Mad Lust Envy's Headphone Gaming Guide: (8/18/2022: iFi GO Blu Review Added)
Sep 5, 2012 at 7:00 PM Post #7,382 of 48,560
That's like asking how a Kia fares against a BMW. Apparently, the A50 sounds inferior to the A40 (some AVS A40 fanboys didn't like the A50). The A40 can't compare to an audiophile headphone.

You take quality, or take practicality. Depends on what sacrifices you'd like. I'd say the Mixamp 5.8 for your DT990s, but Scumbag Astro won't sell them alone anymore.

Ninjasushi, I don't know why you linked me to that, but ask many knowledgeable people on head-fi, and they will all tell you that the Q701 is one of the hardest dynamic headphones to drive. They CAN get loud enough even out of a Fiio E5, but you'll be sorely lacking sound quality vs a better amp. That's why we say that it's very finicky with what you amp them with.

The same goes with the Premium Beyers. They all can get very loud off any amp, but without some decent equipment, they won't sound half as good as they should.
 
Sep 5, 2012 at 8:27 PM Post #7,383 of 48,560
Damn, sexy indeed. If those really are a step up from the Q701, I might have to sell my beloved DT990...

I think he meant extension as in how far the headband extends for larger head sizes. SQ is as of yet untested by Mad, or anyone else in comparison to the Q701 from what I've seen, though the Philips Fidelio f1 was featured in the head-Fi summer headphone guide.

I got to try The Philips downtown (and so can you!) at my local Best Buy yesterday, and I thought it actually sounded pretty good. Definitely had more body and pleased me more than the Sennheiser 438 or whatever it was they had on display, which sounded thin when A/B tested. I think an amp would clearly help the system, though there is pbviously signal splitter junk between e headphone and source (either the Best Buy provided source or your own player). The fit comfort was a little strange, it's like the thick, flat pads seen on some other models of Sennheiser, Bowers&Wilkin's (though obviously of a different material), and Bose headphones, but you set the "speaker hole" part directly in line with your earcanal opening and let the back ridge of your ears mooish into the pad. It's kinda hard to explain, but the feeling is like a memory foam pillow covered in microfiber. I thought the Uptown model looked really cheap, The worst offense was how the earpads looked like the the pleather had just been stretched over the earcups than designed to fit into the cup somewhere.

Did not hear the F1 model, but I think they were selling it if you wanted to buy & return.
 
Sep 5, 2012 at 8:35 PM Post #7,384 of 48,560
Mad,
Love Jeff Buckley and that particular song is very haunting, have not heard that AZEDIA remix. Also, I think Jude prefers the A30s over the A40s for gaming... LOL! Maybe their cheapest headphone is their best effort?

NinjaSushi,
My E5 amps my Q701 loud enough, and so does my Gen 5.5 iPod Video 30GB, to an improvement over my AD700... But the volume is like one or two steps from max, and you can feel it wants more juice. Recently I've been tempted to try out the Bravo Tube amp V2... If I go that route, it'll be in my Q701 review.
 
Sep 5, 2012 at 8:38 PM Post #7,385 of 48,560
Quote:
That's like asking how a Kia fares against a BMW. Apparently, the A50 sounds inferior to the A40 (some AVS A40 fanboys didn't like the A50). The A40 can't compare to an audiophile headphone.
You take quality, or take practicality. Depends on what sacrifices you'd like. I'd say the Mixamp 5.8 for your DT990s, but Scumbag Astro won't sell them alone anymore.
 

I've actually been using my DT990s 32omhs with a 5.8 mixamp (thanks to this thread).  Fantastic setup, just didn't know if there was a potential better one without buying a new dedicated amp or something.
 
Can't believe the A50 sounds worse than the A40.  The A40 made everything sound like it was being run through a hollow tin can.
 
Sep 5, 2012 at 8:39 PM Post #7,386 of 48,560
That Bravo tube amp is very entry level for an amp, though should be better for the Qs.
 
Sep 5, 2012 at 8:41 PM Post #7,387 of 48,560
I've actually been using my DT990s 32omhs with a 5.8 mixamp (thanks to this thread).  Fantastic setup, just didn't know if there was a potential better one without buying a new dedicated amp or something.

Can't believe the A50 sounds worse than the A40.  The A40 made everything sound like it was being run through a hollow tin can.


Well, the A50 is fuller sounding, but not as detailed. Kinda like exhanging clarity for fun. I haven't heard them, so I can't be certain.
 
Sep 5, 2012 at 8:41 PM Post #7,388 of 48,560

TL; DR (I finally figured out what that means! Now I know why I got it all the time in replies and comments...)

Basically, ohms are part of it, and so is sensitivity. Head-Fi'ers generally say a headphone is hard to drive if it needs a lot of current.

That Bravo tube amp is very entry level for an amp, though should be better for the Qs.

It indeed is very entry level, but I have even more of an entry level budget than you do. Would I be "happier" if I wait for an O2? That's what I'm trying to find out, but it's just a decision in the end and an overall inconsequential fork in the road of life. Blip!

Oh, also, I noticed the Downtown has a flat cable :)
 
Sep 5, 2012 at 9:10 PM Post #7,389 of 48,560
Quote:
Philips Fidelio X1

Easily the sexiest headphone I've seen in awhile. (right up there with the SRH1840).
It's gonna be $390, 30ohm, 50mm neodymium drivers (angled), has memory foam velour, and is open. Those who have tested it say it has a really big soundstage, with a natural tonal balance, being ever so slightly bass light.
That sounds like a damn winner for gaming, IMHO. Possibly a competitor vs the Q701? ETA: this month.
The headband component is breathable mesh and seems to be like the Q701 (self adjusting), which is to say, AWESOME.

 
Mmmm, that pushes all the right buttons for me.  I don't know much about Philips headphones, but their headphone designer is my new hero.
 
That velour looks delicious.  That's how high end headphones should look *cough Denon*.  I just hope it sounds as sexy as it looks. 
 
For $150 more than the average Q701 price, you'd expect some improvements, but we'll have to see.  It's hard to best the Q701 in soundstage.
 
It actually looks similar in a lot of ways to the Q701.  Quincy Jones may have to sue
biggrin.gif

 
 
 

 
Sep 5, 2012 at 11:18 PM Post #7,392 of 48,560
For the purpose of GAMING, the E11 should be enough. Virtual surround tends to mask lack of power. You will be fine.
 
Sep 5, 2012 at 11:18 PM Post #7,393 of 48,560
Quote:
Damn you people! I just ordered a Q701, recon3d and Fiio E11, and now you keep saying how hard it is to drive! I hate you all!

 
Q701? 5 days ago you asked about the DT 990 + E11: http://www.head-fi.org/t/534479/mad-lust-envys-headphone-gaming-guide-updated-9-4-2012-headzone-added-revised-layout-links/7275#post_8660416
 
Also, Mad's original post stated:
"Like the K701, they (the Q701) desire amping when using voice chat. The sound also scales with amping, but isn't really necessary."
 
Besides, the discussion so far has been on the Q701 + E5, not E11. It's a fact that the E11 is more powerful than the E5--whether it's powerful enough, I don't know, I'm just saying you might be extrapolating incorrectly.
 
Sep 6, 2012 at 12:00 AM Post #7,394 of 48,560
To clear things up, the Q701 can get loud off anything. However, the better the amp, the better the sound the Q701s will have. Certain headphones just need to hit a point where the sound won't change much even with much more powerful/expensive amps. The Q701 rewards you with stronger, and better amps.

Will they sound good off the E11? I'm sure they will. Should just stick to the E11 for music/gaming/etc? No. The Q701 deserves more, but as I mentioned, for the purpose of gaming, the E11 will definitely be enough.

When you're gaming in virtual surround, amping isn't as important as when you're listening to music in stereo. You're too busy playing the game, than intimately listening to music.

This is why headphones like the Q701 perform better than say the HE-400. For GAMING, the Q701 hits more sweet spots than the HE-400.

Now if you want a cheap amp that will do the Q701 justice, I ASSUME the O2 would be a terrific starting point.
 
Sep 6, 2012 at 12:38 AM Post #7,395 of 48,560
What! I thought you made the HE-400 out to be the bee's knees for both gaming and music! I ordered a pair with velour pads because of you!
 
 
 
 
Now I'll just have to power them with my Corda Rock amp.
 

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