The E17+E9k combo is warmer, and I feel has more synergy with the Q701. The Modi+Magni is highly neutral/analytical, and it may exacerbate the the Q701's shortcomings (lean-ish bass, upper mid spike).

The Q701 loves warm-ish SS amps, IMHO.

However, don't let that keep you from the Modi+Magni. That combo is worth it, it just may not be the most ideal for the Q701. Overall, the M+M is a better combo than the E17+E9K SQ-wise. The E17+E9 has more versatility though, with multiple inputs, including optical.

As for SS amp differences, they are subtle. Don't expect a highly noticeable change. If I could make up numbers, I'd say something along the lines of it being the last 2% difference in a headphone's innate sound. As long as a headphone has enough power to funcytion at it's optimal level, differences won't be big, and sometimes unnoticeable.

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mad lust envy said:

The E17+E9k combo is warmer, and I feel has more synergy with the Q701. The Modi+Magni is highly neutral/analytical, and it may exacerbate the the Q701's shortcomings (lean-ish bass, upper mid spike).

The Q701 loves warm-ish SS amps, IMHO.

However, don't let that keep you from the Modi+Magni. That combo is worth it, it just may not be the most ideal for the Q701. Overall, the M+M is a better combo than the E17+E9K SQ-wise. The E17+E9 has more versatility though, with multiple inputs, including optical.

As for SS amp differences, they are subtle. Don't expect a highly noticeable change. If I could make up numbers, I'd say something along the lines of it being the last 2% difference in a headphone's innate sound. As long as a headphone has enough power to funcytion at it's optimal level, differences won't be big, and sometimes unnoticeable.

Click to expand...

 
Thanks I already have the E17 + E9 combo so I was just wondering if it would be worth upgrading to the Schitt combo, but it sounds like from what you're saying that it wouldn't really be a noticeable upgrade and in some aspects can be considered a downgrade.
 
Do you know the cheapest upgrade path from the Fiio combo? You see I'm very happy with the E9 but not completely sold on the E17 -- I love it's functionality and versatility, but I'm mostly going to be listening on the desktop so I'm willing to give that up if it means I can get better sound quality. I see that the Audioengine D1 is on sale, and I've seen at least one review on Amazon in which it states that the D1 provides a much larger soundstage than the E17. 
 
But I also know how audiophiles can tend to speak in hyperbole and seeing how you have had experience with much higher end dacs I would welcome any suggestions you have.

Hmm, I really like the ODAC. To me it was the best sounding dac I've owned. Even better than the Sabre es9018 dac equipped Compass 2, which cost me 600 dollars plus. However, once you hit a decent dac level, they're harder to distinguish than amps themselves. I like the E17s dac because its just slightly warm, which I sounds more enjoyable than a supremely neutral dac. However, the odac is neutral, yet smooth and more dimensional sounding than any of the dacs I owned. Just slightly.

For a pure upgrade to the Fiio combo, probably something like an odac+Mstage or Asgard 2. For me though, I love the Audio-GD amp/dac all in ones. The Compass 2 if you need an optical input, or just an nfb11.32 or cheaper, 15.32.

I wish they still sold the NFB5. Loved it.

I have one more question. Does the Skullcandy Plyr 1 have mic monitoring (mic monitoring plays back the audio your mic is picking up to let you know how loud you're talking.)

I can't remember. I don't think I've heard anything that monitors my voice at least to where I can adjust how loud I can hear myself. Most I've heard is perhaps some of my voice coming through game audio, but not separeate chat monitoring.

abk792 said:

  I have one more question. Does the Skullcandy Plyr 1 have mic monitoring (mic monitoring plays back the audio your mic is picking up to let you know how loud you're talking.)

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Windows has this. You just use the windows mixer and up your mic volume. Not sure why you'd want it. 

cubemonkeynyc said:

   
Windows has this. You just use the windows mixer and up your mic volume. Not sure why you'd want it. 

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Two main reasons. First is to monitor for an open mic when using PTT. Second is to cancel out the in-head reverb caused by closed headphones. There are other reasons on an individual level but these are the two most common.
 
As for windows, it introduces a very noticeable delay between spoken and heard. Headsets with live monitoring are much better than the monitoring built into windows.

axelcloris said:

   
Two main reasons. First is to monitor for an open mic when using PTT. Second is to cancel out the in-head reverb caused by closed headphones. There are other reasons on an individual level but these are the two most common.

Click to expand...

 
Monitor for an open mic when using PTT? What chat software are you using where that could be a problem? We use Teamspeak. Either the PTT key is pressed or it isn't.
 
Not familiar with the reverb issue. 

cubemonkeynyc said:

   
Monitor for an open mic when using PTT? What chat software are you using where that could be a problem? We use Teamspeak. Either the PTT key is pressed or it isn't.
 
Not familiar with the reverb issue. 

Click to expand...

 
Over the years I've used versions of Teamspeak, Ventrilo and various voice chat systems built into games. I've run into open mics with PTT more times than I can remember.
 
The reverb is the same effect as sticking fingers in your ears and talking, or when talking with IEMs in.

axelcloris said:

   
Over the years I've used versions of Teamspeak, Ventrilo and various voice chat systems built into games. I've run into open mics with PTT more times than I can remember.
 
The reverb is the same effect as sticking fingers in your ears and talking, or when talking with IEMs in.

Click to expand...

 
Weird. The only time I've seen an open mic on a PTT user is when they CTRL-ALT-DELETE. 
 
I didn't think that reverb could be a problem. Must be an audiophile thing.

Reverb is a definite problem of closed headphones in general. Not sure on how it applies to chat, as I don't hear myself when I speak...except now with the PS4. I haven't used it enough to weigh in on how badly it affects me though.

cubemonkeynyc said:

   
Windows has this. You just use the windows mixer and up your mic volume. Not sure why you'd want it. 

Click to expand...

Because If I can't hear myself well enough I talk way too loudly. 

Koss PortaPro $24.99 Amazon
 
I posted this over in the Deals thread too, but cross posting here just in case someone wanted to try these and wasn't subbed to that thread. 

Well, well, lookie what we have here...








Thanks to Change Is Good for the opportunity to try/review the 1840, as well as lending me the Asgard 2 for an upcoming review of another headphone or two.

So, as you can see, both the Shure 1540 and 1840 pads fit the MA900.

Both of the pads have a felt cover, which don't match well with the MA900 which already has it's own cover. The 1540 pads = bassy as hell MA900, weird/recessed mids. The 1840 pads are closer to the stock MA900 pads, but not completely and could still be better. THAT BEING SAID, the 1840 comes closer to the MA900's stock pad sound, and I believe may be worth looking into acquiring and attempt removing the felt pad cover... I may do just that, as the 1840 pads are around $25. This may be what puts the MA900 as a 9.9 in comfort. .1 for the headband still needing something.

BTW, the MA900 with the Shure pads = THE MOST COMFORTABLE HEADPHONE IN EXISTENCE. Bar none, game over, don't look elsewhere. There is no comparison.

The Shure pads keep your ears from bottoming out on the MA900's driver cover, so no more partial on ear feels here.

As for the 1840? Comfort = legendary, if a little below the MA900s.

Sound on the 1840? w/1540 pads, bass bloat, dark mids, mid recession = not worth it, IMHO. Stock 1840? Clean sounding, airy as anything I've heard outside of the Ad700, slightly bright, and the bass is tight and balanced to my ears, though definitely doesn't go too deep. reminds me of the MA900's bass drop off, though the MA900 has stronger midbass.

So far, so good on the 1840. haven't had much time, TBH, so give me awhile before I have any real feels on it's sound.