HD650 - Did I make a mistake? :( - Page 2  

Why yes I have...have you heard the Schiit Asgard?

 

IMO, it was "much better". The Asgard competes with $400-$500 amps, the FiiO E9 is a nice starter amp...again, my impressions. Have you heard the FiiO E9 with the HD650s/HD800s?

Edited by MacedonianHero - 1/4/11 at 6:56pm

I have a Xonar DX and I've never found any use at all for the virtual surround stuff in the driver, the quality improvement of using the Sparrow as a DAC is much preferred.

 

The STX is fairly weak for it's $200 price - the Sparrow (and FUN, NFB-12) has over twice the amping power, and one of the most important things of all - the fact that it's not inside your computer (one of the most electronic noisy places, especially if near a graphics card..) and instead is in an isolated, shielded unit.

 

With something like a soundcard, you are also at the mercy of driver quality and availability - what if you upgrade to Windows 8 in future and no Xonar drivers are released for it? It basically becomes useless. USB connection to a DAC doesn't require drivers and Coax/TOSLink can be run from your motherboard's onboard digital outputs, in which your onboard has no factor in the processing of sound and just delivers it.

Edited by Elanzer - 1/4/11 at 6:58pm

How about you make some comparisons in the sound then?

 

No, I haven't which is why I haven't said that the E9 is better than anything. But people here like to dismiss the E9 without having even compared it to ANYTHING.

 

The few people who HAVE heard it have either liked it as much as their pricier amps, or even outright preferred it. So I'd like to see your comparison itself. There's a whole bunch of users here who would love to see how the E9 stacks up to ANY other SS amp. Since you seem to be one of the lucky few to have done comparisons, it'd be nice if you posted about it.

 

And to be clear, I'm talking about the E9. Not the E7. Any other DAC can be used with the E9 in place of the E7.

Edited by Mad Lust Envy - 1/4/11 at 7:03pm

I thought the E9 was a very nice starter amp and would work very well with many headphones like the HD555, HD595, etc... But these are the HD650s that really deserve a really good amp like the Woo6, WA2, B22, Concerto, etc... And as much as I thought the E9 was great, it couldn't reach those heights. The Asgard does reach further...it's got MOAR POWER to drive these 300 ohm cans. It can actually drive the T1s and HD800s quite nicely too with deep powerful bass, a balanced audible spectrum and very nice sound stage. The E9 in comparison couldn't keep up. That's not to say that it is not a steal at $130, because it is...not taking anything away from that.

 

Sorry, as nice as the E9 is, it is not a B22 or WA2. But the Asgard does bridge the gap better. I'd recommend you give some other amps a listen at a local meet.

Edited by MacedonianHero - 1/4/11 at 7:09pm

I think you're better off with something easier to drive. The HD650 needs a stationary amp and a quality source. Well by "needs" I mean it can sound halfway decent without them, but considering the money you're spending you can get better quality for less - as you're finding out. As to what, though, I have been out of the headphone game too long to make any good suggestions, as I don't really know what's out there anymore aside from electrostatics.

 

Alternatively, if you can DIY (or are willing to learn) something like a Millett Hybrid is pretty easy (and cheap!) to put together and it will work with the HD650 quite nicely. Then all you have to worry about is the source.

Sparrow is a DAC/Amp, and is intended to be used as both. While the Sparrow can be used just for it's DAC it's not it's intended purpose. Don't follow my current setup as an example, I started out with the Sparrow thinking small, and decided to upgrade later, I've since ordered an NFB-12 to replace the Sparrow to act as my DAC / transportable unit. The Sparrow you buy as an "end unit", you don't upgrade ontop of it. The Sparrow/NFB-12/FUN all have the same amp output and it's no slouch, it's amplification output exceeds the HD 650's needs (maximum input power is 200mw, Sparrow can output 300mw into 300-Ohm for the HD650), so if you are looking at saving money while getting the majority of effect this is your best route.

 

If you're thinking about the future and the further emptying of your wallet, get the NFB-12 or FUN instead so you have the DAC output to use it as your DAC.

Edited by Elanzer - 1/4/11 at 7:11pm

Once again the entire board fails to recognize what is important here.

Come and talk to me after you realize that buying an expensive amp was a waste of time and money.

 

 

Edited by sugarkang - 1/4/11 at 7:23pm

What's the difference between:

 

Getting an E7

Getting an E9

Getting an E7 AND an E9 and using them together (i.e. docked)

 

Thanks :x

OP, to tell you the truth, I think you were just expecting too much. Like I was. I thought these hundred dollar headphones would be absolutely unbelievable, but quite frankly, they are actually believable. They aren't everything people expect them to be. They still play the same old music you are used to listening to, just in a more refined way. People make it seem like it's night in day difference, but it really never has been...

 

Even with everyone who says "they really open up when you use an amp", I take that with little value. Well, at least with my MKIII tube amp. Do they sound better? Yes, but not by THAT much. Once again, you are still hearing the same old music, just a bit better. No headphone is going to transform your hearing for the better, and no headphone will make a bad song sound good. If you like the music, you like it with whatever headphone you listen to. But it's always nice to hear it with a touch more clarity, dynamics, and resolution. A touch more...

people seem to either love or hate the HD650. definitely try them with a good amp and a good source before dismissing them though. they do need a good source and amp to really shine.

 

Assuming a good source amp also consider the recording. For example the first time listening to Miles Davis So What with 650s I heard distortion I had not heard before with in the recording. It turns out I was hearing that for the first time because the 650s were revealing what was there in the recording. A fellow headfier informed me the trumpet was too close to the Mike in the recording. When
Listeing to
An outstanding recording such as Allison Kraus and Union Station's album So Long So Wrong track 11 The Pain of a Troubled Life resulted in my jaw dropping due to hearing so much detail and new nuances I had never heard before either.

Based on the Logitech comment, you don't even like what people call "good sound". Just buy a 15" subwoofer, feed it the whole frequency range and live happily ever after.

It was only a matter of time. Forget anything anyone may ever say to you based on their own experience. We're all clearly deluded. The messiah is here to show us the way.

 

 

Liar!

Edited by olor1n - 1/4/11 at 8:37pm

Yes, my child. 

If you need me to carry your ass on the beach, I can do that.

 

If OP's solution is a $1000 amp, then that's fine.

I said come and see me if that doesn't work out.

I admit, I could have said it a little less troll-y.

 

Seriously, though. 

Can you deny the large number of unhappy Senn buyers posting threads? 

It's not an amp problem for most of them.