headphone amp

builder22

builder22

builder22

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I spend so much time listening on headphones I've finally treated myself to some AKG 701 and Sennheiser HD600, intention was to only keep one but as I say I spend so much time with audio they'll be worth it...

I haven't read enough to understand why but the AKG's are always quieter for the same volume setting compared to the Sennheisers... despite being MUCH lower impedance

I bought a Fiio E10k with them...it's ok but I kinda misunderstood its function...I thought it could be a DAC OR Amp, never realised the only audio input is from the inbuilt DAC, I have an interface/dac for the PC

so looking for an amp...under £200 I think but not set in stone

is there an amp that would be good for both sets of 'phones?

am i going to get a massive increase in volume/quality for under £200 compared to the Fiio E10k?
 
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sorry, HD600, not 650... (edited)

have seen the schiit mentioned quite a lot...the tube amps too. From what I can gather a solid state will be nore neutral/clerer, or a tube would be warmer/softer, maybe less detailed?

Rroff and Esat...I need to read up on voltage/current etc but that will help what to look for, thanks

The AKG's do sound much more spacious but I'll never use them for gaming, mainly music late at night. I see people mention their soundstage a lot...the distance the drivers are away from the ears and the size of the pads must have something to do with that! They're very clear...wondering if they'll get better with another amp other than thsi fiio
 
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truth be told.. I had both 600 and 650....sending the 650's back. Thought there was more punch to the 600's even tho the 650's have more bass. Can 'feel' the 600s more at the same volume...if that makes sense. Most of what I listen to is fairly energetic/sharp so the 600s made more sense.
Tempted to keep all three but I'll spend more time changing and comparing than playing!
 
what do you not like about 600/prefer on the 650?

partly due to the price but the AKG's were a no brainer, using them for transcribing (slowing down songs to 30% and still be able to pick out individual notes without it just becoming a blurry mess) and playing they're amazing
the HD600 and 650 not so sure about but prefer the 600, although not convinced there's something else that would suit me better...
 
EsaT said:
Semiconductors and especially proper audio opamps are lot more precise than tubes can ever be and capable to more neutral/transparent sound.
At higher power levels discrete transistors win ICs, but at lower power levels (like headphones) ICs win:
Because they can contain custom components, with all of them situated in same silicon die hence being easy to match to work together and have similar temperature behavior.
Whole "tube sound" is really just distortion of signal from its original.
(now wasn't there supposed to be word "fidelity" in Hifi...)

Yeah, AKG 701s should have soundstage more like concert hall of symphony orchestra.
Which with fitting frequency response (including very neutral bass) makes them apparently one of the absolutely best headphones for competitive gaming.

While HD600/650 Sennheisers are apparently more toward "private room" soundstage.
That would be minus for gaming regardless of frequency response, but can certainly work better in music.
Heck, Turttle Beach Z60 has very "agressive first row" feel in certain type music...
But that BF4 comparison feels like putting head into bucket because of completely lacking sound stage.


If you want to read about electric engineering part here's some
http://nwavguy.blogspot.fi/2011/02/headphone-impedance-explained.html
http://nwavguy.blogspot.fi/2011/02/headphone-amp-impedance.html
http://nwavguy.blogspot.fi/2011/09/more-power.html

AKG K701s are mentioned in site but Hifimans are the most power and current hungry headphones, with 600 ohm Beyers most voltage hungry ones. (1-4)
http://nwavguy.blogspot.fi/2011/07/o2-design-process.html
Sure don't want to try how loud O2 could drive 250 ohm Beyers...


Don't you know audiophiles listen only sound of cables and distortion of amplifiers or at most some sine wave test signals?:p
Click to expand...


thanks, I'll have a read of that!

maybe a bit unfair comparing the headphones without a decent amp but I'm guessing the differences will be much the same regardless..

I have a Kemper guitar amp that has a stereo input.it kinda works as a headphone amp
the headphone out 'nominal impedance' is 33ohms, is that high/low or irrelevant? :D
 
gonna take a bit more reading to fully grasp how impedance/current/volts/damping work together

....would it be fair to say that with a decent amp the AKG's will remain the same but more volume, maybe better top end?
but the HD600 will sound different due to the varying impedance at different frequencies? ie my fiio amp and other sources might be struggling at some frequencies just now?

http://graphs.headphone.com/graphCo...D[]=573&graphID[]=703&graphID[]=4313&scale=30

http://graphs.headphone.com/index.php?graphID[0]=573&graphID[1]=703&graphID[2]=4313&graphID[3]=&scale=30&graphType=7&buttonSelection=Update+Graph

a Schhit Magni 2 seems to be the obvious route
 
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might be my imagination but the AKG 701 seem to be closer in volume to the HD600s now, although the difference between the 701s and the 650 might have been bigger but I've sent those back now

was looking on the Schiit page, having pre outs would be much better for my setup but the Magni 2 uber is currently out of stock....not sure if that's temporary or not. The cheapest amp with pre outs is the Asgard 2 which is getrting kinda pricey!
 
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yeah, i think solid state would suit me better, no interest in changing tubes etc...would be almost impossible not to if i had a tube amp!

might not matter...I was hoping the line out and phones socket worked at the same time, look likee the line out is muted when phones are plugged in
 
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use is 99% music....listening, playing guitar and (digital) piano, occasionally some minimal techno recording/experimenting

ordered the Magni 2, should be here in a few days, have read good and bad but not going to find out without trying The Asgard etc is just too much (plus i dont think the pre out/phones work simultaneously)
 
got the Magni 2 today....too early to say for certain but if it's better than the E10k's amp it's not by much, normal listening level anyway, the Magni goes louder so having more headroom is prob a good thing but I can't hear any real difference. At this point I'd be amazed if anyone could tell the difference in a blind test. Obviously the Magni is a stand alone amp which I can use for other things so it will stay

tested using the E10's DAC line out to the Magni, setting up a loop (so comparing the same thing) then just plugging the phones in to either the E10 or Magni, maybe will notice a difference over time with actual music listening....

edit - the line out on the E10k must be part of the amp as no signal comes out of it when the volume is set to off (level remains constant until it's switched off tho), but the PC can still see it, and shows it still playing throught the E10....better do another test.... I dunno if this affects anything...just seems strange it switches off with the amp volume set to 'off'. I'd have though the only thing that would switch off woiuld be the amp headphones out
 
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yeah....the headphones were a wow moment but no the Magni, although there's nothing wrong with it, it will get plenty use

I'd say both the E10 and Magni (through the E10 or a UCA202 Behringer) with the HD600 sound great

kinda missing t
 
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Had to return the K701, a creak developed in the right ear assembly...couldn't hear it unless listening at low level (and moving head/jaw) but it was annoying.
Some sticky tape or something must have been out of line inside the cup too, you could hear it sticking when moving it around.

Very happy with the Magni tho!
 
been messing with the hi-lo gain setting on the Magni...I had read that always use the lowest gain setting if you have enough volume but the Hi setting seems to either clean up the bass or pronounce the mids/highs more..not sure what exactly but the sound just seems clearer/closer.... makes details easier to hear at lower volume. Or I'm imagining it
 
yepp the 600's, the drums, especially snare stands out more on the hi setting.....easiest way to describe is the high setting makes them sound more like the AKG701's ....just more clarity everywhere

again I could be imagining this but 95% convinced I'm right!
 
So....if the volume knob was adjusted so the same volume was produced on hi and lo gain would the volts/amps or whatever could be measured be the same?
 
hmmm, I need to read up on basics....

prob my imagination with this hi/lo gain switch tho

enough!...my Takstar headphones getting fed from my Realtek card weren't amazing but at least I just used and enjoyed!
 
Cheers Rroff, bit over my head tbh, briefky looked at vdd etc last night which made a bit of sense
again speculation but I think I need more overall volume on lo gain to get the same clarity/punch that I can get at lower volume with hi gain. Ie don't need it as loud. Its like more air is getting moved on hi.

Question...do you prefer the 02 or the Magni?

I'm back down to the HD600 only and the Magni2, whether its in my head or not HD600 with hi gain is keeping me satisfied, for now!
 
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