amp for the Akg k701

uDac + Millett Starving Student Hybrid Tube amp = great setup under $300 for the AKG K-70x.

I liked the Gilmore Lite with the K701s.  If you can spring for another $50 you can pick one of a few AMB M3's on the for sale side with upgraded power supplies.

Quote:Originally Posted by kitaraville 

"Gilmore lite seems a little high where my wallet is considered. I did some more research and bumbed into Schiits - Asgard headphone amp priced 250$ any opinions?"


My opinion is you'd still need a DAC. Buying headphones like the AKG K70x is part of a system and is only as good as it's weakest link. By expanding your budget to include a DAC like the uDac you'll have a more complete system. That means it will sound much better.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kitaraville 

Gilmore lite seems a little high where my wallet is considered. I did some more research and bumbed into Schiits - Asgard headphone amp priced 250$ any opinions? Also found this JV5 Tube Amp / DAC/

for 350$ i really love the looks of it. Im pretty much between these two.

 

here are both:

http://schiit.com/products/asgard/

and

http://aloaudio.com/jv5-tube-amp-dac-headphone-amplifier.html  

 

any opinions?

if your 'puter is a tower for home use, i would consider a sound card with a decent DAC and HP outs.  if you want an amp later, you can easily add one.  what about the Fiio that's all the rage?

i haven't heard one, but there's plenty to search and read.  you can check out the A/B amp comparison thread started by Milosz.

i have the Fiio combo and K702s. The 702s are new (2 weeks old) and still being burned in (im new to this too) but i find the combo to be petty good and great for the price, though its no where near as good as the setup i auditioned the 'phones on in the store (i didnt ask or check, but i assume that was at least $500 or more of equipment). The only issue i have is that they suck the "soul" out of some songs with this set up. That is to say that they sound great, with clarity that i have never heard before. But something about them reduces the emotional impact some songs have on me. the opposite was true with the other set up, which made my hair stand on end. that might be because I haven't finished burning them in though.

Over all though i am very happy with the Fiio set up, and could recommend it for low budgets. I have a CD of "passion" by "eminence symphony orchestra" it is my favorite album, and i was at the concert it was recorded at. I have listened to that through any number of speakers and headphones (though not many very good ones TBH). The Fiio K702 combo sounds EXACTLY the same to my ear as the live concert, i totally wasn't expecting that and it really blew me away.  After years of listening to the same songs in different "flavors" through different systems i felt like i was back in singapore at the concert, i am still really impressed whenever i listen to it. othe things are less stellar, simon and garfunkle sound a bit "meh" but on the whole its a solid set up in my opinion.

All that being said, im new to this, so i could be WAY off. Sound is a very personal thing. Hell, i have a set of cans i LOVE, they are made by TDK and cost $30. Most people on here would utterly hate them, but i really like them. To me sound like an aural version of being wrapped in a nice warm blanket on a cold night. to others they would sound utterly terrible. So rather than asking whats good it might be a good idea to think about how you want the 701s to sound and ask what amp will do that to them.  Better yet see if you can try out the amps you want to try at a store somewhere if at all possible, you can see if the Fiio is for you or not for example.

Not another K701 amp recommendation thread. I think there a couple active ones right now as I'm typing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by brasewel 

Not another K701 amp recommendation thread. I think there a couple active ones right now as I'm typing.

It has to do with the fact that pretty much every review or thread about the K70X says that it needs good and is very sensitive to amping, and really paint a "voodoo magic" image about what type of amp works well and what does not. New folks want to get recommendations from people who know much more about this than they do before they take that first plunge. which i can completely understand as i was in that position a few weeks back too. though it would be nice if it was contained to the thread for questions >_>

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surruk 

 

It has to do with the fact that pretty much every review or thread about the K70X says that it needs good and is very sensitive to amping, and really paint a "voodoo magic" image about what type of amp works well and what does not. New folks want to get recommendations from people who know much more about this than they do before they take that first plunge. which i can completely understand as i was in that position a few weeks back too. though it would be nice if it was contained to the thread for questions >_>

If you have heard the K701 through a couple of amps and not just the E9 you would know why people say they are difficult to amp and how they shine with quality amps. Saying the E9 does wonders to the K701 without actually hearing how they sound through a WA22 or a quality tube amp does not make a valid case now does it. But hey I'm not trying to bash the E9 or you so please don't take any offense to my comments. I'm just staying out of these K701 threads since the E9 is supposedly the "best" amp for them

Yep, I find it perplexing that nobody uses the K701 appreciation thread.  That seems like the most logical place to ask about general amping advice.