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tacit
0
Mar 12, 2016
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I found out about these through the LinusTechTips channel on youtube. I came late to the party of course but I still have a question. In a different video on this channel they mention that there's no point in buying expensive headphones if your audio hardware isn't up to snuff. Hence my question, is the sound device included in iMac's, MBP's powerful enough to enjoy these headphones?
tacit
0
Mar 12, 2016
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EasaThanks for the no nonsense reply. I've heard about amps and DACs but I didn't even know this brand, guess I have quite some reading ahead of me.
One thing I'm not clear on is the DAC. Am I correct in believing that it's not essential or is this where the greatest gain in sound quality is coming from?
Also, their Fulla product looks appealing for on the go. Would that work well with these headphones? Or would I be better off with a cheaper pair of headphones for when I'm mobile?
tkalxx
16
Mar 13, 2016
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tacitA DAC is a digital to analogue converter, every computer or phone has one built into their motherboards but they are usually not high quality. Adding an external DAC to your setup will generally make your music cleaner and more crisp depending on the DAC you settle for and of course the bitrate of your music. That being said, it's not essential but it does significantly improve quality. As for the Fulla, I've heard its good but there are better portables out there IMO. These phones are also pretty low demanding so a powerful amp wouldn't be necessary and in some cases I've heard they actually diminish sound quality.
tacit
0
Mar 13, 2016
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tkalxxYou say a powerful amp is not necessary does this mean the integrated amp suffices or just that I wouldn't need to spend more than X on one?
As for the portable amp/dac or just dac. What are these better alternatives? The FiiO Alpen 2 E17K that pops up everywhere?
tkalxx
16
Mar 13, 2016
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tacitAn integrated amp will most likely push these but what I meant was you don't kneed to go and buy something crazy that pushes 600ohm headphones because it's just overkill. If I were to get a super portable dac/amp I'd go for the fiio K1 (it won't support mobile) over the fulla but my opinion is pretty biased towards fiio.
gavin898898
38
Mar 13, 2016
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tacitThese headphones are easy to power. They are only 24 ohm. Apple earpods are 42 ohm. So basically, you can easily play these headphones through your iPhone or iMac or PC. However buying an entry level amp can make the headphone sound better. My ears are not "golden ears" that some other audiophiles have. But at least with an amp, I can hear the bass of the headphone sound better with more power (on the same volume compare to not using an amp).
Buying a dac or amp/dac combo maybe useful to make the music sound cleaner. But it usually depends on the source of your music. When I play my music through my iPod Touch 2G or though my PC (gigabyte motherboard) though the 3.5mm headphone jack. I can NOT hear any difference between using a dac or without a dac. (Maybe its my ears are not that sensitive) But if I play my music through my acer laptop though the 3.5mm jack, there is huge improvement in clarity when using a dac.
So basically it really depends on your source. After all spending about $200 on a entry level amp/dac is reasonable. FiiO / Schiit products are quite nice for entry level and you may not need to further upgrade your equipment if you are not a lunatic into high end expensive over a thousand dollar equipment.
Buying a dac or amp/dac combo maybe useful to make the music sound cleaner. But it usually depends on the source of your music. When I play my music through my iPod Touch 2G or though my PC (gigabyte motherboard) though the 3.5mm headphone jack. I can NOT hear any difference between using a dac or without a dac. (Maybe its my ears are not that sensitive) But if I play my music through my acer laptop though the 3.5mm jack, there is huge improvement in clarity when using a dac.
So basically it really depends on your source. After all spending about $200 on a entry level amp/dac is reasonable. FiiO / Schiit products are quite nice for entry level and you may not need to further upgrade your equipment if you are not a lunatic into high end expensive over a thousand dollar equipment.
Easa
10
Mar 13, 2016
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tacitSaying that headphone is easy to power because its only 24 ohm is nonsense. Its like saying this car must be super fast because it has 1000 horsepower (and it could in fact be just a slow but high power hauler) if you get the analogue. Yes, you could (and you probably will) have "loud" sound out of iMac sound device, but loud is not everything. Like the AKG products - almost every K7 series headphones have 62 ohms, and they are one of the most demanding headphones on the market.
Onboard device would and will never push these headphones to its full potential, its like buying a brand new Ferrari with 13 inch rims and offroad tyres. If you would compare sound of onboard audio device vs dedicated DAC like Schiit, the sound of onboard will have little to non existent soundstage, separation of instruments etc. Its hard to describe it, you need to hear it for yourself. I have Beyerdynamic DT880, and i am without DAC for some time at the moment, just the onboard DAC on my Dell M4800. Dont need to say that the sound i hear now is awful compared to what i am used to.
On your question of sound quality. If you want sound Quality, you need both (DAC + AMP). DAC is the essential and basic device for HiFi sound. DAC "produces" the sound signal (Digital - Analogue Converter, hence the DAC). If you will send sharp, balanced and overall "high quality" signal to the AMP, it will only make everything better sounding. If the sound signal is bad, then the AMP wont do a thing - Bass, mids and treble will be all better and more aggresive, but overall sound wont be better (guess what - you just amplificated something that is not good itself, so it simply wont be better even if you will amplificate it 5 times).
Onboard device would and will never push these headphones to its full potential, its like buying a brand new Ferrari with 13 inch rims and offroad tyres. If you would compare sound of onboard audio device vs dedicated DAC like Schiit, the sound of onboard will have little to non existent soundstage, separation of instruments etc. Its hard to describe it, you need to hear it for yourself. I have Beyerdynamic DT880, and i am without DAC for some time at the moment, just the onboard DAC on my Dell M4800. Dont need to say that the sound i hear now is awful compared to what i am used to.
On your question of sound quality. If you want sound Quality, you need both (DAC + AMP). DAC is the essential and basic device for HiFi sound. DAC "produces" the sound signal (Digital - Analogue Converter, hence the DAC). If you will send sharp, balanced and overall "high quality" signal to the AMP, it will only make everything better sounding. If the sound signal is bad, then the AMP wont do a thing - Bass, mids and treble will be all better and more aggresive, but overall sound wont be better (guess what - you just amplificated something that is not good itself, so it simply wont be better even if you will amplificate it 5 times).
gavin898898
38
Mar 13, 2016
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tacitWell different people have different levels of hearing. At the end of the day, only you yourself can tell. That is why dac and amp prices scale from $100 dollar and up to few thousand dollar or more. Go sell your car and use that money to buy some high end equipment if you think it worth it. Or buy some entry grade equipment for a reasonable good listening experience.
This review on head-fi talked about the sound when paring with an iPhone 6 and other dac/ amp. http://www.head-fi.org/t/788776/fostex-x-massdrop-th-x00-review
This review on head-fi talked about the sound when paring with an iPhone 6 and other dac/ amp. http://www.head-fi.org/t/788776/fostex-x-massdrop-th-x00-review
CobraTaco
41
Mar 13, 2016
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gavin898898Since I'm lazy i'm just going to copy/pasta my research from a few pages ago regarding amps. You want a DAC to output the highest fidelity signal possible to your amp for best results. When it comes to an amps' ability to drive a pair of headphones, Ohms aren't the whole story:
I've since done some research, and come to the conclusion that I was wrong. Impedance is a key factor, but it is ignorant to completely ignore the other factors. I have determined an amps' ability to "drive" headphones comes down to these main factors:
-dampening ratio (amp Ohm / headphone Ohm) -amps' supplied current -headphones sensitivity to that current (sound pressure / millawatt) -impedance curve match-up (amp curve / headphone curve)
Acceptable listening volume is not the same as being properly driven. I'm not ashamed to admit when I'm wrong but I think the main thing was I misunderstood what properly "driving" a headphone meant, and that it's possible to listen to a headphone that's LOUD but not "driven".
I've since done some research, and come to the conclusion that I was wrong. Impedance is a key factor, but it is ignorant to completely ignore the other factors. I have determined an amps' ability to "drive" headphones comes down to these main factors:
-dampening ratio (amp Ohm / headphone Ohm) -amps' supplied current -headphones sensitivity to that current (sound pressure / millawatt) -impedance curve match-up (amp curve / headphone curve)
Acceptable listening volume is not the same as being properly driven. I'm not ashamed to admit when I'm wrong but I think the main thing was I misunderstood what properly "driving" a headphone meant, and that it's possible to listen to a headphone that's LOUD but not "driven".
gavin898898
38
Mar 14, 2016
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CobraTacoNice, I am currently using Schiit Modi 2 and Asgard 2 to power all of my headphones for most of my time. I know dac and amp are important and I always use them. But I don't have other higher end equipment to test and compare, so all I am saying is just based on my listening on the Modi 2 and Asgard 2. Hope I can have my hands on some higher end equipment to compare in the future. Cuz only base on specs and number its really hard to tell. Compare the Schiit Modi 2 /Asgard 2 combo with my iPod Touch 2G on a low (42) independence headphone. All I can tell is the tighter bass and the bass sounded with more energy. Maybe my HEARING is CRAP or my ears are Destroyed by the loud music in clubs idk LOL.
At this point in time, I am quite satisfied with my entry level dac and amp. Hope my listening experience can help others who just started their career in the audiophile world.
At this point in time, I am quite satisfied with my entry level dac and amp. Hope my listening experience can help others who just started their career in the audiophile world.
SenorPlatano
389
Mar 15, 2016
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gavin898898A good amp matters the most for a high impedance headphone. A computer already has a DAC.
LeQwasd
62
Mar 15, 2016
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SenorPlatanoThese dacs and amps are so overhyped lately. Like 3~4 years ago, you couldnt hear anything anywhere about them (I am not saying they were not there). Now they are everywhere, everyone produces them, everyone claims they are "audiophile" quality, and each and every one of them does exactly the same thing. At the prices they are, and how zombified their customers are about this, well, good for them. They are raking nice profit.
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