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Simthaniel
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merrick97
Should I exchange the PC38X for better headphones?
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LostnAmerica
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Fabulous
Looking for a gaming/content audio setup
Hello! I'm looking for recommendations on audio setups. I'd be planning on using it mostly for gaming. Preferably I'd like a pair of large closed back headphones since I have a big head and jaw. I'd also like to hear myself through my mic with mic monitoring. As far as budget goes, I don't really have one. But under 600$ would be nice. I can go higher if needed. The audio setup would be connected to a high performance PC. Thank you in advance for any recommendations!
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$10 Drop Coupon Email not sent?
Trying to buy some gear off Drop for the first time. I was told I would receive an email with a welcome to drop $10 off promo. I never received that email. Drop was able to send me emails for my login token and email for Password update. But for some reason the $10 off coupon was never sent to me.
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NMPacella
New here
Hello, I just joined, primarily for the audiophile products. Looking at purchasing the NHT C3 speakers for our new living room. Space is about 15 feet wide by 33 long and they will fire long ways. Space is just for general listening, music room with all equipment is downstairs, so hoping they will fill it with sound nicely. Cheers.
Mar 18, 2024
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Next subject I'd mention is that of upgrading the standard cable to something more...expensive.
I did, and don't recommend my choice. My purpose in doing so was to utilize the balanced connection on the Schiit Jotunhiem DAC/AMP. I chose the Van Damme Audio Instrument balanced cable. Verdict: not really worth it. Perhaps some benefit to the sound quality, but the cable itself is heavy, long and difficult to connect to the 6XX (the stock cables just plug right into the left and right sockets but the Van Damme's are very fidgety to insert an once connected, don't feel that secure). That, and obviously you're not going to plug the business end of that balanced cable to anything portable. In the end it's just easier to stick with one cable that works with both your desk set up and carry along set up.
All that aside, I'm pretty sure you'll like the sound of the 6XXs.
Update: Happy to report MD accepted my return of the Van Damme cable; no questions asked.
I really appreciate your'e feedback on the cable. I was wondering if it was worth getting a balanced cable and im starting to think its not worth it unless I come into some random money.
I'm guessing your 6XXs won't take as long as ours did (rumor had it that our container ship was hijacked and held for ransom by Somali Pirates). Now I hear MD actually has yours in stock somewhere in America!
Good luck ;- )
I didnt know they are in America already that's so awesome! I thought I was going to have to wait until August.
I'm curious as hell to compare the 6xx to the 4xxs. I suppose it's Apples to Oranges, but it's hard to imagine not liking one over the other for some reason. I was tempted by the AKG K7XXs too, but resisted. I don't really want to become one of those guys with 50 headphones.
By the way, I decided to return that Van Damm cable. MD said no problem and sent me a UPS label. Much as I bitch about them, they do tend to make things right.
I too wonder which I will like more but I thought Id go with the sennheisers since they have such a great reputation. Ive never heard someone say they HATE the 6XX/650.
The Sennheiser HD 6XX cable (similar to the cable that came bundled with my HD 650 & Apogee Groove combo, except mine is shorter) is actually pretty nice quality. Supple, light, left and right channels are kept separate till they reach the termination plug, only thing is the termination plug isn’t a fancy looking carbon fiber affair.
I’ve tried aftermarket cables with an AKG K712 Pro, a Sony at a CanJam RMAF, and three different cables with my Sennheiser HD 800. The stock cable is already quite good, so getting a cheap cable would probably be a downgrade. I heard the HD 800 first time when a friend let me listen to his, with a cool looking Norne Draug cable. Looked sick in the red color, was thinner than the stock cable, and I got shivers the moment first song started playing (among other reactions), but we didn’t compare to stock so I have no idea. First time/brand I definitely heard something different just because of a cable was my buddy bringing over a DanaCable. That thing kicked ***, the balance of frequency response seemed the same but the dynamics, impact, and clarity were so much obviously better that it shocked me. Based on prior experience trying a Mogami (star quad?) microphone cable that I had a friend re-terminate for my k712, and hearing no difference that couldn’t be down to just placebo, and a similar experience with the Sony, I was ready to say “Eh, not worth it unless I come into some random money.” But with the DanaCable, the upgrade was a bigger leap than when I upgraded my Schiit Bifrost Uber to a classic Theta multibit DAC. I also have a buddy who works at a high end audio store (lucky), and he let me try out a high-end Nordost, and that too was clearer, lifting the haze and letting more music through, but price was a bit prohibitive for me. I hadn’t fallen into money yet, but I had decided a good cable (from a good brand, with return policy) would be my next upgrade because I pretty much love my HD 800 (I don’t find the treble too hot, or at least not irritating like the DT 880 was for me).
Last year, A friend of mine who DIY’d his own cables offered to make me one for the cost of materials and shipping, but the cable got lost in shipping and the friend didn’t get insurance on it, so I was simply out the money. Major bummer. This year though, I talked to a few nice people from cable companies at CanJam NYC, (shout out to the folks at Cardas and DanaCable!), but I got a CanJam show offer on a Wireworld Cable that I couldn’t pass up.
My Wireworld Eclipse Platinum cable for my HD 800 is flat, as short as my HD 650 cable, balanced (Pentaconn for my HDV 820, and the upcoming amp module for the FiiO X7!), lighter than the stock cable, and a calm gray color. All silver, which some think would make the HD 800 sound brighter, but it’s not. The better conductor, plus the design, results in simply more of everything. It’s like putting on glasses for your ears - same colors, but clearer, better contrast. I do feel it’s worth the cost over Sennheiser’s XLR balanced cable (plus I wanted a shorter cable, since my amps are on my computer desk), but of course the Sennheiser cable costs less.
If you look at the cost of a replacement stock cable, don‘t expect a lower cost aftermarket cable will sound better, unless you specifically are looking for a cable that causes distortion and coloration. If you want to try the DIY route, and you buy exceptional materials better than the OFC stock cables, and you foresee making several cables over the lifetime of the equipment you’ll have to buy, and you understand that you might mess up an attempt or two... go ahead. If you just want a shorter or prettier cable without trying to also get a sound upgrade... go ahead. Just don’t expect a cable substantially cheaper to sound better than stock. I haven’t tried all cables, and unfortunately I have found some that would only be a side-grade or downgrade. However, I have found that some cables genuinely do give you what you pay for.
My AKG 712 Pro had an airy, big soundstage sound, while my HD 650 have more body and a richer sound. Similar but different. Now that I have an HD 800, I don’t use the AKG, because the HD 800 is similar but better in basically every way, but sometimes I still use the HD 650.
Halfway through, I realized how long it was going to be... glad it was interesting anyway! Sometimes, I can’t help it... I think I’m “going there“ again.
Upgrading a DAC seems to result in an upgrade in organic tone, reduced congestion, sweetness instead of glare, and just sounding more “real.” Sometimes, especially the first few upgrades up the budget ladder, this realism also helps with the sense of depth and distance.
Upgrading an amp can help lower distortion, what sounds like signal break-up, help with bass control and that “solid” body feeling, and increase the note separation and sensation of depth in the soundstage.
Upgrading my cable did what I thought a DAC upgrade would do... clear some haze, and have that “glasses for your ears” feeling. I specifically was NOT looking for a frequency response change, but what it did was an across the board quality-up. Small but significant change. Opportunities to demo are rare, but precious. If you don’t hear the change, don’t buy/return the cable!
I think we are most sensitive to frequency response and tonal changes. That’s why most people focus on upgrading headphones first. I started out trying to find my preference, then the “holy grail quest” for the best headphone to fit my preference, but eventually things mushroom out and you begin to explore. I figured out my frequency/tonal balance back around the $300 headphone mark. After that, it’s little differences that make ALL the difference. Know what I mean? Like, the soundstage is a little bit deeper, but suddenly it’s out of the uncanny valley and great recordings sometimes fool me, or the paddig is just a liiiiittle bit softer and thicker, suddenly I can forget the headphones. I love my HD 800, but now I have a DAC/Amp that costs more than my headphone (Sennheiser HDV 820), a fairly expensive aftermarket headphone cable, and... well I’m pretty happy, but who knows what the next itch will be? Oh, yeah, virtual surround DSPs ;)
I'm excited to get my 6XX and my X1s for my first serious HIFI setup. Right now I am using the MEE Audio PX with my LG V20 which sounds great for little earphones. Im really looking forward to using my Dac/Amp combo with them to see if there is a difference. I noticed a small difference between my computers onboard audio and my V20 with the earphones so I'm hoping once i get the X1S I'll notice an even bigger improvement. I think it sounds sharper and there is more separation with the V20 but not a whole lot. It also sounds clearer, for example, when I plug something into my computer there can be a slight hiss and a loud noise when I plug them in or unplug them.
I started back in 2009, looking for a way to play videogames without bugging dormmates. I consider the HD 6XX, AKG K7XX, Beyerdynamic DT 880, and other units in the $200-$400 range to be “mid-fi“ headphones, where I spent 6-7 years and for most people the point where they stop (Sigh of relief for your wife). The three I mentioned used to be their company’s respective flagships, before headphones started to get really popular and even higher quality options were developed. Going to a CanJam event was when I jumped to hi-fi, but that‘s a story for another day.
I assume you mean the Aune X1s? Honestly never tried it myself, but read good things and the companies products are popular enough. Should be a nice start.
I had a thought last night, about organizing the relative price - to - performance value of components and headphones. This is partially based on how better DACs at lower prices have been available in the past two years or so. In order of lowest cost:performance to higher cost:
Headphone (~$50): better off sticking to the amp and DAC built into a phone > computer, plus EQ software to tame anything painful.
Headphone (~$100-$150)> Amp ($50-$100)
Headphone (~$300, Massdrop deals skew this) > Amp ($200-$350) > DAC ($150-250)
Headphone (~$500-$900)> Amp (~$500-$1500) > Cables (~$300) > DAC (~$400-$700)
Headphone (~$1k and up) > Amp (~$2k and up) > Cables (~$800 and up) > DAC (~$2k and up)
Headphone (~$55k) > it probably came with everything you need XD but why not buy other stuff at this point?
Now, I’m constantly learning, so all the above is my current opinion based on observation, subject to change. Sometimes, there’s also exceptions, like many people prefer the HD 650’s tone over even much more expensive headphones, and build up a system around that. You may notice user setups that often have amps and DACs priced higher than the headphones once they start to reach mid-fi headphones... not uncommon, as a good headphone often can get even more performance squeezed out of it.
I think it’s also important to consider that most people have smartphones, with built-in DACs and Amps (why Apple, whyyyyyy? I have an iPhone 8+), and consider if an amp or DAC really is an upgrade over what is built into the phone. I would say the LG V20 has pretty good stuff including a DAC that only starts to get beat by the time you look at something around $200-$300. Of course, an HD 6XX will benefit from something better than the typical portable amp, and we don’t always listen through our smartphones.
I also think the value of surround DSPs are underestimated. OK, sure, sensing front and back (and height?) directions are obviously benefits to gamers, and headphones playing plain stereo have been enjoyed for decades. However, headphones uniquely project the position of sounds inside our head. Pan left-to-right and it’s like something just shot through your skull. Nothing we naturally hear sounds like that, it’s a step away from realism. Some music is recorded in a special way for headphones, where the result sounds like music in front of you (Chesky Records’ binaural albums, for example), but most music (and movies) were mixed for speakers which are already supposed to be in front of you. Simple crossfeeds reduce the irritation of hard-panned music, but still don’t recreate that “in front of you” holographic 3D sense. I think we’ll see more software and hardware DSP (digital signal processor) options in the near future, and become increasingly desirable and sophisticated.
Ok so when I say relatively new I mean because I don't have a set of HiFi cans. My IEMs are pretty good but I feel like they don't give me exactly what I am looking for.
I started back in high school with some beats *barf*. When I got to college I thought they were awesome headphones since they were the only thing I had heard that were better than apple ear buds. My room mate had these $70 cans and I always assumed my headphones were better. One day he asked if I wanted to switch for a day to see the differences. I was shocked when his 70$ headphones sounded better than my $300 fancy beats.
Skip a few years and I live off campus to an apartment and use some old Altec Lansing speakers. They were pretty good great bass extension but the mids are really muffled and the highs are decent. I got the Bose soundlink 3 Bluetooth speaker and really liked the clarity and better balance so I got some Bose computer speakers and was really impressed with them. They had similar clarity and balance to my bluetooth speaker but the added stereo effect made them sound worlds apart.
I had been going numerous pairs of cheap earphone thinking that there was no way earphones could sound good because of how small they are. I read some stuff on HeadFi and people were saying how far IEMs had come so I decided since I have the V20 why not try some better IEMs. I got the MEE audio PX and was really blown away by how good these little earphones were.
I had been reading about headphones and once I saw the legendary 650/6XX drop I just couldn't pass it up. I thought when will I ever get a deal this good again. It was perfect timing the Aune X1S was on sale also.
So that catches us upto today I'm sitting here watching reviews and reading forms and massdrop comments eagerly waiting for my set up to arrive. Its going to take forever but once it gets here I expect I'm going to be one happy camper.
Any way I thought I'd give you my listening background since you have offered me so much useful info with you're informative and inciteful comments. Thanks again.
@Tuneslover some stock cables are wired so that they can go balanced. You described a good option, if you already have a balanced-wired cable, need shorter and same quality cable but in balanced termination, and you have access to soldering. Learning to solder isn’t hard, but a lot of people don’t feel like picking up a new hobby, nor have a friend who solders.
If I wanted to solder, I could buy cabling at wholesale. Something to keep in mind.
I’m on the fence about putting a really good cable on an HD 6XX. Haven’t tried it.
I also have no complaints about my stock Sennheiser HD 650 cable, but then again I like that it’s shorter because I got the HD 650 + Apogee Groove bundle. My amp is on my office desk, so sorter cables don’t make a tangled mess. I did really want a shorter cable for my HD 800, balanced, and since that is an even more revealing headphone (and my “pull out all the stops” headphone anyway), I took a chance on Wireworld, which my friend recommended and I got to meet the company head at CanJam NYC this year. I also got to hear my stock cable right before switching to the Wireworld cable, and was rea satisfied with the result. Perfect storm of reasons, except my old cable wasn’t broken ;)
The Schiit Loki probably is fine, would be nice if you need an EQ and you are connected to a source without its own EQ. However... my Headphones are close enough to where I like them that 3 bands of adjustment don’t allow for enough fine tuning. iTunes has, like, 8 frequencry bands? So did my old Mixer/DSP/DAC/amp, the Creative X7, though I sold that in preparation for the Smyth Realizer A16 that’s on the way. I was an early bird Kickstarter backer, talk about a long wait!
When you originally purchased, what was the expected delivery date, i.e. did yours arrive a lot earlier than expected?
Regarding your Van Damme cable, I thought that all MD purchases were a final sale, no?
I don’t recall the posted time frame, but I suspect MD may have run over—sure seemed like it. However, when we all started discussing the issue, MD jumped in and tracked our orders—she (don’t recall her name) gave us updates and let us know all was well. When the tracking emails arrived, my order beat the ETA by a day or two.
As as for the Final Sale, my experience has been MD will make good on any defective merchandise shipped—I’ve returned 2 orders without any trouble at all.