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Can Asus Xonar Essence STX power AKG K701/702 properly?

post #1 of 15
6/28/10 at 6:30pm
Thread Starter 

I really am not sure if it can.  I read many articles where people are using that combination, but people keep telling me that the amp isn't powerful enough and I need to buy a dedicated amp with discrete circuit etc.

 

 

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/476602/asus-xonar-stx-built-in-amp-and-k701-synergy

 

 

If anyone has this combination, let me know how it works.

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Gear mentioned in this thread:

ASUS Xonar Essence STX Virtual 7.1 Channels PCI Express Interface 124 dB SNR /...
AKG K 702 Headphones
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post #2 of 15
7/10/10 at 8:24pm
Thread Starter 

I just did an A-B comparison of the Heed CANAMP vs. the Asus Xonar Essence STX using AKG K 702 and Bose Triport; and using the RCA out of the STX's DAC for the CANAMP.  Both are able to drive the K 702 easily, and both sound nearly identical.  There is a little more clarity in the STX, probably due to less noise, but there's a little more bass with the CANAMP.  It's really hard to tell the difference, so just go with the $180 STX instead of the $450 CANAMP.

 

So.. there's the answer.

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post #3 of 15
7/10/10 at 8:49pm

I heard Canamp was a bad amplifier? I heard "If power and bass is your priority get the canamp"

 

I also heard it has an obsolete design. But I'm no engineer... 


Edited by wind016 - 7/10/10 at 8:51pm
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post #4 of 15
7/11/10 at 5:59am

Whoa are you sure the canamp wasnt defective or something? From the reviews I thought the canamp was an excellent amp and would make a huge improvement over an Essence STX.

 

I agree the Essence can power a K701 very well, using it to power my HD 600, which i preferred over the K701 in the end.

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post #5 of 15
7/11/10 at 6:23am

STX can't get anywhere near the best out of a 701.

 

If pointy fox can't tell the difference between a 702 and a pair of Bose from a half decent amp and bolt on from a soundcard, then I'm not surprised he sold the AKGs.

 

I think the 701 are the most overrated phones on here, and I've checked them out with a CDP running through a Burson, Talisman, Einar and Corda Swing. But then I prefer to compromise outright technical performance, for a bit more fun in the sound.

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post #6 of 15
7/14/10 at 8:50pm
Thread Starter 

I think some of you come to this forum just to insult people and feed your egos. ^

Anyway, what's a "bolt on"?  Is that like a "strap on"?
 

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post #7 of 15
7/14/10 at 8:53pm

When you have conflicting evidence, someone says A, someone says B, people have to weigh it for themselves. (edited - originally said no absolute truth, which actually, is not my pov at all). 


Edited by Ypoknons - 7/14/10 at 8:57pm
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post #8 of 15
7/14/10 at 8:54pm

I hope you realise that amplification is not just about volume levels.

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post #9 of 15
7/14/10 at 8:56pm
Thread Starter 

Sort of.  Even if only half the people say that it will power them, then there must be not too much of a difference and I'm fine with that.

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post #10 of 15
7/14/10 at 8:57pm
Thread Starter 

Yeah, I know.  Higher impedance = more voltage, lower current.  My amp has a setting to increase voltage for headphones up to 600 ohm.
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by cravenz View Post

I hope you realise that amplification is not just about volume levels.

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post #11 of 15
7/15/10 at 1:21am

From what I've read, the STX can power phones up to 600Ohm. The is a setting where you adjust the AMP to what your headphones require...

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post #12 of 15
7/15/10 at 8:32am

With my STX I can power my DT880 / 600 ohm cans without a problem.

I have not tried it with the k701 / 2.


Edited by shane55 - 7/15/10 at 8:35am
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post #13 of 15
7/15/10 at 8:41am

^^ I used to think so.

But I recently I tried my DT880/600 ohms on a tube amp ( from a local DIYer) & my jaw just dropped.

The improvements were not subtle, I actually felt like I had never heard these properly before.

The xonar STX is a decent amp for the money but a decent dedicated amp is worth the extra dough, IMO.

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post #14 of 15
7/17/10 at 4:33am

Properly? No way.

 

Temporary setup until you get a proper amplifier? Sure, it's okay-ish.

 

You get enough volume but the STX HP out sounds overly aggressive and harsh with the K701s, at least with the stock opamps.

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post #15 of 15
7/21/10 at 9:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by gurubhai View Post

^^ I used to think so.

But I recently I tried my DT880/600 ohms on a tube amp ( from a local DIYer) & my jaw just dropped.

The improvements were not subtle, I actually felt like I had never heard these properly before.

The xonar STX is a decent amp for the money but a decent dedicated amp is worth the extra dough, IMO.


Well you are always going to have better components that sound better then the amp on the card.  The question is from an electrical point of view can the card put out enough power to drive them properly.

I think the amp on the STX is a great feature but if you have really high end cans you will always be better off with a high end can amplifier.

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Gear mentioned in this thread:

ASUS Xonar Essence STX Virtual 7.1 Channels PCI Express Interface 124 dB SNR /...
AKG K 702 Headphones
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