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AMP/DAC suggestions (if needed) for ATH-M50

post #1 of 5
1/13/12 at 9:51am
Thread Starter 

This is my first post!

 

I recently acquired the ATH-M50. It's currently in the burn-in process, but I'm loving it already. It's my first pair of headphones that I have purchased.

 

I was wondering if an amp is necessary for the ATH-M50? I was thinking of starting off with the E6 + LOD for a portable amp system with my ipod.

 

I also have a desktop that is using the Asus Rampage III Formula motherboard and uses SupremeFX X-Fi 2 as the on-board audio. I was wondering if this is a good on-board audio. I have not tested it yet because I am currently home for the holidays, and my desktop is at my dorm. If it doesn't have good audio, I would be interested in a DAC/soundcard

 

Also, my netbook is a TERRIBLE source. Songs would just have so much noise and crackling that other sources do not have. I use my netbook a lot when I travel/out of my dorm. I think if I want to use my headphones with my netbook, I will NEED a DAC.

 

So... is an amp necessary for the ATH-M50, and if so, what amp would you recommend. I don't think I will be upgrading my headphones for a while.

 

Thanks!

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post #2 of 5
2/23/12 at 2:01pm

Bump, I also just picked up a pair of M50's and would like to know if I would benifit at all using a DAC?   Right now im just plugged into my laptop. 

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post #3 of 5
2/23/12 at 3:17pm

My M50S definitely improves with either an amp (Fiio E11) or DAC (Fiio E7). Fiio E11 definitely has a good influence on the sound quality of these headphones. The soundstage is larger, high frequencies are more extending and cleaner, bass has more impact, and mid range sounds fuller, and better-defined.

 

Didn't really feel that much of an improvement with the E7 over my MacBook Pro's headphone out port, though.

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post #4 of 5
2/23/12 at 9:31pm

My M50s run just fine out of my laptop via the Nuforce uDAC. May be lacking a bit in bass though.

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post #5 of 5
2/25/12 at 12:11pm

Has anyone had experience/improvements from using E6 + LOD + M50 + iPhone 4?

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