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Voyager or SE530's - which first?

post #1 of 14
2/6/10 at 8:00am
Thread Starter 
Dear All,

I have a 2009 iPod Classic and a pair of Sennheiser CX300's ( a few years old by now, if that makes a difference ). I want to upgrade to Shure SE530's with a Graham Slee Voyager plus a line out dock, but I'll have to space this out quite a bit and live with only one of these for (quite) a few months.

So, which of these would be the biggest upgrade on it's own - the amp/LOD or the phones?

Thanks a lot,

David

NOTE: Apologies for putting this in portable source gear - I meant to put it in portable amps, which would have been 50% more appropriate.
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post #2 of 14
2/6/10 at 8:07am
The phones.......far and away (in my opinion) The se530 is very sensitive and easily driven, some claim amping the se530 does nothing. I am not in that camp, I hear subtle improvements in bass and soundstage.
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post #3 of 14
2/6/10 at 8:12am
Definitely get the phones first. In my opinion the SE530 doesn't need an amp to sound good and can be driven by most DAPs.
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post #4 of 14
2/6/10 at 9:24am
^x2. AFAIK the newer iPods don't even have bass roll-off, so the Voyager will definitely make only a subtle difference.
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post #5 of 14
2/6/10 at 9:32am
Thread Starter 
Thanks people,

This doesn't seem to be a very contentious issue.

Anyone see it any other way?

David
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post #6 of 14
2/6/10 at 10:22am
god go for the phones first, they make a far bigger difference
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post #7 of 14
2/6/10 at 11:51am
definitely the phones.
in my opinion the general upgrade tier is
headphones
source file
source player
amp (depends on how good the player is)
interconnects (some state that cables doesnt make a difference; imo tt depends on what youre amping)
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post #8 of 14
2/6/10 at 12:05pm
Thread Starter 
Guys, Thanks. I think I'm getting the picture.

Is this still so clearly the case with the line out dock bypassing the iPod's amp or does that swing it towards the amp at all?

David
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post #9 of 14
2/6/10 at 12:07pm
Phones are always the biggest upgrade and most noticeable change in music. The iPod touch should do a pretty good job on the SE530, but where as it has no bass roll off with dynamic earphones of any impedance, balanced armatures will take it to its knees - I have tested this many times and can prove it with repeatable data.

The SE530 sounds great with it though.

The Voyager, like the touch, can power any dynamic very well, but balanced armatures it rolls off or sucks out just as the touch would. It is amazing for dynamics of all shapes and sizes, but best for any sort of headphone.

If you want to see the Voyager suck out with a triple armature, read my review of it.
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post #10 of 14
2/6/10 at 12:17pm
Thread Starter 
DELETED POST
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post #11 of 14
2/6/10 at 12:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by David Scott View Post
Guys, Thanks. I think I'm getting the picture.

Is this still so clearly the case with the line out dock bypassing the iPod's amp or does that swing it towards the amp at all?

David
My findings has been that these LODs and amps make rather subtle improvements. It would make a lot more sense to me if you bought the phones first and then perhaps later on try to rectify certain issues you may have with it by pairing it with an amp that mates well with them.
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post #12 of 14
2/6/10 at 12:56pm
Another vote here for the phones. The CX300/Voyager combo via LOD doesn't make that much of a difference compared with the HP out. I don't know about the SE530 but my IE8s do benefit from the Voyager/iPod LOD - lack of hiss and a more detailed presentation.
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post #13 of 14
2/6/10 at 1:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by moogman View Post
Another vote here for the phones. The CX300/Voyager combo via LOD doesn't make that much of a difference compared with the HP out. I don't know about the SE530 but my IE8s do benefit from the Voyager/iPod LOD - lack of hiss and a more detailed presentation.
Yea it definitely depends on what phones you are using to amp using the LoD/Amp sound upgrade. If your phones are very easy to drive and you have a very good source you won't benefit that much from amping.

My Triple.Fi 10s benefit greatly from amping however. It's not a night and day difference but after listening to them amped from a lod -> T4 for a week and going back to the headphone out of my iPod 5th gen (which is for sale by the way lol) the sound isn't as full but it does sound damn good.

Depending on the quality of the amp you can get a varied improvement in sound, just read up on what you want to buy and get the best that you can get from your money.
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post #14 of 14
2/6/10 at 2:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by shigzeo View Post
Phones are always the biggest upgrade and most noticeable change in music. The iPod touch should do a pretty good job on the SE530, but where as it has no bass roll off with dynamic earphones of any impedance, balanced armatures will take it to its knees - I have tested this many times and can prove it with repeatable data.

The SE530 sounds great with it though.

The Voyager, like the touch, can power any dynamic very well, but balanced armatures it rolls off or sucks out just as the touch would. It is amazing for dynamics of all shapes and sizes, but best for any sort of headphone.

If you want to see the Voyager suck out with a triple armature, read my review of it.
Hi shigzeo, thanks for the review! Can you please elaborate about why the Voyager sucks out with triple armature AND is good with the CK100. Sounds like a contradiction to me?
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