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Setting up AKG K701

post #1 of 4
12/26/11 at 3:26pm
Thread Starter 

Hello,

I have recently purchased an AKG K701. However, I don't own any other audio equipments as I am pretty new to this high quality audio products businness. I gave up trying to evaluate the headphone after getting frustrated with the sound it managed to produce while linked to my $40 Sony Audio Player. Although I am new to using high quality audio products, I have been a classical musicial for 10+ years, so I am definitely extremely sensitive. After browsing through (and suffocating from) the massive information in this forum, I managed to get the following information about the ideal sound system:

 

1. Sound source reads the CD.

1a. DAC connected to the sound source converts the digital info (?) to analogue.

1b. AMP connected to the DAC amplifies the sound

2. Headphone connected to the AMP produces the ethereal liquid I want to hear.

 

So, for the questions. I listen to classical, pop, ballad, and little of anything else.

1. Which one would make the largest differene in the sound quality? (AMP, sound source, DAC (?))

2. For each equipment (AMP sound source, DAC), please give me product suggestions.

 

Thank you in advance!

 

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post #2 of 4
12/26/11 at 6:13pm

I can't comment on the CD player, but a DAC (same as source) makes a bigger improvement than amps.  Amps are also dependent on the source -- they work better amplifying a good source over a bad one.

 

DACs are used with computers though, not CD players (which have their own built in DAC).  So you would have to rip your CDs (to FLAC files) on your computer then use a dac to listen to them.

 

I don't know what your budget is, but I think the FiiO E10 DAC/amp is very nice for the price. 

 

 

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post #3 of 4
12/26/11 at 6:31pm

It's easy to find a good DAC. Almost any DAC designed for neutrality is going to be neutral, and anything neutral DAC over a modest price point (as low as $30 sometimes) will have inaudible noise and distortion. There's a lot more ways an amp can go wrong, and their performance is directly related to the load they're driving, unlike a DAC which can always expect the same load and can be designed around it. I would say more planning is required when choosing an amp, but don't think it's a "benefit per buck" thing, rather it's about choosing an amp that doesn't work poorly with the headphones.

 

What sort of connections does the CD player have? Does it have digital and line-out analog outputs (unamped, like RCA)?

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post #4 of 4
12/27/11 at 2:15pm
Thread Starter 
My audio player has a single jack out. Nothing fancy like RAC. frown.gif
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