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HGG.massdrop
2
Feb 11, 2018
Hi, I just purchased my pair of these, waiting for em to ship in july, super excited. I was wondering, I'm currently using an audioquest dragonfly black dac/amp , are they insufficient for a pair of headphones like the HD 6XX, and if it's worth it to look for an upgrade now. Forgive my ignorance in audiophile related stuff, this is my first big purchase haha
Thanks guys
nemesisA
0
Feb 11, 2018
HGG.massdropIt definitely worth a better DAC/AMP. Your 6XX/650 will sound completely different. Ofc i am not talking about those setup >$1500. But at least with a around $200-$250 desktop AMP/DAC combo, the resolution and soundstage much better compared to dragonfly stuffs.
If you can reach stores selling these stuffs nearby, go for it and have a try.
PeteMtl
444
Feb 11, 2018
HGG.massdropThe Dragonfly black has an output voltage of only 1.2v, higher than most smartphones and comparable to the output of a Macbook Pro. It may be ok for the HD6xx as these headphones do not require a lot of power to be driven. I think they produce 103db with 1mw of power. So 8 mw would be all you need for these headphones if you listen to them at moderate levels. The problem is that the headphones have an average impedance of over 300 ohms and reaches 480 ohms in some mid bass frequencies (around 80-120 hz if I recall right). This factor is very demanding on the output voltage, but not so much on the output current. You may listen to your headphones at moderate levels, nevertheless sometimes peaks in your music will be more demanding. And if you wish to listen to your headphones at higher than moderate levels, you will need a voltage output closer or over 2v at minimum. Therefore while your DFB could do it for moderate volumes such as when in the living room while drinking a glass of wine and reading a book or magazine, I suggest a higher powered amp for your HD6xx. The DFR Red could do it, if you are not too demanding on your output volume. I use the DFR with my HD6xx when I need portability with my iPhone or iPad units. The DFR Red provides 2v of output voltage, a lot better for a high impedance headphone like the HD6xx. It provides enough power for moderate to higher than moderate levels. It may be enough for you, or you may still require more power if your listening habits pushes you to high to very high volume outputs. Then you will need a more powerful DAC/amp such as the Schiit Magni3, the O2, the Cavalli amps, or other higher grade tube or solid state transistor amps. But for portability, I truly recommend the Dragonfly Red with the HD6xx. In my opinion a very good match one for the other sonically, and enough power for moderate to slightly higher than moderate output volume levels. The sound quality is nothing short of outstanding. If you need more power you may still use the Red in DAC mode with a higher powered and higher grade headphone amplifiers. The HD6xx and the DFR are two of my best audio purchases of the last years. The O2/SDAC and Schiit Modi/Magni3 are also gears that I would recommend if you don’t need portability.
chrisjcarey116
0
Feb 11, 2018
HGG.massdropHave a look at the Chord Mojo, a great bit of kit that does the job very very well.
PeteMtl
444
Feb 11, 2018
chrisjcarey116I agree, but it is not in the same price bracket as the other suggested
HGG.massdrop
2
Feb 11, 2018
PeteMtlThanks for the advice lads, I wasn't expecting such an in-depth response haha, I'm completely ignorant about DACs and amps.
Half_Life
8
Feb 12, 2018
nemesisAI agreed with you, recently I got AKG K7XX from massdrop. When I plugged in the sound wasn't good enough, even though I just build a brand new PC using i7-8700k . So I ordered The Element AMP/DAC combo, after plugging the 7XX to The Element OMG everything changed. The music, movies, and gaming sounds change. Without the element sound was bad, I don't think I would enjoy the headphone with the element. So if you want to enjoy the cans, you need a good amp/dac combo. Now I am waiting for HD 6XX and enjoying 7XX using The Element.
DL2018
0
Feb 12, 2018
HGG.massdropSennheiser packages the HD650 with the Apogee Groove, an USB DAC and headphone amp. This bypasses the DAC in the computer or phone.
https://en-ca.sennheiser.com/audiophile-headphones-high-end-hd-650
DL2018
0
Feb 12, 2018
ViciousBunny
20
Feb 13, 2018
HGG.massdropI’m only using a Schiit Fulla 2(~$100) DAC/Amp to drive my HD650’s and it does a nice job but Schiit Audio has the Schiit Stack for about $200. Schiit makes some good....well you know but they do make a range of stuff and their entry level stack is supposed to be good for good price.
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