80-100 dollar headphone amps for the AKG K701 - Page 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by DomieMic65 

The O2 is not only DIY you can get it assembled!!

 

I only recommended the DIY option because the current commercially assembled boards/ amplifiers have pretty long queues to them and are only available by late Jan if I'm not wrong.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScaleneAlloy 
So what I was going to get was the xonar Dg and the fiio e11, but I can't get the xonar DG now so would this sound card be a good a substitute?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LP0R3E/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=A286IZ33TR5AUQ

That is one old Creative Labs card.

Amazon sells the Xonar DG.

AKG K701's are amazing - especially for the price.

Unfortunately you need some pretty good amplification to really make it sing!

The 105dB/V sensitivity is misleading. Normally, you see sensitivity quoted in dB/1mW. If you use this unit of measure we're talking 93 db/1mW.

A good sound card and a mid-range amp would do the K701 justice. Otherwise you may have some weak/thin sound from the K701's. Part of this is the inherent frequency response of the 701's. They need a lot of power to shine.

Yes a decent sound card will drive 701's but you'd really be missing out - especially down low.

Also, the search function is your friend - use it!

http://www.head-fi.org/t/443221/how-to-get-optimum-sound-out-of-the-akg-k701s-from-your-computer

http://www.head-fi.org/t/183297/k701s-computer-audio-source

http://www.head-fi.org/t/445597/k701-with-no-amp

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScaleneAlloy 
Oh ok, but hey you recommended the Creative Labs X-Fi Recon3D (SB1350). I'm willing to test it out as the few reviews on it are fairly positive. Do you think I could just use this and avoid getting an amp and new sound card?

In theory, it would do the job of the amp and sound card and part of me would say go for it.

I just do not want the guilt of recommending a sound card with only a few reviews and have some unknown problem pop up.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by PurpleAngel 

In theory, it would do the job of the amp and sound card and part of me would say go for it.

I just do not want the guilt of recommending a sound card with only a few reviews and have some unknown problem pop up.
 

 

 

Where are the spec's for the Creative Labs X-Fi Recon3D?

SNR, power available, output impedance, power source, P-P Voltage swing, component types, cross talk, etc? It looks interesting but based on my experience I would be very hesitant to recommend such a thing for 701's. If you haven't heard 701's from a good source and a good amp, you're really missing out on some great potential.

besides some of fiios offerings, ii don't think you will get the most out of your k701 at the 100 dollar price range.

you need a more expensive amp.