Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Dedicated Source Components › Best budget versatile amp/dac for HE-500s/250-600 ohm cans?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Best budget versatile amp/dac for HE-500s/250-600 ohm cans?

post #1 of 8
12/4/11 at 9:14pm
Thread Starter 

OP: Hey guys, so at the moment this is the only equipment I have and I don't really have the money to splurge for a desktop amp right now. I would like to know if you guys think my D-33 and my TTVJ Slim, through the line out, would have enough power to drive power-hungry headphones such as the HE-500 or even higher-impedance headphones (i.e. HD600,HD650, etc.) with authority. 

 

The headphones I am really interested in these days are the HE-500, though I don't think I'll get them till quite some time from now. But I'd like to get a rough idea on how much power this home rig would have and if it's wise at all. It sure would save me a good amount of cash. Thanks for any input! 

 

That was the original post but if someone has insight on a good budget amp/dac that would serve me well, that would be fine too. I love the warm, balanced sound of my TTVJ Slim so anything comparable with enough power to drive anything, but has multiple gain settings so I don't blow out the drivers of lower impedance cans would be quite nice. I've heard some good things about Audio-GD - would they have something I'm looking for? Thanks in advance. 


Edited by roma101 - 12/14/11 at 4:37pm
Reply
post #2 of 8
12/14/11 at 4:18pm
Thread Starter 

OP edited. smily_headphones1.gif


Edited by roma101 - 12/14/11 at 4:38pm
Reply
post #3 of 8
12/14/11 at 7:29pm

As far as I know, HE-500s aren't that power hungry. I'm not entirely sure of the dynamics of planar magnetic drivers and how much power they need, but the impedance of the HE-500s is only 38ohm. Head-direct claims that you can drive it with an average amp, so its possible that it can be driven by your TTVJ Slim just fine. As for HD600/50, not so much as they have a high impedance (in the neighborhood of 300 iirc). 

 

Just for reference, when I was researching the NFB-11 before accepting Currawong's offer, I found that someone paired it up with HE-500s and was satisfied with that set up. Considering that, its twin the NFB-12 should be able to drive those headphones, or any similar DAC/Amp combo with similar power. I'd look into DACs more that match up to your preferences. 

Reply
post #4 of 8
12/14/11 at 7:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kyuuketsuki View Post

As far as I know, HE-500s aren't that power hungry. I'm not entirely sure of the dynamics of planar magnetic drivers and how much power they need, but the impedance of the HE-500s is only 38ohm. Head-direct claims that you can drive it with an average amp, so its possible that it can be driven by your TTVJ Slim just fine. As for HD600/50, not so much as they have a high impedance (in the neighborhood of 300 iirc). 

 

Just for reference, when I was researching the NFB-11 before accepting Currawong's offer, I found that someone paired it up with HE-500s and was satisfied with that set up. Considering that, its twin the NFB-12 should be able to drive those headphones, or any similar DAC/Amp combo with similar power. I'd look into DACs more that match up to your preferences. 


HE-500 is one of the most power hungry headphones available. Their impedance is low (38 by manufacturer specs, the ones Tyll measured had 47), but their sensitivity is only supposed to be 89 dB/mW (again by manufacturer specs, the measurements Tyll made don't add up with that and claim they're lower). That's a deadly combination. They require just as much voltage as the HD600/650, and six times the current. That means they're going to be just as loud or quieter, depending on if the amp's current limited, and will almost definitely cause the amp to distort more.

 

That said, the Slim is still plenty powerful for the HE-500 (or the HD600/650). Enough current (supposedly 100 mA) to not be limited there, and over 2 Vrms into 38 ohms (over 3 into 300 ohms) is plenty enough to reach 110 dB if the manufacturer specs are true and not Tyll's.

Reply
post #5 of 8
12/14/11 at 8:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Head Injury View Post


HE-500 is one of the most power hungry headphones available. Their impedance is low (38 by manufacturer specs, the ones Tyll measured had 47), but their sensitivity is only supposed to be 89 dB/mW (again by manufacturer specs, the measurements Tyll made don't add up with that and claim they're lower). That's a deadly combination. They require just as much voltage as the HD600/650, and six times the current. That means they're going to be just as loud or quieter, depending on if the amp's current limited, and will almost definitely cause the amp to distort more.

 

That said, the Slim is still plenty powerful for the HE-500 (or the HD600/650). Enough current (supposedly 100 mA) to not be limited there, and over 2 Vrms into 38 ohms (over 3 into 300 ohms) is plenty enough to reach 110 dB if the manufacturer specs are true and not Tyll's.


Hm... interesting. I knew that they were low efficiency, but the fact that they are 10ohm off makes me wary... That said, they are still not as bad as other planar magnetic phones, and they can be driven with a regular amp.

 

I need to do my amp HW though, and perhaps review my physics book...

 


Edited by kyuuketsuki - 12/14/11 at 8:07pm
Reply
post #6 of 8
12/14/11 at 9:12pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks for the response Tom. You can never underestimate these planars - I've read the HE-500s need much more power even though they have a lower impedance.
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Head Injury View Post


HE-500 is one of the most power hungry headphones available. Their impedance is low (38 by manufacturer specs, the ones Tyll measured had 47), but their sensitivity is only supposed to be 89 dB/mW (again by manufacturer specs, the measurements Tyll made don't add up with that and claim they're lower). That's a deadly combination. They require just as much voltage as the HD600/650, and six times the current. That means they're going to be just as loud or quieter, depending on if the amp's current limited, and will almost definitely cause the amp to distort more.

 

That said, the Slim is still plenty powerful for the HE-500 (or the HD600/650). Enough current (supposedly 100 mA) to not be limited there, and over 2 Vrms into 38 ohms (over 3 into 300 ohms) is plenty enough to reach 110 dB if the manufacturer specs are true and not Tyll's.


Head Injury - I appreciate the informative response. I got the TTVJ Slim originally thinking they would have enough power to drive bigger cans (that is what Todd claims on the website too), but I've read here and there it may not have enough power since it's a portable amp. Would you say the TTVJ can drive those cans with authority? I'm sure they can get them to higher volumes but will it be powerful enough to benefit SQ or would I be missing out without a desktop amp? Someone, on the HE-500 thread, mentioned the HE-500s could be driven fine out of the TTVJ but need more power to fill out the bass and get it "thumping," which makes sense but what about the HD6X0? Thanks again.

 


Edited by roma101 - 12/14/11 at 9:14pm
Reply
post #7 of 8
12/14/11 at 9:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by roma101 View Post

Head Injury - I appreciate the informative response. I got the TTVJ Slim originally thinking they would have enough power to drive bigger cans (that is what Todd claims on the website too), but I've read here and there they may not have enough power since it's a portable amp. Would you say the TTVJ can drive those cans with authority? I'm sure they can get them to higher volumes but will it be powerful enough to benefit SQ or would I be missing out without a desktop amp? Someone, on the HE-500 thread, mentioned the HE-500s could be driven fine out of the TTVJ but need more power to fill out the bass and get it "thumping," which makes sense but what about the HD6X0? Thanks again.


I'm not the one to ask about subjective "powerful enough" or "benefit SQ" stuff. It's my belief that as long as an amp has enough voltage and power to drive a headphone to the preferred listening volume with all peaks intact and unclipped, and with inaudible distortion (and other junk), it can't get any better. I can't speak for the Slim's distortion, but I can safely say that all peaks will be intact and unclipped at most sane listening volumes with most recorded material, using either the HE-500 or HD6X0.

 

This is if the manufacturer specs ring true. They don't always, as we may see in Tyll's measurements of the HE-500.


Edited by Head Injury - 12/14/11 at 9:17pm
Reply
post #8 of 8
12/14/11 at 9:25pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Head Injury View Post


I'm not the one to ask about subjective "powerful enough" or "benefit SQ" stuff. It's my belief that as long as an amp has enough voltage and power to drive a headphone to the preferred listening volume with all peaks intact and unclipped, and with inaudible distortion (and other junk), it can't get any better. I can't speak for the Slim's distortion, but I can safely say that all peaks will be intact and unclipped at most sane listening volumes with most recorded material, using either the HE-500 or HD6X0.

 

This is if the manufacturer specs ring true. They don't always, as we may see in Tyll's measurements of the HE-500.



Great thanks again! :)

 

And if anyone wants to add to that, feel free.

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Dedicated Source Components
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Dedicated Source Components › Best budget versatile amp/dac for HE-500s/250-600 ohm cans?