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Evanb
0
Jul 11, 2017
Hey everyone, got in on this drop forst phase of the second drop and this will be my first set of higher end headphones. Im wanting an amp to pair with these and im completely ignorant when it comes to different models. Anyone have recommendations to help out?
RiflemanFirst
685
Jul 11, 2017
EvanbSchiit Jotunheim w/ Balanced DAC if you have some money to spend. You will not be disappointed.
Big-Al
54
Jul 11, 2017
EvanbYou can be like me and spend months and a few $1,000's looking for the best match for the HD6X0, or go straight for one of the winning combinations that we have found:
Like others have said, Jotunheim with Dac and be done. ($499), Also Schiit Vahalla 2 for $350 (plus a dac) or if you really have the money go for the Sennheiser HDVA600 ($1599).
Panzer17
85
Jul 11, 2017
Big-AlBottlehead Crack is also great, especially with Speedball upgrade. It's probably the best amp under $1k for the HD650.
Big-Al
54
Jul 11, 2017
Panzer17Yes I agree. I have a Crack + Speedball and I love it. But I wouldn't recommend it as your only / main amp for the HD6X0. if you already have a clean and powerful solid state amp for your HD6X0 then the next step would be the Crack+Speedball. The thing is that in my opinion the crack is only worth it fully upgraded. But that makes it almost $1000. and there are more options with that budget.
I love my crack+speedball. And I recommend it for anyone looking for an awesome tube amp for under $1k.
But it if you are budged constricted I would look at the choices mentioned above.
Just whatever you do, remember that if you want to hear what all the "audiophiles" rave about when it comes to the HD6X0, you have to feed it good, clean, powerful signal.
Sennheiser these headphones to be used with the $1599 HDVA-600 amp I mentioned above.
So you will get what you put in them. If you are just going to listen from your phone, there are way better options out there under $150.
I personally recomend the Philips SHP9500S
Evanb
0
Jul 12, 2017
RiflemanFirstBy adding the DAC, that is functioning as an input to run from your pc correct? And does that mean I need to purchase different headphone cables as I've heard the ones it comes with aren't balanced.
RiflemanFirst
685
Jul 12, 2017
EvanbIf you get the Jotunheim with the balanced DAC option, it connects to the computer via USB cable. You can connect your headphones to the Jotunheim's headphone outputs with either a balanced cable (which you would have to buy separately) or the provided 3.5mm/1/8" cable using a 6.3mm/1/4" adapter. Most people find that the HD600 family of headphones sound best using a balanced cable.
Silverion77
59
Jul 13, 2017
EvanbCan also just get a Vali 2 for $170. People swear by the combination.
RiflemanFirst
685
Jul 13, 2017
Silverion77I personally use the Schiit Vali 2 amp with a Schiit Modi Multibit DAC. Sounds great with all my headphones so far, including the HD650 and TH-X00 EB.
Evanb
0
Jul 13, 2017
RiflemanFirstAny recommendation on who to grab that cable from? Does Senn. sell directly or is there a recommended 3rd party
RiflemanFirst
685
Jul 13, 2017
EvanbSennheiser does sell an expensive balanced cable: https://en-us.sennheiser.com/ch-650-s
Honestly, there are tons of third party companies that make them also, generally much less expensive. Occasionally, Massdrop sells the ZY HD6XX Balanced Cable for around $65 if I'm not mistaken. You might also look into "Best in the Verse" cables to custom build a cable to your exact preferences.
Big-Al
54
Jul 14, 2017
Silverion77I gave the vali2 modi2 stack an honest try. It just wasn't worth it for it the HD6X0. Not enough power. It's hard to explain or understand what I am talking about until you have listened to the HD6X0 from a powerful, clean amp. And by powerful I am talking at a minimum a amp that can push 500mw at 300 ohm.
Remember that these headphones have 300 ohm resistance and a 600 ohm spike around 100 hz. So the power that the amp can supply at that resistance is what matters. The Vali 2 puts out 270mw at 300 ohm. Enough to get them loud. But not enough to unlock their full potential. These cans have so much more to offer. Way more.
To to unlock the pure music nirvana of these headphones I recommend a minimum of 500mw at 300 ohms. But my personal standard is what the Vahalla 2 offers,
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800mw at 300 ohms 450mw at 600 ohms.
Thats power. And so fresh and so clean. This is what you want if you want to experience your new headphones at their amazing potential.
Or for $50 more you can have a Jot for more power, more fresh, and more clean.
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900mw at 300 ohm (balanced) 500mw at 600 ohm (balanced)
Oh yeah it has a completely balanced topography (that means it is two completely separate amps, one per channel) and for $100 you can add a Dual-Mono Dac.
The Jot + HD6X0 = Mind Blown. Get it, and we will be BFF'S.
You are welcome.
RiflemanFirst
685
Jul 14, 2017
Big-AlGood to know. I think the Modi Multibit & Vali 2 (in high gain mode) sounds great with my HD650s, so I am definitely curious to hear how they sound on a significantly more powerful amp. I eventually plan to get a Jotunheim, maybe later on this year. Still deciding if I want the DAC add-on or just continue using my Modi Multibit as a DAC with the Jot.
Big-Al
54
Jul 14, 2017
RiflemanFirstI didn't have any complaints about how it sounded, just that it didn't sound any better than other amps I already owned. So there was no point to spending the money and I returned it. And put the money towards the Jot.
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you are in a really good spot though, because you have a really good DAC, probably the best DAC out there for the money.
I really like the the sound of the built in DAC in the Jot, but the Modi2 multibit is a better DAC with more features. The only advantage the built in DAC has is that it is balanced (one dac per channel) and that adds to the channel and instrument separation. But the benefits of having a multibit DAC I think outweigh that.
And on reviews of people I trust the number 1 recommended DAC for the Jot/HD650 combo is the Modi Multibit. So you are halfway there already.
After I upgrade to a Modi2 Multibit I will be set with audio equipment for the time being. Then my sights are set on my End Game rig: Stax L700 + LRS 353X. That $1400 for the ear speakers and $1000 for the Energizer. Now that I have listened to that, nothing else comes close.
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