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?
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphones (full-size) › Planning on getting HD650's, need an amp?
Join Now
Be a part of the community.
It's free, join today!
Recent Reviews
-
All I have to say is that their awesome pair of headphones. Great sound stage, vocals are a bit too strong, you can feel the bass other than hearing it, and great for movies. Comfort is 4.5...
-
I know people bash on Bose because of they're over priced and I agree. I believe these retail for about $150 or so and I paid $85 for these due to employee discount at where I work. With that...
-
I bought these headphones as an upgrade from my BD DT-770 Pro 80Ohm. The are better in all areas, except that the right can can't handle bass. As soon as there are low bass it just becomes a...
-
I just picked these up today so this is just an initial assessment. These are a great sounding headphone overall but the fact that they are also closed back and still have great soundstage at...
-
everything about these headphones is flawless. Everything is balanced, and perfect. Any of the reviews that didn't like them most likely have a fake pair, or, hate life. The only thing I could...
Head-Fi Sponsors
Drop by and thank our partners for helping keep the lights on at Head-Fi!
Planning on getting HD650's, need an amp?
post #2 of 14
1/18/08 at 1:18pm
- glct222
- Trader Feedback: +2
-
- offline
- 116 Posts. Joined 5/2007
- Location: Canada
- Select All Posts By This User
absolutely you need one to make them sound what they should be!
post #3 of 14
1/18/08 at 1:21pm
- Cankin
- Trader Feedback: +2
-
- offline
- 1,911 Posts. Joined 2/2007
- Location: Toronto, Canada
- Select All Posts By This User
You'll need an amp for HD650 FOR SURE!
Tell us your budget, musical tastes. And also, are you using it at home only?
Tell us your budget, musical tastes. And also, are you using it at home only?
post #4 of 14
1/18/08 at 1:23pm
- Capunk
- Trader Feedback: 0
-
- offline
- 1,041 Posts. Joined 7/2007
- Location: Australia
- Select All Posts By This User
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.
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.
post #5 of 14
1/18/08 at 1:30pm
- wquiles
- Trader Feedback: 0
-
- offline
- 673 Posts. Joined 12/2007
- Location: Texas
- Select All Posts By This User
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

Will
post #6 of 14
1/18/08 at 1:35pm
HD650 out of my audigy ls is a total joke.
Using cantate with it's dac now. (usb)
Using cantate with it's dac now. (usb)
post #7 of 14
1/18/08 at 1:58pm
- mchang
- Trader Feedback: +1
-
- offline
- 605 Posts. Joined 1/2004
- Location: Austin
- Select All Posts By This User
There are at least three active threads threads in Headphones and in Amps forums addressing these exact questions. Let your fingers do the walking.
post #8 of 14
1/18/08 at 2:03pm
- Tipped_Pro95
- Trader Feedback: 0
-
- offline
- 151 Posts. Joined 9/2007
- Location: Chicago
- Select All Posts By This User
Without a doubt you need an amp.
post #9 of 14
1/18/08 at 2:12pm
- tjumper78
- Trader Feedback: -1
-
- offline
- 1,548 Posts. Joined 4/2007
- Location: New Jersey, USA
- Select All Posts By This User
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.
Quote:
|
You'll need an amp for HD650 FOR SURE!
Tell us your budget, musical tastes. And also, are you using it at home only? |
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!

post #11 of 14
1/18/08 at 2:52pm
- jh4db536
- Trader Feedback: 0
-
- offline
- 490 Posts. Joined 9/2007
- Location: Los Angeles
- Select All Posts By This User
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.
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.
post #12 of 14
1/18/08 at 3:01pm
- tjumper78
- Trader Feedback: -1
-
- offline
- 1,548 Posts. Joined 4/2007
- Location: New Jersey, USA
- Select All Posts By This User
Quote:
|
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! ![]() |
after that, i cannot guarantee how much youre gonna spend on better gears.
post #13 of 14
1/18/08 at 4:47pm
- HardHeadCase
- Trader Feedback: 0
- Banned
-
- offline
- 426 Posts. Joined 10/2007
- Location: VA/DC
- Select All Posts By This User
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.
post #14 of 14
1/18/08 at 7:19pm
- Cankin
- Trader Feedback: +2
-
- offline
- 1,911 Posts. Joined 2/2007
- Location: Toronto, Canada
- Select All Posts By This User
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
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 ~ $400 there are many to be considered; used EC/SS, used CanAmp, Gilmore Lite. DIY amps: PPAv2, M^3, CKKIII, MHMAX....etc
Return Home
Back to Forum: Headphones (full-size)
- Planning on getting HD650's, need an amp?
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphones (full-size) › Planning on getting HD650's, need an amp?
Currently, there are 1636 Active Users
(384 Members and 1252 Guests)
Recent Discussions
- › COWON Z2 - The complete Review (from Izzi going) 1 minute ago
- › ++RECOMMENDATIONS THREAD++ i.e. Don't start a new thread: ask for... 1 minute ago
- › The discovery thread. NEW!! The JVC HA-FX40. Page 83...JVC... 4 minutes ago
- › Music Game IX 5 minutes ago
- › Another Millett Starving Student Build 5 minutes ago
- › The diary entries of a little girl nearing 30! 5 minutes ago
- › HifiMAN HE-6 Planar Magnetic Headphone 5 minutes ago
- › Sennheiser IE80's Impressions Thread 6 minutes ago
- › Bang for the buck portable headphones at 50$ max 6 minutes ago
- › Beyerdynamic T90 :D 8 minutes ago
View: New Posts | All Discussions
Recent Reviews
- › Sennheiser HD 800 Headphones by DannyRox23
- › Bose OE2i Audio Headphones - White by emceelokey
- › Beyer Dynamic DT 770 Premium 600 OHM Headphones by kungmarten
- › AKG K 550 by JohnnyBlaze554
- › Audio-Technica ATH-M50 Studio Monitor Headphones by Headphonezz
- › Sennheiser HD 238 Stereo Open Aire Headphone by Squirelrepublic
- › Beyerdynamic DT-990 Professional Headphones by turgid
- › Phonak PFE 012 by drsamdc
- › digiZoid ZO2 Personal hi-fi experience by redguy
- › Stanton Dynaphase Sixty by voodoo do-er
View: More Reviews
New Articles
- › Comparing headphones: Sennheiser's HD... by Windsor
- › iBasso DX100 FAQ by DoctorHeadz
- › DIY Cable Info and Resources by Pingupenguins
- › Asr Head-Fi Threads Compendium by Asr
- › Headphone Buying Guide by keanex
- › Fostex T50RP modification summary LINKS - wiki by jgray91
- › Comparisons of the LCD-3 and the LCD-2 Rev. 2 by MacedonianHero
- › Posting Guidelines by Currawong
- › Comparisons of LCD-2 Rev. 1 and Rev. 2 by MacedonianHero
- › Membership Levels, Badges and Custom Titles by Currawong
View: New Articles | All Articles
Home | Head Gear | Forums | Articles | My Profile
About Head-Fi.org | Join the Community | Advertise
© 2012 Head-Fi.org is powered by Huddler Tech | FAQ | Support | Privacy/TOS | Site Map
About Head-Fi.org | Join the Community | Advertise
© 2012 Head-Fi.org is powered by Huddler Tech | FAQ | Support | Privacy/TOS | Site Map







