seems a bit mad.
Why don't you work or what you want from the HD650 then go from there. You may find out that it ends up being cheaper.
Take your time and figure out what type of sound you want.
The Mojo is good value and I would personally have more faith in that than the Deckard. At this level in the game you are not going to get something that blows another out of the water. You could simply get a different sound signature and that ends up being more expensive.
You are about to spend £599 on a dac without knowing anything about it! Seems a bit mad.
Why don't you work or what you want from the HD650 then go from there. You may find out that it ends up being cheaper.
Take your time and figure out what type of sound you want.
Right Atm its the following
AZUDEZE DECKARD
OR
Arcram IR-DAC (got) + A headphone amp
then later buy another arcam saving me moving it between my cinmea room + desk area
So are their any other separate headphone amp i should look into?
Schiit Valhalla 2 (£280) [review]
AZUDEZE DECKARD
OR
Arcram IR-DAC (got) + A headphone amp
then later buy another arcam saving me moving it between my cinmea room + desk area
So are their any other separate headphone amp i should look into?
Schiit Valhalla 2 (£280) [review]
i just want good sound, this whole "Audiophile" language i do not follow at all. (which makes reading reviews quite well hard... or impossible)
I Enjoy My sound but I do not follow it enough to the nth degree, personally do not have time. Just want a quality product that looks nice & will treat my current HD650 well & other headphones in the future.
My HD650 will be used for PC Gaming & music.
I listen to ALL types of music from Adele to Bob Marley,Black Sabbath to Pure garage.
personally enjoy female vocalists most though.
i read my EHP-02 is decent for my headphones. This to me is not good enough & after using the HD650s with it for a while its just no where as clear/Precise compared to the AKG K702
so im wanting to upgrade to see if i can improve things. as i said before atm the BASS just blows over the rest of the song. just like a bad brands headphone. also if i use the gain button distortion is really noticeable.
so maybe you can enlighten me what i am looking for? it would take years to learn the phile lingo.
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Female vocals are also my fav aspect of sound.
Now with amps. If you go tube, I.e Schiit Valhalla or any other OTL you will be limited to high impedance headphones.
I recommend a Tube hybrid. The Project Ember which I have is probably one of the best amps you can find regardless of price. It will drive anything and it comes with a 5 year warranty. It will make the HD650 have more control in the bass and that bass bleed will be more of a punch. Vocals will sound smoother, more body.
The tube is changeable so you can add different tubes as long as it's one of the compatible one. You can then change the sound to how you want it.
If tubes are something you can't be bothered with, the Project Polaris is a solid state amp with no tubes. It has the same warranty and it also sounds good. It's not as good as the ember and doesn't have quite the body and soul but it is excellent and cheaper.
Dacs, there's so many. Mojo is great, yes it's small and colourful but it's bloody good. The Odac is also good, it's cheap, balanced. The Dragonfly is also pretty good.
I really enjoy the sound of my simple Fiio X3 as it just sounds right to my ears. That only cost me £160 and doubles up as a music player. I think the Mojo + Ember or Polaris will be a perfect end game set up.
Now with amps. If you go tube, I.e Schiit Valhalla or any other OTL you will be limited to high impedance headphones.
I recommend a Tube hybrid. The Project Ember which I have is probably one of the best amps you can find regardless of price. It will drive anything and it comes with a 5 year warranty. It will make the HD650 have more control in the bass and that bass bleed will be more of a punch. Vocals will sound smoother, more body.
The tube is changeable so you can add different tubes as long as it's one of the compatible one. You can then change the sound to how you want it.
If tubes are something you can't be bothered with, the Project Polaris is a solid state amp with no tubes. It has the same warranty and it also sounds good. It's not as good as the ember and doesn't have quite the body and soul but it is excellent and cheaper.
Dacs, there's so many. Mojo is great, yes it's small and colourful but it's bloody good. The Odac is also good, it's cheap, balanced. The Dragonfly is also pretty good.
I really enjoy the sound of my simple Fiio X3 as it just sounds right to my ears. That only cost me £160 and doubles up as a music player. I think the Mojo + Ember or Polaris will be a perfect end game set up.
i looked at your amp suggestions Their pretty cool!,
Struggling to find a good UK seller though just yet for prices
i think tubeless would be the better for me unless their places that sell them pre-done,
regarding DAC i know theirs loads! i might try it with my arcam for now
Struggling to find a good UK seller though just yet for prices
i think tubeless would be the better for me unless their places that sell them pre-done,
regarding DAC i know theirs loads! i might try it with my arcam for now
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cheers, do you have a trusted seller?
Go onto eBay and type in Project Polaris and there's only one seller for the amps
cheers, for the help, however dont really want import from the US & use that site.
was looking at your other suggestions Little Dot's are on a forest. are they comparable? i can see MKI-IIII
Just take care not to make the sound too warm and syrupy, which is a distinct possibility with a valve amp. It may make female vocals amazing but it's not a good match for gaming, if gaming with the HD650s is intended.
Personally I game with my AKG K702s and listen to music with my HD650s - horses for courses.
Personally I game with my AKG K702s and listen to music with my HD650s - horses for courses.