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| Headphones (full-size) Discussion of full-size headphones. |
01-18-2008, 04:10 PM
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Junior Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 8
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Planning on getting HD650's, need an amp?
Well I'm fairly new to all this, I've been using some e4c earbuds for some time now and just the standard ipod setup with itunes music, CD's burned at 320kbps. Do I need an amp for the HD650's? I've never used one and have never spent over a couple hundred dollars on headphones/earphones so I have never really needed one. What should I do to better my music experience?
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01-18-2008, 04:18 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Canada
Posts: 107
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absolutely you need one to make them sound what they should be!
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01-18-2008, 04:21 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 1,539
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You'll need an amp for HD650 FOR SURE!
Tell us your budget, musical tastes. And also, are you using it at home only?
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01-18-2008, 04:23 PM
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1000+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,041
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You probably will need to upgrade your source as well, not only amp.
Ipod might not perfectly fit as a stand alone source, to feed your amp & HD650.
I suggest you to get an entry setup to hi-fi world,
get portable DAC/AMP like iBasso D1 or Headamp Pico.
I'm sure they will be a huge upgrade over your standard ipod setup.
__________________
"Visually everything here is imperfect, but sonically they're mesmerizing"
Head-Fi Feedbacks
Portable rig iMod Photo → Xin SMIII V6 (2x BUF634 + 2x OPA627) → Yuin PK-1
Home rig X-FI Xtrememusic (as transport) → BJC Coax → OMZ v4.1 → VanDeHul "The Name" IC → Lisa III XP → AKG K701 (w SAA Equinox) / Denon D2000
Current sources: iMod Photo, iRiver IFP-180TC, Sony D-EJ925, & OMZ v4.1 DAC
Current cans: DENON D2000, AKG K701, Yuin PK-1, Etymotic ER6i, Alessandro MS-1, Sennheiser MX500, Koss UR-30 & KSC-55
Current amps: Yamaha Natural Sound Stereo Amp A-420, Xin Supermacro III V6, & LISA III XP
Current speakers: Klipsch Promedia satellite speakers + Megaworks Subwoofer
Wish list: Stax rigs, Darth beyer, Xin Reference, Tube Amp, Ultrasone Edition 9 & Balanced rigs
Gone but not forgotten: Heed Canamp, iBasso D1
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01-18-2008, 04:30 PM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Texas
Posts: 662
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I have the similar, but lower end model, the 580's, and yes, most definitely you need at least a small amp to drive them well. Even a CMoy would do much better than straight from an Ipod 
Will
__________________
Home: PC > Total Bithead > H-P mini^3 > Senn 580's
Portable: 16GB iAudio 7 > H-P mini^3 > SuperFreQs
DIY projects:
1) M^3 Home Headphone Amplifier (parts arrived - PS finished)
2) Beta 22 (parts arrived)
3) Opus DAC (waiting for parts)
Money spent since joining Head-Fi = I don't want to know/keep track ...
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01-18-2008, 04:35 PM
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Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 62
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HD650 out of my audigy ls is a total joke.
Using cantate with it's dac now. (usb)
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01-18-2008, 04:58 PM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Austin
Posts: 562
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There are at least three active threads threads in Headphones and in Amps forums addressing these exact questions. Let your fingers do the walking.
__________________
DESKTOP: Mac Mini > Airport Express > Oritek Modded Zhaolu v4.1 DAC > HeadAmp Gilmore Lite+DPS > markl-modded Denon AH-D5000 (aka. MD-5000)
PORTABLE: iPhone 8GB > flashbak-made LOD > HeadAmp Pico
PORTABLE HEADPHONES: Yuin PK1 -OR- SuperFreqs with iPhone cable
OTHER: Sennheiser RS-120
Feedback: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f12/mchang-199822/
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01-18-2008, 05:03 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Chicago
Posts: 151
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Without a doubt you need an amp.
__________________
My Current Portable Rig = 8G Nano - ALO Cryo Dock - RSA Tomahawk - Shure SE530
"who can say?"
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01-18-2008, 05:12 PM
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1000+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: New Jersey, USA
Posts: 1,254
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just use your hd650 unamp'ed for a week or two. then get a cheap portable amp, you'll say WTF WOW! after that, you'll be reading more stuff here and start spending lots of money on dac's and amp's. it's inevitable.
__________________
Altec Lansing im716, Koss KSC75, Cowon D2, Sansa Clip 2GB, Headstage Lyrix Total Pro USB DAC/AMP
Head-Fi Feedback
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01-18-2008, 05:12 PM
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Junior Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cankin
You'll need an amp for HD650 FOR SURE!
Tell us your budget, musical tastes. And also, are you using it at home only?
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Mostly at home, like 90% of the time. I'm into classic rock mostly, some hiphop/rap but vast majority classic rock.
From what I've heard (let me know if I've been misinformed) that using an ipod is fine unless I have a real killer setup. I would think that HD650's are certainly of audiophile quality but to the extent that I owe it to myself to upgrade from an iPod to something else?
I can certainly afford the HD650's as well as a good amp but unless upgrading from an iPod is really necessary I don't expect to be doing so.
Suggestions, please! 
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01-18-2008, 05:52 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 397
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2x
there was a time i didnt believe in amps...it wasnt that long ago. i dont even want to know how much i spent. luckily i think i got the sound i was aiming for without too much trial and error.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tjumper78
just use your hd650 unamp'ed for a week or two. then get a cheap portable amp, you'll say WTF WOW! after that, you'll be reading more stuff here and start spending lots of money on dac's and amp's. it's inevitable.
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01-18-2008, 06:01 PM
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1000+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: New Jersey, USA
Posts: 1,254
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jiganti
Mostly at home, like 90% of the time. I'm into classic rock mostly, some hiphop/rap but vast majority classic rock.
From what I've heard (let me know if I've been misinformed) that using an ipod is fine unless I have a real killer setup. I would think that HD650's are certainly of audiophile quality but to the extent that I owe it to myself to upgrade from an iPod to something else?
I can certainly afford the HD650's as well as a good amp but unless upgrading from an iPod is really necessary I don't expect to be doing so.
Suggestions, please! |
no need to go crazy from the beginning. the ipod sound is clearly better when coming out of the line-out instead of the headphone-out jack. i think you should get a cheap line-out dock, a mini-to-mini cable, and an entry portable amp.
after that, i cannot guarantee how much youre gonna spend on better gears.
__________________
Altec Lansing im716, Koss KSC75, Cowon D2, Sansa Clip 2GB, Headstage Lyrix Total Pro USB DAC/AMP
Head-Fi Feedback
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01-18-2008, 07:47 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: VA/DC
Posts: 426
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tjumper is right, all you need is a Line Out doc to mini for your ipod and if its possible I would look into adding Rockbox firmware to your ipod so you can use the Flac codec, or, at least rip all your music to apple lossless. Then add a portable amp. I would recommend you find one with a rechargeable lithium ion battery that can be recharged. I have the Pico and I love it, but you could look at Ray Sanuels, Rockhopper, and Little Dot as well. They all have some nice portables.
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01-18-2008, 10:19 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 1,539
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if you're using it at home 90% of the time, get a home amp.
You don't have to get everything at once, but upgrade step by step and your HD650 will be happy to show you the improvement
about $300 ~ $400 there are many to be considered; used EC/SS, used CanAmp, Gilmore Lite. DIY amps: PPAv2, M^3, CKKIII, MHMAX....etc
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