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eric21
17
Dec 5, 2017
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will the audioquest dragonfly 1.2 dac/amp power these headphones?
Dec 5, 2017
bbisset
48
Dec 5, 2017
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eric21No..sorry. HD6XXs are pretty inefficient
Dec 5, 2017
DimaG
610
Dec 5, 2017
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eric21My crappy little Galaxy S8+ can easily drive these headphones, so I'm sure a dedicated component would manage, even if it's not optimal. There's this phenomenon in recent years to get audio gear that exceeds the price of the transducers, which is absolute bonkers... My tip, based on experience, is to first try them with what you have, then decide if you really need an upgrade.
Dec 5, 2017
mattris
1260
Keyboard Club Member
Dec 6, 2017
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DimaGGiven that this latest drop of HD6XX won't be delivered until March/April, those who join will have plenty of time to plan their next DAC/amp purchase.
Also, keep in mind that not all DAC/amps are created equal. Most people focus only on quantity of sound (maximum potential volume) that a DAC/amp can output... but forget about the quality of the sound produced, as well as its character and how it pairs with one's headphones. All DAC/amps' internal circuitry/components affect the overall sound.
Finally, no phone can properly power the HD6XX. To sound anywhere close to their potential, the HD6XX needs more juice than almost small amps can dish-out. For the best portable DAC/amp under $200, I recommend the iFi nano iDSD Black Label. (iFi even features a picture of the HD650 on its main page!)
Dec 6, 2017
Jisheng
257
Keyboard Club Member
Dec 6, 2017
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mattrisNo phone? What about the LG v20 and V30? From what I hear, the amp in the phone has a high gain that can power the headphones.
Dec 6, 2017
jah_offisah808
32
Dec 7, 2017
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JishengI have LG V30 and we'll see when my 6XX comes in Dec.20th. The LG V30 can drive any headphones from 50 ohm to 600 ohms. But what I'm wondering how will it sound different from using an actual headphone amp.
Dec 7, 2017
jah_offisah808
32
Dec 7, 2017
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mattrisHave you looked at Schiit.com and might want look at the Jotunheim AMP/DAC combo with a balanced termination.
Dec 7, 2017
mattris
1260
Keyboard Club Member
Dec 7, 2017
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jah_offisah808I own the iFi micro iDSD Black Label, the single-ended (1/4") headphone-out of which is superior to the Jottenheim's... which admittedly, I have not had a chance to hear. On the other hand, the Jottenheim's 4-pin XLR balanced-out provides much higher quality/power than its standard 1/4"... and really the only reason to purchase the unit since other DAC/amps exist in that price range that offer superior/smoother sound from their single-ended-out. (The Cavalli units for recently sale on Massdrop come to mind, as well as the newer nano/micro offerings from iFi.)
Those LG phones may have excellent built-in DAC/amps (for a phone), but I stand by my previous statement that no phone can properly drive the 300-ohm, power-hungry HD6XX.
I would bet that most purchasing the HD6XX think they have taken a full step into the world of "hi-fi headphones". But plugging them into a laptop/PC/tablet/phone will not be result in sound anywhere close to their full potential.
Everyone, a dedicated DAC/amp is required for the HD6XX!
Dec 7, 2017
chtorran
2
Dec 7, 2017
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JishengCan confirm, LG V20 is capable of driving the HD6xx. At 50 on volume (max is 75) they are loud enough to listen to many genres. At 65-70, they are quite loud with no distortion and I have to turn them down to listen comfortably. Sound quality is excellent and others who have auditioned my HD6xxs and my V20 are amazed at the quality and clarity.
Dec 7, 2017
mattris
1260
Keyboard Club Member
Dec 7, 2017
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chtorranI'm sure your HD6XX/V20 combo gets "loud" enough. That wasn't my point. Like the HD650, the HD6XX scales well. With more power (Watts and voltage) on tap, dynamic range will increase, and you'll hear clearer bass response.
DAC/amps affect the overall sound signature you will get from headphones. These attributes include clarity, channel separation, and frequency response.
I'm sure people think your combo sounds good, and most have probably never heard a good headphone rig before before.
Dec 7, 2017
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