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$500 cans on, this is how you dream right - Official Headphone Thread

H

HiResDes

Member
FallingEdge said:
Would you recommend the v-moda m80 over the Sennheiser HD 598?

I am always curious to hear what people think, I am not an audiophile at all but I would like to think I can hear a difference in headphones and whatnot.
Click to expand...

That's like asking would you recommend a tomato over a peach...
 
F

FallingEdge

Member
HiResDes said:
That's like asking would you recommend a tomato over a peach...
Click to expand...

lol fair enough

hahahahha, that comparison really made me laugh, I do apologize for my ignorance.

I think I am just trying to find an excuse to get the m80s as those were a pair that I really wanted when I first started to really look at headphones, even if I don't need them atm.
 
H

HiResDes

Member
mr2xxx said:
I'm tired of researching, I'll do it. Modi 2+ Vali combo. Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...

One word of warning, the vali is susceptible to more interference and you definitely want to plug your headphones into it first before you turn it on. My EF2A did the same thing too, I think it's kind of a regular thing for lower budget hybrid amps.
 
A

Antiwhippy

the holder of the trombone
Ahaha whoops. Haven't been checking the thread for awhile now seeing that I haven't really got much new audio stuff till now. :p
 
P

Phat Michael

Banned
Amp/dac and hd800 balanced cable arrive tomorrow night! This is going to be an awesome weekend! Lcd3 arrives next week as well. The monster is almost complete...
 
P

Phat Michael

Banned
got my new centrance power supply - running the HD800s single ended off this. It sounds amazing, even with zero burn in. My god these things are so clear...so clinical. Really like the sound.

Tomorrow they will be run balanced off a much better AMP/DAC - but for now this is very very nice.
 
C

Ceej

Member
So excited! Bought the HD 650's at $314 from Amazon and they are coming today :D

I currently have...

Shure SRH840
Shure SRH940
Sennheiser PC350 Xense (Gaming use)
Denon AH-D600 (Growing meh on these)
Westone W4R (my portables)


These are my first opens... running through my Xonar Xense amped card
 
H

HiResDes

Member
Phat Michael said:
got my new centrance power supply - running the HD800s single ended off this. It sounds amazing, even with zero burn in. My god these things are so clear...so clinical. Really like the sound.

Tomorrow they will be run balanced off a much better AMP/DAC - but for now this is very very nice.
Click to expand...
I've read up on it like pretty thoroughly and I've found unbalanced versus balanced doesn't really affect headphones, especially quality cans that don't share a common Conductor throughout the cable. It's pretty much not a factor. Also if you're running a balanced cable relatively close to the source it doesn't seem like you'd ever pick up noise.
 
P

Phat Michael

Banned
HiResDes said:
I've read up on it like pretty thoroughly and I've found unbalanced versus balanced doesn't really affect headphones, especially quality cans that don't share a common Conductor throughout the cable. It's pretty much not a factor. Also if you're running a balanced cable relatively close to the source it doesn't seem like you'd ever pick up noise.
Click to expand...

have you listened to the difference between the exact same setup running balanced vs unbalanced?

The major selling point for me was that Oppo said with their PM1/2 - if you run balanced cables you get 4x the power and 2x the voltage - which should be pretty significant?

In any event - the Audeze comes with a balanced cable...and the CH800 S was a christmas present to me so im not paying anything extra.
 
W

Waikis

Member
Ive always wanted to try out a balanced setup. Maybe some people are finding it better because I assume most aftermarket balanced cables are better than the stock cable?
 
P

Phat Michael

Banned
Waikis said:
Ive always wanted to try out a balanced setup. Maybe some people are finding it better because I assume most aftermarket balanced cables are better than the stock cable?
Click to expand...
That and the headphone can be driven better with more power running through it. The Damn things are so expensive though. The CH800S for the hd800s is $389usd retail..
 
H

HiResDes

Member
I don't think it's necessarily the cables or the sheer fact that the units are balanced, but they usually have better circuitry and parts due to being higher budget products. That's what makes them sound better.
 
D

Deadly Cyclone

Pride of Iowa State
The V-Moda M80s are great, they are what I have, but after a while the top of your head hurts. Which is why I'm looking for over-ear headphones (with low noise leak) for work to replace them.
 
W

Waikis

Member
Interestingly, even high-end audio makers have disagreement over balanced vs single ended. I'm using AMR dp777 and this is what they have to say over the matter

In our opinion, ‘true balanced/balanced’ is sonically inferior to dual-mono (separate left and right channels) in a single-ended configuration. AMR’s background is in Single-Ended Triode amplifiers or SETs as these to our ears, is the pinnacle in audio design.

ALL AMRs including the DP-777 are dual- mono/single-ended. This costs more to manufacture but sounds the most gratifying. We actually wouldn’t compromise on ‘true balanced’ to satisfy the common notion of its being ‘better’.

For example, all Kondo Japan products are ‘Single-Ended’ not ‘balanced’– Mr Kondo (God bless) would rather not build an amplifier than make a ‘balanced’ amplifier
Click to expand...
 
T

Tommy DJ

Member
2x voltage + 4x power basically tells me that the Oppo HA-1 is a bridged amplifier. Anyone remember bridge mode on cheap stereo power amps from folks like Rotel? I believe its the same principle here, just that its done in a way to allow for differential signalling since the Oppo HA-1 claims to be fully balanced.

For that reason, I don't think the balanced connection itself is all that useful for headphones unless you've got some awful noise issues. Although there's no reason not to use it if its available.
 
U

Union Carbine

Member
I think that the preference on balanced on the high end gear comes from their background being used in actual music studios where the reduction in noise provided by balanced connections is absolutely necessary. As home adopters began adopting pro studio gear, the balanced connections came with them. However, I'd guess that most home setups don't generate enough noise to make balanced connections truly necessary.
 
P

Phat Michael

Banned
Burning in the hd800s... Done about 5 hours so far. Will leave them on all weekend then let's see how they sound after that once the new amp has been run in as well.
 
D

Dynamite Ringo Matsuri

Member
Union Carbine said:
I think that the preference on balanced on the high end gear comes from their background being used in actual music studios where the reduction in noise provided by balanced connections is absolutely necessary. As home adopters began adopting pro studio gear, the balanced connections came with them. However, I'd guess that most home setups don't generate enough noise to make balanced connections truly necessary.
Click to expand...

That's kinda what I figured. I mean, aren't balanced cables only useful for extremely long runs of cable (like in a studio) where fidelity can decrease?
 
C

cpp_is_king

Member
How do people feel about the audioengine D1? I already have one, and I'm probably going to end up getting a set of Mad Dog Pros, and I'm wondering if I should keep this audioengine D1 or sell it and get a Schiit Vali (or higher) instead.
 
R

Robobandit

Member
HiResDes said:
One word of warning, the vali is susceptible to more interference and you definitely want to plug your headphones into it first before you turn it on. My EF2A did the same thing too, I think it's kind of a regular thing for lower budget hybrid amps.
Click to expand...

He'll get microphonics for about 30 seconds but then the tubes will quiet down.

After about 20 minutes when it is fully warmed up is when the Vali sounds the best.

I love that little amp. I even use it to drive my HD800s because it sounds great. It makes the 800s sound less clinical.
 
P

Phat Michael

Banned
Robobandit said:
He'll get microphonics for about 30 seconds but then the tubes will quiet down.

After about 20 minutes when it is fully warmed up is when the Vali sounds the best.

I love that little amp. I even use it to drive my HD800s because it sounds great. It makes the 800s sound less clinical.
Click to expand...

after a few hours...the HD800s really do not sound like any other headphone i have ever heard...it's just so odd to hear how clear everything is.

Really looking forward to a back to back comparison with the Audeze once they both have been burnt in.
 
T

threetri333

Banned
I'm about to get my 02/ODAC AMP/DAC combo to compliment my Sennheiser HD 600.

How do I bring these tunes to their best potential? I never had headphones this good and never used an AMP/DAC.

I heard that you should bring the volume of your PC to max and control the volume with your AMP.

Also, how do I know if I got the O2/ODAC combo, but instead got the O2 instead in case if I get scammed?

What is good software to play music?
 
P

Phat Michael

Banned
threetri333 said:
I'm about to get my 02/ODAC AMP/DAC combo to compliment my Sennheiser HD 600.

How do I bring these tunes to their best potential? I never had headphones this good and never used an AMP/DAC.

I heard that you should bring the volume of your PC to max and control the volume with your AMP.

Also, how do I know if I got the O2/ODAC combo, but instead got the O2 instead in case if I get scammed?

What is good software to play music?
Click to expand...
Yes on the volume thing.

Jriver 19 for software.
 
E

ElectricKaibutsu

Member
Uni on Everything! said:
That looks pretty good, is there one that works with the iPhone 6 and iPad Air 2? I already have an amp coming that a few here recommended (CEntrance DACmini CX).
Click to expand...

I think I found the answer to this: http://www.head-fi.org/t/523850/centrance-dacmini-dac-amplifier-official-thread/840#post_8902441

It looks like you have to use the Apple Lightning to USB camera adapter. And then connect via USB.

This page has more info on the Lightning to USB adapter.

I'm planning on upgrading to an iPhone 6 or 6s eventually so I'm curious to see how this works.
 
C

cpp_is_king

Member
Jzero said:
DAC = Raises sound quality

Amp = Raises the max volume
Click to expand...

Are there any DACs that aren't also amps? Everything I've seen appears to be either amp-only, or DAC/amp, even if they advertise themselves as just DACs. That's kind of why I was confused. Everything saying that they're just DACs appear to also be amps. Unless I'm just not seeing the DAC-only devices.
 
T

Tommy DJ

Member
cpp_is_king said:
Are there any DACs that aren't also amps? Everything I've seen appears to be either amp-only, or DAC/amp, even if they advertise themselves as just DACs. That's kind of why I was confused. Everything saying that they're just DACs appear to also be amps. Unless I'm just not seeing the DAC-only devices.
Click to expand...

Antiwhippy's explanation above is pretty clear.

DACs and amplifiers are completely different and separate components. These components can exist separately, like the Schiit Magni and Modi, or in the same unit, like the Leckerton UHA-6S MKII.
 
P

Phat Michael

Banned
cpp_is_king said:
Are there any DACs that aren't also amps? Everything I've seen appears to be either amp-only, or DAC/amp, even if they advertise themselves as just DACs. That's kind of why I was confused. Everything saying that they're just DACs appear to also be amps. Unless I'm just not seeing the DAC-only devices.
Click to expand...
Yes. If you look at the Esoteric series of Dacs, they are Dacs only.

Ray samuels uses the esoteric dac and his dark star as the headphone amp which he says gets the best possible sound from the audeze and Sennheiser headphones. You connect the dac via interconnects to the amp and run the headphones from the amp. The dac will connect to the source (pc via USB etc)
 
S

Schlep

Member
So for headphones with a low impedance like the Sennheiser Urbanite XL's, would an amplifier be necessary? What about a DAC? I mostly use my Surface Pro 3 which has a Realtek ALC3264, and that seems to generate some decent sound, but all I have to compare it with is my Galaxy Note 4 which struggles to power my current HD 280 Pros.
 
U

Uni on Everything!

Member
ElectricKaibutsu said:
I think I found the answer to this: http://www.head-fi.org/t/523850/centrance-dacmini-dac-amplifier-official-thread/840#post_8902441

It looks like you have to use the Apple Lightning to USB camera adapter. And then connect via USB.

This page has more info on the Lightning to USB adapter.

I'm planning on upgrading to an iPhone 6 or 6s eventually so I'm curious to see how this works.
Click to expand...

Awesome, thanks! I will have to try this out once everything arrives.
 
H

HiResDes

Member
Schlep said:
So for headphones with a low impedance like the Sennheiser Urbanite XL's, would an amplifier be necessary? What about a DAC? I mostly use my Surface Pro 3 which has a Realtek ALC3264, and that seems to generate some decent sound, but all I have to compare it with is my Galaxy Note 4 which struggles to power my current HD 280 Pros.
Click to expand...
Amps are never necessary just sometimes highly recommended, same with dac. I'd recommend trying the headphones without anything and then if you feel as though something is off or if you hear a bit of noise when your headphones are plugged and there's no music playing you can always get something small like Schiit Fulla or Fiio E10k
 
P

Phat Michael

Banned
threetri333 said:
Any other optimizations that could improve my experience?

I found that I can right click on Sound Icon (Windows) -> Playback Devices -> ODAC -> Properties-> Advanced - > Change option from 16 bit, 44100Hz (CD Quality) to 24 bit, 96000 Hz (Studio Quality)

Is this a big change?

Edit: How is this music player? http://www.foobar2000.org/
Click to expand...
If you have a DAC your PC will automatically use it and it's settings.

Lots of people use foobar it is fine.
 
U

unround

Member
So after several years of using an old pair of hd 280s I've decided to make an upgrade. I tend to have pretty electic tastes in music, which makes it a bit trickier, and I'm probably looking to spend somewhere in the range of $200-350 (Australian). They'll be for home listening so open is preferrable. Right now I'm taking a good look at the Audio-Technica ATH-AD900X and the Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pros, but any recommendations would be very welcome!
 
C

cpp_is_king

Member
What's a good DAC to pair with a set of Mad Dog Pros and a Schiit Asgard 2? I looked at some of the other Schiit DACs and the Loki doesn't seem useful to me so if I stick with Schiit it would probably be the Modi 2 or the Modi 2 Uber. What about other brands? A friend tells me that Dr. Dac is supposed to be excellent but I trust GAF more than I trust him, lol. Would like to spend under $200
 
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