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hd598 + gear

post #1 of 9
11/26/11 at 8:21pm
Thread Starter 

hello all sorry i just didnt know where to post this...

 

i've decided on buying an hd598 in the close future

 

and i wanted to buy a source/amp for it

 

i didn't want to buy a low end amp to use it later when i buy a higher impedence

 

cans

 

i wanted to buy matrix m-stage + asus xonar essence st(not stx)

 

but later i started reading that an external dac would be better....

 

i got lost a little and wanted to have your opinions here guys <3

 

i'm planning to use my cans for ps3+computer listening

 

i dont know which is better buying an external dac or a sound card

 

if an external dac would sound better gimme an example please

 

and if so aswel i would like an example of a dac which has

 

an rca or aux input besides the usb input

 

thanks in advance

 

oh and btw i wouldnt mind any advises in cans aswel

 

im going to listen to everything in general

 

rock/alter/metal/hip hop/movies/games (everything) even classical/jazz

 

most i want is a spacious sound with soundstage and clarity and i like sparkly treble:)

 

awsome forum guys <3


Edited by hunter7600 - 11/26/11 at 8:25pm
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post #2 of 9
11/26/11 at 8:28pm

 

This is a very hard act to follow for the money ~ approx. $330USD,

 

It's a 24-bit/192 capable DAC with a powerful amp section that can drive even 600 ohm cans.

More or less impossible to top for the money if you want everything external in the one box.

Just hook up the power, connect the USB to the computer and you're away.

 

Audio GD NFB-5 

 

audio-gd-nfb-5-small.jpg

 

NFB53.jpg

 

 

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post #3 of 9
11/26/11 at 9:03pm
Thread Starter 

oh no worries im buying matrix m-stage for amping im more asking about dac/cans

 

just please no more than 300$ if there's something better that asus xonar essence st

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post #4 of 9
11/26/11 at 9:13pm

I'd suggest looking into the HRT Music Streamer II. It's $150 and sounds very good with the HD-598. It's especially good with my Q701 and AKG headphones.

Probably the best upgrade I've done in awhile and a huge upgrade from my old DAC I rarely used.

 

For the HD-598 IMO it seems a nice DAC is better than going from a portable amp to a desktop amp. The HD-600/650 would probably be different...

 

 

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post #5 of 9
11/26/11 at 10:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by hunter7600 View Post

oh no worries im buying matrix m-stage for amping im more asking about dac/cans

 

just please no more than 300$ if there's something better that asus xonar essence st



Very tough to beat the ASUS Essence ST or STX for $300 ~ I walked that path awhile ago and

in my opinion the Cambridge DacMagic and Arcam rDAC were not stellar definitive upgrades at

the time.

 

When you think about it, according to the market's average DAC pricing ~ it's not a lot of cash to

supply the customer with an external casing, power supply, external inputs and outputs, output stage

plus the actual DAC itself ~ ASUS are a big company and through economies of scale can give most

of this functionality on a naked card for less money.

 

Here's a recommendation anyway ~ Peachtree DAC*IT, it's a relatively new Sabre DAC.

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post #6 of 9
11/26/11 at 11:09pm

fiio e7 then later you can pair it with a e9

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post #7 of 9
11/26/11 at 11:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by paulywalnutz View Post

fiio e7 then later you can pair it with a e9

 

Here's the problem, the OP stated

 

 

i didn't want to buy a low end amp to use it later when i buy a higher impedence
 
cans

 

So assuming he wants to get a 600 ohm can down the track and looking at the E9 specifications

 

Output power: 1W (16Ω Loaded）；80mW（600Ω Loaded）

 

80mW does not cut the bacon on a 600 ohm can, it's not terrible but it's not great.

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post #8 of 9
11/26/11 at 11:58pm
Thread Starter 

thank you all for your replies

 

.... waiting for more replies:)

 

so guess ima go for asus... if there's no competitor in 300$ range

 


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by paulywalnutz View Post

fiio e7 then later you can pair it with a e9



e7 cant drive a 275 ohm cans

 

i know hd598 have a 50ohm but there's a 275ohm peak in the lower mid-range

 

at 100hz there's a graph somewhere that show's this

 

and as i stated before

 

"i didn't want to buy a low end amp to use it later when i buy a higher impedence
 
cans"

 


Edited by hunter7600 - 11/27/11 at 12:01am
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post #9 of 9
11/28/11 at 9:15pm
Thread Starter 

so my thread is going to sleep? gimme more opinions regarding all!

 

cans/matrix m-stage/source(asus xonar essence st)

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