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
I also own SH HD 595, ATH AD700, Sony MDR V600 and Shure SE215 in ears, but I don't think they will gain anything from an AMP, maybe from a DAC yes.
Thanks for helping!!
The T1 with stock tube, compared to Modi+Magni and ODAC+O2 - the mids are more forward, airy and the treble is a lot smoother. The dynamics are better than the Modi+Magni and much better than the ODAC+O2. Overall it's a warm and immersive. With the stock tube there is some bloat in the mid-bass, but even then it's still much better than the other two.
From what I was told by someone who has a Schiit Yggdrasil (their $2k flagship DAC), the DAC part of the Aune T1 sounds just as good. Which is pretty impressive given the T1 is less than 10% of the price.
The recs here are all good. But, I know the ODAC+O2 drive the hd6XX very well! It is a workhorse dac/amp combo. If you only plan to use them at your desk, and can spare ~$200, then just grab it. I recommend getting it from JDS labs and checking out the b-stock. You'll save $ and there really isn't much wrong. JDS is a Chicago outfit and they are super helpful. https://www.jdslabs.com/store/#b-stock
The DAC isn't as much of a concern as is the amp. You really do need a decent amp to drive the 6XX well enough to appreciate the money you spent on them. Almost every amp on massdrop right now would be adequate. Almost any standalone DAC will sound better than your computer, but the iPhone already puts out a very nice signal. Moreover, the signal from your computer isn't as bad as its impedance and that is what is going to kill your ability to drive those cans.
If you want to do double duty from your phone and computer the OPPO-HA2SE is a great choice (expensive):
https://www.amazon.com/OPPO-portable-headphone-amplifier-OPP-HA2SE/dp/B01LYKI8XQ/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1505092257&sr=8-7&keywords=oppo
But, just to be real clear, you need an amp more than you need a dac. Even this Fiio portable will do a pretty good job of driving the hd6XXs (just enough): https://www.amazon.com/A5-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier-Black/dp/B01MS4RTWM/ref=pd_cp_23_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01MS4RTWM&pd_rd_r=4MQTFE4X4XW03XCFQCZQ&pd_rd_w=z2sq0&pd_rd_wg=72kJP&psc=1&refRID=4MQTFE4X4XW03XCFQCZQ
that being said i thought i would give the hd6xx a shot. my m50x headphones are great, i put a mod mic on them and they are better then any gaming headset i have ever heard. i also have used sony mdrv6 headphones which i thought were great, just wish they had a removable/changeable cable. i was really close to modding them.
i have a z270 formula, i think yours is the same. our boards will auto detect high impedance headphones and adjust accordingly. i am going to test that out first before buying a $100 - $200 device for a placebo effect. i guess im just not an audiophile. let me know what you end up getting and how it goes!
I am a glad owner of HD650 and I use them with valhalla from shiit http://www.schiit.com/products/valhalla-2 , I believe it is common opinion shiit valhalla is the best choice for HD 650 from price/quality viewpoint. The better option for this price could be hand-made AMP. As DAC I use bivrost from shiit also.
EDIT: One more advice! In my opinion (and many other users in variety adiophile forums) it is really worth to replace original cable from HD650 for a better one. One option is to go for a handmade cable based on Furutech jack (google it). Someone on your city should be glad to make handmade cable with furuteh jack for a total of ~80$ (ask on some adiophile forum who can make it - it is really worth to get one). The difference is not subtle it's huge. I strongly recommend to replace for a better cable.
Bang for your buck there is fewer competition then Little Dot... Still have the MK VIII SE, and paired with his Dac 1 using optical it was very very close in terms of quality before I stepped up to HeadAmp GS-X MkII paired with Wyred4Sound Dac 2 DSD. There are a ton of options! Balanced is the way to go, now with my HD800's pondering some Focal Utopia's...
https://youtu.be/elsjRoOt8AM
But you don't really need balanced for the HD6XX, there won't be any benefits. Just get a good quality SE amp (like the CTH), it will be better than balanced at the same price point.
Alternatively, at the drop price of $300, it will be better than anything else at this price point: https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-alex-cavalli-liquid-carbon-x-amp
The Aune T1se I saw on Amazon from Earth Wind & Sound for $169 but it comes with a 110v power adapter (for anyone interested in USA https://www.amazon.com/gp/aag/main/ref=olp_merch_name_1?ie=UTF8&asin=B01ALDJSPS&isAmazonFulfilled=0&seller=A39FYOOLAVWOQ7). I will need a 220v adapter. I contacted the maker and he agreed to send it for $245.
For about the same price I can buy the Modi2+Magni2 and ship it for $245.
At +$20 more the OBJECTIVE2+ODAC COMBO REVB with some cosmetic wear I can buy and shit for $265
The Darkvoice is $200 now, but I will need a separate DAC. I can pair with Grace SDAV for another $80 this is all before shipping which will probably be $15 each for a total of $310. Maybe it's worth getting just the Darkvoice and see if my MB onboard does a good job?
The Modi2+Vali2 I can buy and ship for $320.
Then there is the Massdrop CTH+SDAC for $320+$15s&h at a total of $335.
So... having not heard any of these options I have, I really don't know what I should go for, and if the price jumps from option to option are worth it. which is my best option?
It's funny that the equipment to drive the headphones end up costing more than the headphones themselves, but that's life.
DAC wise, Modi and ODAC are very similar sonically, holistically I'd say they are the same. O2 vs Modi on the other hand, I find the O2 better quality than the Modi, but the Modi does more power. Between the two, I'd take ODAC+O2 every time. SDAC is based on the ODAC, it's much the same. But, the Aune T1se is far superior to both, even with the stock tube. Yes I have listened to all 3 extensively and the T1 is so much better. The DAC section of the T1 rivals the Schiit Yggdrasil!
On the topic that surrounding gear costing more than your headphones. It really does become like that, for every audiophile I know. I'm running $300 headphones, with a $2k DAC and a $2k amp. I also have a set of $3k bookshelf speakers, with a $5k DAC and $4k amp. When you think about it, your DAC and amp are meant to outlast your output device, because tastes change.
If it was me I'd either get a DarkVoice and then an external DAC, or the Aunt T1se to get the HD6XX 90% there, and then buy the DarkVoice if I really need to. Not sure if your motherboard DAC will really cut it.
The Cavalli Liquid Carbon (https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-alex-cavalli-liquid-carbon-x-amp) is just an AMP though, right? I will have to get a separate DAC as well. Which then? @zhouharvey suggested Modi2 There is also the Cavalli Tube Hybrid (https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-cth-sdac-dac-amp) which has a built in SDAC. Why not that? In what way is choosing one of the above going to be better than to get an Aune T1se? (can get it for $235 including shipping)
Everyone can have their own opinions on DAC and amp, so my suggestions are just my own. When I listened to a Modi and Magni, I was comparing to an ODAC and O2, tried every combination, Modi > O2, ODAC > Magni etc and ended up picking the ODAC and then bought the O2 later on. That said, I think the two aren't very different in the grand scheme of things.
I've never listened to the Cavalli stuff, and the only people on earth who listened to the CTHare the people who built it and the reviewers at InnerFidelity. What I do know is the Liquid Carbon is the better amp. CTHhas a more neutral sound to it while LC is warmer. The warm sound of the LC would be a better match for the dark and neutral sound of the HD6XX. But you would want to use the balanced output on the LC.
It's a shame they sell the T1 as an integrated unit, the amp section is nothing special. Aune probably know this so they force you to buy both the DAC and amp as one.
If I was to rank based on my personal opinion:
DAC wise: Modi <= ODAC < T1 Amp wise: Magni <= O2 <= T1 < CTH < LC
Any point in waiting for this? · Massdrop LCX+SDAC is in progress but not yet developed. (No guarantees, hopefully in 2017.) https://www.massdrop.com/talk/2363/audiophile-custom-products-dac-amp-update-9-18-2017
If not, I will go for the T1 (for now), and maybe look for another LC drop down the line.
Thank you
Power wise, the Magni 3 will be better than the Aune T1, and will lead to better transients. Sound wise the T1 will have a warmer presentation and will be a better match in character. From my experience, the best pairing with a HD6XX is always a warm sounding amp, which really adds a layer of euphonic complexity to the dark sounding HD6XX.
the best
Thanks to all of you for the help. great community here.