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avitron142
134
Aug 13, 2015
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Anybody looking for a dac/amp for these notoriously picky headphones might want to make a stop at the Geek Out 1000. Reasonably inexpensive for a dac/amp of its caliber, I can say it has fantastic synergy with the K7XX, only bested by a Shozy Alien + Aune B1 combo (as far as I've tried).
Vistance
54
Aug 13, 2015
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avitron142Just to add, it's absolutely optional to have an amp for these despite what people seem to think. I tried these out of my sound card (HT Claro Omega Plus+) , out of my Integra processor, and out of a vintage H/K integrated amplifier. None of them sounded any different, the only difference was the Integra and H/K could drive them a bit louder. I could actually do 100% volume out of the sound card, though it was louder than I'd ever listen to. None of them sounded any different than each other, so don't think you need an amplifier unless your source just can't drive it loud enough.
People seem to get this idea that Amp A will enhance the bass, Amp B will round off the sharp highs or bring out the mids, Amp C will be a bad match because it's going to exaggerate some traits that are already a bit much, etc. and this just isn't true.
People seem to get this idea that Amp A will enhance the bass, Amp B will round off the sharp highs or bring out the mids, Amp C will be a bad match because it's going to exaggerate some traits that are already a bit much, etc. and this just isn't true.
GameSofter
75
Aug 13, 2015
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VistanceWe're you listening to 96kb/s mp3's? Because that's the only way I can think of there not being a difference. If I try to run them off of my built in audio, it doesn't get anywhere near loud enough at 100%. If I try to run them off of a computer speaker's audio out port, the soundstage is very noticeably shrunk. And the bass becomes messier. If I run them off of a DAC/AMP, it sounds amazing, I can make it as loud as I need and the Soundstage opens up, the bass gets tighter and the highs aren't uncomfortable anymore. Now all of these options "worked" and you don't NEED an amp necessarily, but your experience will be much improved if you do have a DAC/AMP.
And it is actually very true that different amps give you a different sound. Finding the best match for your tastes is very helpful for getting the most enjoyment out of whatever par of headphones you have.
And it is actually very true that different amps give you a different sound. Finding the best match for your tastes is very helpful for getting the most enjoyment out of whatever par of headphones you have.
avitron142
134
Aug 13, 2015
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VistanceI have to disagree with you there. There's a huge difference with and without an amp, and it has nothing to do with volume. Lots of newbies think amping = volume, and this simply isn't true. I've tried the K7XX with many different sources, and without an amp, the soundstage is smaller, the details are gone, the bass is "soft", and so forth.
Just because you tried the K7XX with one amplifier (that may not have even been a good match) and it didn't work doesn't mean it doesn't need one - that's ridiculous at best, and careless at worst...
As rumored power-hungry headphones, the K7XX does benefit from a good amplifier, so like I said earlier, the Geek Out 1000 is a fine Dac/Amp option that pairs well with it. Other options are the Fiio E12 or Aune B1, they sound great with the K7XX too.
Just because you tried the K7XX with one amplifier (that may not have even been a good match) and it didn't work doesn't mean it doesn't need one - that's ridiculous at best, and careless at worst...
As rumored power-hungry headphones, the K7XX does benefit from a good amplifier, so like I said earlier, the Geek Out 1000 is a fine Dac/Amp option that pairs well with it. Other options are the Fiio E12 or Aune B1, they sound great with the K7XX too.
Oktyabr
79
Aug 13, 2015
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GameSofterIt's both true and false, that amps make a difference; which is where all the confusion comes from. Essentially an amplifier takes a non-amplified signal and makes it louder, ideally *while changing the frequency response of the original source as little as possible*. The goal here isn't to "betterfy" something 10x, 20x, 100x... it's to do as LITTLE harm to the source as possible while driving headphones (speakers) to an adequate volume level.
The ultimate goal, in this case, is ZERO. Zero distortion of the original source. Once you hit zero you simply can't do any LESS harm (i.e. make it sound "better"). Most amps, even those in cheap portables, cell phones and laptops already get pretty damn close to this zero goal. All an amp can do is make the source sound different by adding some sort of distortion. An amp that is inadequate to the task at hand can distort quite badly, especially at higher volumes.
Getting a "perfect match" between an amplifier and a transducer simply means that both distort frequency response differently and the "proper" combination will compliment each other (making up for each other's weaknesses) rather than add to a problem. Buying both an amplifier and a transducer that add as little distortion as possible (when used in that particular combination) is also a solution ;)
Back to the topic on hand: I tested my K7XX with a Creak OBH-11, an Audio-GD NFB-15, a Sound Blaster 3D Recon sound card, Asus Sabertooth 990FX R2.0 motherboard, Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9, Samsung Galaxy S5 "Active", and an older Compaq laptop I had laying around. All sounded quite good although the portable devices, the Kindle and Galaxy, needed much more of their volume range to reach a volume level that I thought of as "loud", usually most of it, sometimes all of it, depending on source. I run my K7XX through the NFB-15 which can get loud enough to cause permanent hearing damage (I presume!) but seems to be quite true to the source at my usual listening levels.
Buying an amp won't hurt the K7XX, especially if you are using a particularly weak source or already have some sort of deficit in your ability to hear, but they certainly don't NEED one for most cases.
The ultimate goal, in this case, is ZERO. Zero distortion of the original source. Once you hit zero you simply can't do any LESS harm (i.e. make it sound "better"). Most amps, even those in cheap portables, cell phones and laptops already get pretty damn close to this zero goal. All an amp can do is make the source sound different by adding some sort of distortion. An amp that is inadequate to the task at hand can distort quite badly, especially at higher volumes.
Getting a "perfect match" between an amplifier and a transducer simply means that both distort frequency response differently and the "proper" combination will compliment each other (making up for each other's weaknesses) rather than add to a problem. Buying both an amplifier and a transducer that add as little distortion as possible (when used in that particular combination) is also a solution ;)
Back to the topic on hand: I tested my K7XX with a Creak OBH-11, an Audio-GD NFB-15, a Sound Blaster 3D Recon sound card, Asus Sabertooth 990FX R2.0 motherboard, Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9, Samsung Galaxy S5 "Active", and an older Compaq laptop I had laying around. All sounded quite good although the portable devices, the Kindle and Galaxy, needed much more of their volume range to reach a volume level that I thought of as "loud", usually most of it, sometimes all of it, depending on source. I run my K7XX through the NFB-15 which can get loud enough to cause permanent hearing damage (I presume!) but seems to be quite true to the source at my usual listening levels.
Buying an amp won't hurt the K7XX, especially if you are using a particularly weak source or already have some sort of deficit in your ability to hear, but they certainly don't NEED one for most cases.
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