Amp for DT880's

I just ordered the same headphones and am wondering the same thing, except I am looking to spend a bit less. Are you looking for a portable or desktop amp?

Use a decent amped soundcard like the Asus Xonar STX (if you can afford it) or work your way down the Xonar line...

My GF's Xonar DX is sounding very good (although she is running it with AD700's so amping is not really needed), and the Xonar DG has just been released with onboard amping...

I have done some research and here is a list of amps that (generally) pair nicely with the DT880's, though you can research them yourself:

Schiit Asgard - $249 - http://schiit.com/products/asgard/

Phenix G3 - ~$120 - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360291598534&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_1193wt_1142

Ibasso T3 - ~$120 - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320584283658&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_5268wt_917

Ibasso D2-Boa - ~$160 - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320586204687&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_5953wt_917

Little Dot MK1+ - ~$170 - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190442747564&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_3388wt_1142

DT880's pair nicely with tube amps to give them more of a punch to make up for the low end. Ibasso and Little Dot are very trusted amps, so look at more from them. Also, Emmeline makes some very nice amps but cost a bit more. Look at the "Hornet" or "Tomahawk" which run upwards of $300: http://www.raysamuelsaudio.com/purchasing

If you are just using a computer, you might want to get a DAC/Amp combo or seperate DAC and amp, as it will have better power handling.

Hope this helps.

And don't forget the Matrix M-Stage US$249 coolfungadget.com 

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlaloum 

And don't forget the Matrix M-Stage US$249 coolfungadget.com 

Maybe OT, but I tried ordering one from that site a few different times, and every time I click the 'checkout' tab, I get an expired page! Any suggestions? I don't wanna go the ebay or audiophilechina. com route. Thanks

I would stay away from PC sounds cards as they don't do high impedance headphones any justice. The Xonar actually sucks for amping the 250Ohm/600Ohm beyers. I have a Xonar card in my PC and even the PHENIX G3 stomps all over it's amping abilities for the beyers.

Now I could recommend the PHENIX G3 actually as I used to have one and it drove my 600Ohm DT880's very very nicely!!

I created an account on there, logged in and ordered one...

About 2 weeks ago - should be delivered tomorrow.... theoretically....

If having trouble contact them - so far I have found them to be very responsive...

So maybe I have to create the account first?! Most sites let you do that during the checkout process. Time to find out...

I havn't tried the Xonar DX (which I have) with the DT880 600..... I will do so shortly....

BUT - Xonar DG and STX definitely have an onboard headphone amp - most of the other Xonar's don't - so results would vary dramatically between different Xonar's - Which one have you got?

A number of people have reported the Xonar STX matching very well with DT880/990 600Ohm

Right now my Xonar DX is being run with an ATH-AD700 and even though it has no amp onboard, it is only useable at the lower end of the volume range (bottom 40%) anything higher and it is dangerous for your hearing - so the base output is quite robust... (AD700 is extremely efficient and low impedance... so no indication for the DT880's - I will report back later on 600ohm results)

I have the Xonar STX, but found it's headphone amp section seriously lacking for high impedance headphones. Trust, they don't pump out enough juice for them. They may get loud enough, but they need lots of voltage, which the STX simply does not supply. It's supplies current which would make amping lower impedance headphones easier, but high impedance ones will struggle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zombie_X 

I would stay away from PC sounds cards as they don't do high impedance headphones any justice. The Xonar actually sucks for amping the 250Ohm/600Ohm beyers. I have a Xonar card in my PC and even the PHENIX G3 stomps all over it's amping abilities for the beyers.

 

Now I could recommend the PHENIX G3 actually as I used to have one and it drove my 600Ohm DT880's very very nicely!!

Would you also recommend the PHENIX G3 for a pair of DT990/600Ohm?

The DT880 and DT990 600 ohm headphones share the same drivers - only the earpiece and the associated damping are different

They are effectively the same, just tuned differently - the same but not... right !!

Any amp that runs one of them well, will run the other well.... assuming a Neutral amp - if you are talking about synergies that amount to using an amp to equalise the headphones..... not my area.

A Neutral amp will show each of these up in their best natural capabilities.... but if you are choosing a "warm" amp with a "cool" set of headphones - then you may find that it doesn't work well at all with "Warm" Headphones (which might end up sounding muddy, congested, bloated.... blah blah blah)