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Snorlaxx
1
Oct 4, 2018
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Just wondering has anyone tried using O2+SDAC to power IEMs. I have a variety of IEMs and only 2 pairs of open back, so far I been sticking with ibasso's portable AMP/DACs and I would like to try this. but would the lowest gain be too much for IEMs? targeting primarily to K3003, earsonic sm3, er4b, e5c and my ue11. Thank you guys.
Tokki_Kr
8
Oct 5, 2018
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SnorlaxxEach IEM would be different and you'd want to look at the impedance and sensitivity to determine whether you need one or not. For me i did purchase this because this one is 1x and 3.3x gain configuration, and here is what I did with mine.
I was driving my IEM (Triple Fi 10, Balanced Amateur Drivers) to test it out. I had to have volume knob at very low as BA-driver is much more sensitive and lower in impedance than the larger headphones (close to a point where volume cuts off to silence for me, which is also the point where minor channel imbalance could occur from O2 Amp design as this utilizes analog volume potentiometer) but that lowest level was at more than comfortable level. Therefore, I did reduce the input level (from PC) slightly lower which reduced the softest output and let the gain from amp do its job (since when we consider how amp works, it's simple as output = input + gain; You'd also have to think about impedance of sensitivity to see how that output would drive the IEM). Downside is, if you reduce the input too much and fully rely on the gain it could cause more hiss. For this, you could also utilize an attenuator to bridge between your IEM and amp which would utilize resistance to reduce the output reaching to your driver.
But remember, if your IEM is sensitive enough to be fully driven by whatever the source is, you don't need an amp. utilizing DAC however, is different story because your output method from source may provide dirty signal (like PC mobo 3.5mm jacks for example).
I was driving my IEM (Triple Fi 10, Balanced Amateur Drivers) to test it out. I had to have volume knob at very low as BA-driver is much more sensitive and lower in impedance than the larger headphones (close to a point where volume cuts off to silence for me, which is also the point where minor channel imbalance could occur from O2 Amp design as this utilizes analog volume potentiometer) but that lowest level was at more than comfortable level. Therefore, I did reduce the input level (from PC) slightly lower which reduced the softest output and let the gain from amp do its job (since when we consider how amp works, it's simple as output = input + gain; You'd also have to think about impedance of sensitivity to see how that output would drive the IEM). Downside is, if you reduce the input too much and fully rely on the gain it could cause more hiss. For this, you could also utilize an attenuator to bridge between your IEM and amp which would utilize resistance to reduce the output reaching to your driver.
But remember, if your IEM is sensitive enough to be fully driven by whatever the source is, you don't need an amp. utilizing DAC however, is different story because your output method from source may provide dirty signal (like PC mobo 3.5mm jacks for example).
Snorlaxx
1
Oct 5, 2018
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Tokki_Krthanks man, this helps a lot. and yeah, i do believe that DAC plays a more critical part when powering IEMs. However, i happen to notice that even for IEMs with low impedance and high sensitivity, an amp does make a difference. like for my k3003, there is a pretty noticeable difference when i hook it up with my old voyager from graham slee (a more holistic sound stage and a richer sound in general) than directly from my small ibasso AMP/DAC. I am using a DSD output from my pc to DAC so the output power pretty much all depends on whatever amp I have. so did you hear a background noise at 1x gain with your TF10 at low volume? Thats what i was worried cuz some of the low end amps performs poorly at low gains, like you said that there is a minor channel imbalance. so for what ever volume you are comfortable with regular listening, does the channel imbalance still remains? Thanks for your detailed reply and pardon me with all my questions. haha
Tokki_Kr
8
Oct 5, 2018
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Snorlaxx1. I did not notice any whitenoise at 1x gain from silent all the way up to comfortably loud level (knob going from 7 o'clock at mute to 9 o'clock) with both Triple Fi and ATH E40
2. I did notice the imbalance at very lowest to around 8 o'clock in volume knob, present at both TF and E40 but right after that point I had no issues with imbalance.
I did have to slightly lower the input level to have my softest comfortable level past that 8 o'clock (currently it's around 9 to 11 o'clock for softest comfortable to loudest) and didn't have any imbalance since. I tend to listen to music at softer level than many others so over-amplification at the quietest level was my initial concern. Thank goodness this is 1x/3.3x not the normal gain.
I hope my two cents can provide better judgement in your purchasing decision.... To bias you even more with my opinion I really like how mine sound :P
I did have to slightly lower the input level to have my softest comfortable level past that 8 o'clock (currently it's around 9 to 11 o'clock for softest comfortable to loudest) and didn't have any imbalance since. I tend to listen to music at softer level than many others so over-amplification at the quietest level was my initial concern. Thank goodness this is 1x/3.3x not the normal gain.
I hope my two cents can provide better judgement in your purchasing decision.... To bias you even more with my opinion I really like how mine sound :P
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