Need some help on this guys,
Currently weighing up this vs an Asgard 2 / Modi 2 stack.
To keep it simple, here's my cans listed below and what I currently amp with.
Ath - msr7
Fostex th-x00 PH
AKG 7xx
Sennheiser HD 6xx
Sennheiser hd800s ( potential future buy )
Currently using a sound blaster E5 usb DAC amp and looking for something what will power the HD 650s better and generally sound a lot better than the E5.
Should I be looking up another price bracket to expect improvements over the E5?
If not, what's the better option for my cans... Shiit combo or this. I'm stuck on what to buy and don't want to end up with 10 amps laying around.
DF85In terms of synergy, this will be better for your MSR7, K7XX and potential HD800. The Schiit stack you mentioned will be better for your HD6XX. This is probably the better all round amp with more power, balanced in / out and is the more integrated solution.
DF85Both would be great options. It really depends on if you plan to leverage the balanced input/outputs of the LCX or if you'll just be using single-ended.
iatsbohdanThe Schiit stack is brighter and more aggressive, it's got better synergy with the darker sounding HD6XX. OTOH with the LCX you're combining a laid back amp with a laid back headphone that will lull you to sleep.
DF85It's worth noting that the modi 2 has the worst measurements around (see audiosciencereview). The noise probably isn't audible (considering how popular it is), but there are plenty of bus-powered dacs that don't have this issue.
Jackuladarker amps actually suit the hd6xx better, hence the reason the hd650 is so commonly paired with tubes or color. The LQ was one of the most recommended SS amps for the hd650 because of it's slight, tube-like warmth and I can confirm. You want an amp that works with your headphones signature, not one that fights it.
UzuzuIt's not about fighting the sound signature, it's about maintaining tonal integrity and you can only do it with a neutral amp. Personally I like something that is spot on neutral, so it does not compromise (neither enhance nor degrade) the perfect tonal characteristics the HD650 is famous for.
JackulaHonestly the hd650 doesn't sound bad out of a cold amp, but it does sound sterile. It can't come to life. The speedball mod isn't SS like. It's just a smooth tube sound carrying good detail. Doesn't change the point. Cold vs warm doesn't always mean more vs less detail. The hd650 is awesome for it's scalability and responds well to both. The crack is awesome because it brings out all of the hd650s strengths.
Thanks for listening though I appreciate your opinion. My tastes definitely sit at neutral as well.
Favorite headphone?
UzuzuYes, favorite headphone at any price point, you too? Would pick it over a darker LCD3 or technically superior HD800 :) Perhaps the LCD3 is really meant for people who prefer a darker signature and it really doesn't take much to get it performing its best. The HD650 isn't everyone's cup ol' tea though, too dark or too slow are common complaints.
iatsbohdanmaybe, i dunno. That’s subjective. But the difference from a $4500 amp and a $2000 amp and a $500 amp is so big that it discouraged me from buying the 800s altogether, because all of the sudden I realised I was about to spend $6200 for a pair of headphones that are so open and loud that they are basically speakers that everyone else can hear anyways. however the sound was so damn good that I knew if I had money to blow, this is what it would have been spent on.
UzuzuThere is at least one commercial amp designer that recommends spending less than $250. Then again, placebos have very real physiological effects (and side effects). No reason not to use them in entertainment.
HaVoCTzuI feel like you are missing the point here, but yes, since I hate the way the 800S sounds out of everything up to and including a Moon 430HA, I'm not going to waste my money on them.
HaVoCTzuRight, because that is the one amp on earth that will make it not sound like an Hd800S? Here's a better idea: I should buy a pair of headphones I actually like. Oh wait, I already did that.
shimageLol that's fair I guess, I just happened to be on this convo thread and getting the notifications and saw you being a prickly pear. The name calling was a bit childish though, so I do apologize for that dick move.
shimageIts worth mentioning that this is only true on ASR. They also only measured jitter and nothing else. Modi 2 is a perfectly fine DAC that measures fine as well.
cspirouTrue, but Marv apparently always uses a wyrd inline when testing usb performance, presumably because he sees jitter when it's not there... Personally, I would rather just buy a dac that doesn't have these issues for the same price than have to also get a wyrd, which effectively doubles the price.
shimageUSB noise is just one aspect. If it can resolve well despite the noise then maybe someone would accept the trade off. But you wouldn't be able to know due to lack of info.
cspirouI don't really see the trade off side of things, though. Other cheap dacs (eg, Topping D30) just measure better than the modi 2 does, even ignoring the jitter. I haven't heard the modi 2, but I assume it sounds fine. The differences are all well below the threshold of audibility.
DF85Hello, I am noob to this, do you use different cable for AKG 7XX or you just plug into the SE end, if you plug into the balance end, what cable do you use ?
Currently weighing up this vs an Asgard 2 / Modi 2 stack.
To keep it simple, here's my cans listed below and what I currently amp with.
Ath - msr7 Fostex th-x00 PH AKG 7xx Sennheiser HD 6xx Sennheiser hd800s ( potential future buy )
Currently using a sound blaster E5 usb DAC amp and looking for something what will power the HD 650s better and generally sound a lot better than the E5.
Should I be looking up another price bracket to expect improvements over the E5?
If not, what's the better option for my cans... Shiit combo or this. I'm stuck on what to buy and don't want to end up with 10 amps laying around.