what headphones do you own thread - i own dt150's :)

mpj88 · 2025-01-13T18:03:56+0000

Still rocking my Philips Fidelio X1 with a Schiit Asgard 2

Rroff · 2025-01-13T18:19:29+0000

Timber said:
Ah OK. Took me a few attempts to understand your point - up too late!

I think these two are OK, in that Fiio say the K11 is 250mW at 300Ω (BAL). The iFi Signature Can is 5.1 V / 756 mW at 300Ω (BAL). Annoyingly the iFi manual doesn't have the 300Ω spec listed.

Did some reading and this site (headphonesty.com) has the HD650/6xx as needing 2v, which it looks to me as though the Signature Can easily clears. Can't find voltage output for the K11 @ 300ohms. I can see mmy Qudelix 5K is doing c.4v (BAL).

It is actually kind of complicated - for single ended around 2V will get them loud, but not necessarily get a good sound out of them (an amp with specs around that level will often have a muddy and flat sound with the HD600s, especially the lower end, even when it gets good volume out of them). They need an overall voltage delivery including things like slew rates and some frequency/impedance factors which has a good "synergy" and that usually comes with amps that have ~6+V capability - on my DIY amps you needed the ability of an around 10V swing on the rails before they'd come to life. Balanced is a whole another story again and usually has far better performance on the HD600s - even if it is just an active ground pseudo-balanced amp on the end of a single ended audio chain. But a lot depends on the design and overall voltage performance.

(It is beyond my actual knowledge of what is going on, I just know what does and doesn't sound good from several years of testing with my HD600 series headphones).

Synodic · 2025-01-13T19:48:32+0000

HiFiMan Edition XS. 'Upgraded' from the Sundara's when they broke but can't really tell the difference in sound quality. The Sundara's were a lot more comfortable though.

Timber · 2025-01-13T21:18:00+0000

Rroff said:
It is actually kind of complicated - for single ended around 2V will get them loud, but not necessarily get a good sound out of them (an amp with specs around that level will often have a muddy and flat sound with the HD600s, especially the lower end, even when it gets good volume out of them). They need an overall voltage delivery including things like slew rates and some frequency/impedance factors which has a good "synergy" and that usually comes with amps that have ~6+V capability - on my DIY amps you needed the ability of an around 10V swing on the rails before they'd come to life. Balanced is a whole another story again and usually has far better performance on the HD600s - even if it is just an active ground pseudo-balanced amp on the end of a single ended audio chain. But a lot depends on the design and overall voltage performance.

(It is beyond my actual knowledge of what is going on, I just know what does and doesn't sound good from several years of testing with my HD600 series headphones).

Thank you and Interesting.

I do remember when I purchased the HD650's @Things change I've changed explained how they soak up power and really open up on more powerful amplification with higher voltages. Just something I guess I've not thought about that much as I don't change my DAC/AMP that often. I did also quickly move to a balanced cable with the HD650's at the time.

Regarding the iFi Zen Can Signature there seems to be some confusion on the specs, in that certain websites list it as 15.1V @ 300Ω (BAL). The iFi Audio & Drop websites plus the included manual list as 11V @ 64Ω / 15.2V @ 600Ω (both BAL). Also on SE they are 7.2V @ 32Ω and 7.6V @ 300Ω. So I think my earlier figure is incorrect. And reading several reviews of the Zen Can Signature seem to suggest it pairs very well with the HD6x0 as an amp. Which would make sense given how it was specifically marketed to the HD650/6xx line. Certainly something I need to keep in mind moving forward when buying amps for the HD6x0's.