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Mark_M
236
Mar 30, 2018
I have the HD6XX and I'm very curious about buying this. What is the difference between the two besides one having a DAC? Is it worth the money for the $200 and under category?
Brosefstalin42
260
Mar 30, 2018
Mark_MWell you'll need a DAC with the X7, the X7 has the balanced out power on top of the X1S single ended power. It seems like both are similar single ended, but one has a DAC if you need it, the other has extra power for balanced out.
If you have a good DAC already, the X7 is perfect. If this is your first foray into audio DACs and amps, the X1S is a good first purchase for an all in one.
Mark_M
236
Mar 30, 2018
Brosefstalin42Well I'd be connecting this to my Macbook Pro. Would the DAC in that be sufficient? Right now I'm using a Micca Origen+ DAC/amp and I certainly get enough amp power for my 6XX. I'm on low gain with the volume at about 12 o'clock and that is plenty. How much better would the either the X1S or X7 be over the Micca? Also what about the Aune B1S?
Brosefstalin42
260
Mar 30, 2018
Mark_MIdk about MacBook headphone port quality but I wouldn't want to hook up an amp to a headphone out from a laptop. The X1S via USB or optical would be better than the headphone out.
If you're satisfied with the Micca then the X1S would likely be perfect. If you plan on getting more headphones like Fostex TH-X00 or planar magnetic headphones, the X7 would have the power to make them sing via balanced out.
Mark_M
236
Mar 30, 2018
Brosefstalin42Well the X7 is only an amp so I would still need a DAC. would be too expensive for me to get both the X1S and X7. If I just buy the X7 I would need a DAC.
Brosefstalin42
260
Mar 30, 2018
Mark_MI typically recommend the Topping D30 but if that's too pricey the Behringer uca202 is a budget option for usb
Mark_M
236
Mar 30, 2018
Brosefstalin42Can I bypass the amp in the Micca and just use the DAC? There is an analog/optical 3.5mm out on the back of it.
Brosefstalin42
260
Mar 30, 2018
Mark_MThe switch on the front, does that switch it from headphone amp to line out? If so, you could do it that way but then you need a 3.5mm to L/R RCA.
The optical port on the Micca is an in, not an out.
Mark_M
236
Mar 30, 2018
Brosefstalin42Yes there is an optical input but the 3.5mm port beside it is both optical and analog. I have a 3.5mm to standard optical cable. The cable ends look like this: https://www.amazon.com/FosPower-Toslink-Digital-Connectors-Strain-Relief/dp/B00T8HWUVS/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1522430183&sr=1-3&keywords=3.5mm+optical+audio+cable
Brosefstalin42
260
Mar 30, 2018
Mark_MWell, either way, the X7 only has analog in (it can't take an optical in, the DAC converts optical to analog), so you'd need to use an analog line out, so unless the cable you have has a converter in the cable itself (which is pretty much never), you'd still need the 3.5mm to RCA cable.
Mark_M
236
Mar 30, 2018
Brosefstalin42True and I can do that from the Micca. The 3.5mm out on the back is combo analog/digital. So would I simply adjust the volume on the X7S?
Brosefstalin42
260
Mar 30, 2018
Mark_MYup. Line out bypasses the volume pot so it's just the pure (as pure as the DAC circuitry is, anyways) signal the DAC puts out and then the X7 will be the one you adjust. Typically recommend the source (MacBook it sounds like in your case) to be 70% to 100% volume for best results. You only want to turn the amp up as high as you need since the closer to 100% on the and you get, the more power and work the amp is using and doing, burning it out faster.
Mark_M
236
Mar 30, 2018
Brosefstalin42Well I don't think I'd have the amp up too high. I have my Micca on low gain with the volume at just shy of 12 o'clock. So I have lots of volume headroom left. The Micca claims to be able to power headphones up to 600Ohms.
Brosefstalin42
260
Mar 30, 2018
Mark_MIt depends on the amount of power they need. Most Beyerdynamic 600 ohm headphones only need about 100mW for peak performance, maybe a bit more for when you have strong bass, but only 100mW sustained. The HD650/6XX need about 200mW but when there's strong bass it can take up to 500mW at that instant, so if you're into strong, bass-heavy music, you need that extra headroom. You'd have to find the output into 32, 300, and/or 600 ohms to see if they truly do decently at powering 600 ohm headphones. I mean it's better than a typical headphone jack on a mobo or phone, but do they truly give enough power into 600 ohms? The X7 definitely will with blthe balanced power port.
Mark_M
236
Mar 30, 2018
Brosefstalin42I'm not too familiar with all the terminology. I do know that even max volume on low gain on my Micca with the 6XX is way too loud for me and high gain is much louder. .... How much more headroom is there on the X7 compared to the X1S? Is it really worth it just to get the balanced headphone out?
Brosefstalin42
260
Mar 30, 2018
Mark_MWell the 6XX is 300 ohms, the more ohms, the harder to power since it resists power. Efficient headphones are typically 32 ohms or less, though it's not ALWAYS true.
If you aren't thinking of picking up things that have high thresholds or high ohm ratings (beyerdynamics has 600 ohm headphone variants, and a lot of fostex/Denon headphones can take up to 2 watts [2000mw] of power). I have Audeze LCD-2 that are planar magnetic headphones and recommend at least 1 watt and can take up to 10 watts of power.
If you don't see yourself getting headphones like that, the X1S is a better deal all around. You also have to make sure the headphones have a balanced plug, so you'd have to buy balanced cables for your 6XX, I am buying balanced cables for my LCD-2, the Fostex TH-X00s on here need to be modded (or re-wired and re-terminated) to use balanced plugs. So that's an extra cost to keep in mind as well if they don't come with a balanced plug option (XLR 4-pin usually).
Mark_M
236
Mar 30, 2018
Brosefstalin42So the X1S 1/4" headphone jack is balanced? The cable which comes with 6XX won't work?
Brosefstalin42
260
Mar 30, 2018
Mark_MNo, the X1S is quarter inch single ended. The X7 has both a 4-pin XLR balanced port and a single ended quarter inch jack. If you want to use the balanced port of the X7 you'd have to buy cables that have a 4-pin XLR termination.
Mark_M
236
Mar 30, 2018
Brosefstalin42Yeah I know. But is balanced noticeably better than single ended?
Brosefstalin42
260
Mar 30, 2018
Mark_MAt this level, definitely not without headphones that don't have high power requirements. At four to five figure per DAC and per amp, maybe?
Like I said, unless you really want to get more headphones that require more power, the X1S is sufficient. If you don't want to get the $400+ headphones on here or other higher end headphones not on here (Audeze, Oppo, Hifiman, used Denon) you'll be just fine with the X1S.
Mark_M
236
Mar 30, 2018
Brosefstalin42Hmm okay. Thanks for all the help.
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