HD 650 + E7/E9 or E9/E10?

I reviewed the HD650 with the E9 (did not use E7, had a separate higher end DAC for that) yesterday, here's a link

http://www.head-fi.org/t/582916/fiio-e9-the-big-users-guide-the-8-x-headphone-round-up-how-does-yours-stack-up-with-the-e9-pictures-inside#post_7931755

You don't want to use an E10 with the HD650.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ztreb185 

Well the thing is I dont have a dac at all.  I have my onboard realtek only.  Im really on a budget here so I wanted a <$100 dac to pair with the E9, and the E7/E10 fit that bill.  Got any recommendations?

The E7 is clearly your only option unless you want to run a soundcard and have a full sized PC.

Here's the amazon pricing

$88.95 for the E7

http://www.amazon.com/FiiO-E7-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B003E6K1VK

$80.99 for the E10

http://www.amazon.com/FiiO-E10-USB-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B005VO7LG6

$8.00 difference, and the DAC in the E7 would be slightly nicer I'd imagine. The E10 is just a very

useful, pocket fit DAC/Amp solution for non-demanding headphones ~ not the HD650 which really

needs all you can afford to sound it's best.

If you need the DAC, go for the E7/E9.

i have the E7/E9 and HD650 combo.  i find the sound good.....sounds full and lush....dont know what else to say.  i cant compare it to much else.  I'd say the E7/E9 and HD650 was a  good combo.  I'm happy with mine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gwarmi 

The E7 is clearly your only option unless you want to run a soundcard and have a full sized PC.

 

Here's the amazon pricing

 

$88.95 for the E7

 

http://www.amazon.com/FiiO-E7-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B003E6K1VK

 

$80.99 for the E10

 

http://www.amazon.com/FiiO-E10-USB-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B005VO7LG6

 

$8.00 difference, and the DAC in the E7 would be slightly nicer I'd imagine. The E10 is just a very

useful, pocket fit DAC/Amp solution for non-demanding headphones ~ not the HD650 which really

needs all you can afford to sound it's best.

E10 is supposed to be an upgrade to E7. It's cheaper because of the lack of an LED screen. E10 is not portable like E7, and I wouldn't buy E9 if I was getting E10 unless your headphones are known as hardest to drive.

E7 is 16bit/48Hz, whilst E10 is 24bit/96Hz.

i have e7 with l7 line out
with 650 wasn't really good,
so i m going to sell this combo,,lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingpage 

E10 is supposed to be an upgrade to E7. It's cheaper because of the lack of an LED screen. E10 is not portable like E7, and I wouldn't buy E9 if I was getting E10 unless your headphones are known as hardest to drive.

 

E7 is 16bit/48Hz, whilst E10 is 24bit/96Hz.

Must audition the E10 with a few headphones next time I'm down at the audio store ~ I hold grave fears for the HD650 performance though! :-)

I did see it last time though, it's tiny ~ as in 5cm x 3.5cm 

It not that hard to connect e10 to e9 you know. Just a bit harder than e7 to e9 since a 3.5mm interconnect is needed.
I would say go for the e10+e9 unless you would need a portable amp as well.

I'm waiting to read NwAVGuy's review on E10. Try to ask people who own both E10 and HD650, if E10 can drive them well. E10 is more powerful than E7, but not E9.

The E10 should be able to drive the HD650 based on stats, but only barely.  It's rated up to 300 ohms.  From personal experience, it drives my 160 ohm FA-011s at a comfortable listening level with the volume knob set to ~2-3/8 on low gain.  The HD650s are a little more sensitive (103 db vs 98 on the Fischers), so as long as ohms vs. volume knob position scales roughly linearly, the E10 should work, especially once you throw the switch to high gain.

And it is possible to connect the E10 to the E9 - in fact, I believe it was ClieOS who said that he much preferred the E10/E9 combo over the E7/E9.  All you need is a mini to RCA cable or a coax to RCA cable (if they exist).

I think the E10 will drive them to listenable levels - but the question is if it will drive them well (dynamically).  The amp in the E10 is supposed to be similar/same as the one in the portable E11.  The amp in the E7 is considerably weaker.

I have the E11 and have tried it with my HD600s.  It'll drive them to reasonable volumes - but it doesn't hold a candle to either my PortaTube or NFB-12.

However - if the OP is living within a strict budget, and has his heart set on the HD650, and the Fiio E7 or E10 is the only real option for affordable dac/amp, it's an easy choice - E10.  Just expect to be upgrading sooner rather than later.

 Yes, I can't imagine the E10 really showing much of a match for it's bigger brother in the E9 - my impressions with the HD650 and E9 were that

 it represented the 'bare minimum' on what that can deserves.

 Otherwise you're better off with a Shure 840 compared with a HD650 on poor amplification - The Shure will leave it behind in terms

 of dynamic enjoyment when the support gear is compromised.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gwarmi 

 

 Yes, I can't imagine the E10 really showing much of a match for it's bigger brother in the E9 - my impressions with the HD650 and E9 were that

 it represented the 'bare minimum' on what that can deserves.

 

 Otherwise you're better off with a Shure 840 compared with a HD650 on poor amplification - The Shure will leave it behind in terms

 of dynamic enjoyment when the support gear is compromised.

Actually that's quite a good idea Gwarmi - especially for an entry level.  And if it was a strictly desk-top setup, I'd even suggest SRH840 & NFB-12.  Then when OP can afford it, it brings the HD600/650 or DT880 into play.