Sennheiser PC37X randomly goes bad after disconnecting the cable ?
Greetings, Yesterday I was using my headset like normal with my macbook, just listening to music and on a call with people like usual, and the headset was perfectly fine. The stock wire that came with the headset is extremely long and yesterday it annoyed me very much that it kept getting tangled with itself, so I decided to see if the cable is replaceable. I pulled out the cable from the headset and saw the adapter, and looked online for a replacement. Upon plugging it back in, the audio sounded extremely muffled and washed out. Im not sure what I did wrong to make it mess up like that as I've always taken good care of it, ive had it for about 2 years and its always just been chilling on my desk, but anywho I thought the cable just went bad and ordered a replacement. The replacement came, and the issue is still persistant, so I am not sure what the issue is I've tried multiple different headsets and the issue is not with the port, and I also tried it with my windows laptop and...
Apr 23, 2024
Some headphones can be quite difficult to drive - for example; the Sennheiser HD600 and HD6XX. A more powerful amplifier can help get the most out of these headphones.
Compared to motherboard DAC and Amp sections? Most high quality DACs and DAC/Amp combinations will offer improvements, both in terms of the supported output (Higher Bit Rate and Hardware decode of different formats of files like DSD etc). Plus, as a separate device in a separate chassis, interference from other components in the computer system will be lessened, however for most people this isn't too much of a problem.
Plenty of fans of high end audio like to experiment with different Amplifiers, as they can impart a different character to the sound when compared to other amplifiers - for example amplifiers using Vacuum tubes as part of the amplification topology tend to be regarded as "warmer" - meaning that the sound they produce can have a richer sound.
Past a certain price point however, the improvements per $ spent tend to tail off. This DAC/Amp will certainly be a step up over most on-motherboard solutions.
This amp would certainly be a comprehensive upgrade, however it's probably not going to be a good value if you're just looking for a step up from your Onboard Sound Card.
For a better value setup, if you're just getting started out, I'd consider a Fiio Q1 (Second Generation) - it's significantly less expensive and still very capable. As a plus, due to it's size, it'll afford you the ability to take it on the go and use it with your phone if you wish.
Check out reviews and don't forget, it's all about whether you're enjoying the listen.
I would say the amp is probably worth it for difficult to drive headphones, the dac is honestly probably not better enough from an objective standpoint. However, the way we experience music is affected by mood, state of mind, etc, including how we feel about looks or what we think should make a difference or even what we subconsciously hope might maybe make a difference. So the only correct way to judge a piece of equipment is to use it and then decide for yourself whether it was worth it to you or not.
90% of those guys don't know what they are talking about, and 'amplifying' things with placebos to justify their investment.