Just got HE-6s, FiiO E10 be enough?

The HE-6 is the most power hungry headphone out there and HiFiMAN recommends at least 2 watts per channel (if I remember Fang's comments directly) to drive it. According to Fiio, your E10 can output 150 milliwatts at 32 ohms. So, you can see this type of small portable amp is totally inadequate. If you are looking for cheap amplification, you can make an adapter to run the HE-6 off of a power amplifier (the big kind used to power speakers). In fact, many people here run their HE-6s directly off of a power amplifier and I have too. You could also consider HiFiMAN's own EF-5 amplifier or Schitt Lyr, which are inexpensive headphone amplifiers built specifically for orthos. The most ideal would be a high quality power amp or HiFiMAN's EF-6 amplifier, made to match the HE-6.

Without a powerful enough amp, you will still get sound from your HE-6. It just won't be good quality sound. If you don't like the idea or can't afford a full-sized headphone amplifier, perhaps look into high-end custom IEMs like the JH13.

Return them and use the money to get the HE500's, which are much easier to drive, and a decent amp. 

Don't you have any SPEAKER amps?  I've used a number of speaker amps to drive my HE-6's, and the result was excellent.  My favorite is an AMC CVT-2030 which is a class-A, hybrid MOSFET / EL34 amp.  And, yep, I just connect the HE-6 right to the speaker output terminals of the amp.  I wouldn't use an amp bigger than about 50~60 watts / channel, a "burp" or "crackle" could damage the HE-6, but anything say 50 watts or so is safe.

Another amp I really like on the HE-6 is a FirstWatt F3 clone. That didn't cost too much, either.  Lots of nice amplifiers out there, you probably even have amplifiers at home to try.

Of course, my Beta 22 and Audio-Gd NFB-10ES also work well, but, really, I dig the MOSFET / EL34 sound from that AMC amp.  They're pretty cheap, too, those CVT-2030's. I got mine for around $300 on eBay.  Sounds good on speakers, too-  or to drive my Stax 'phones through an SRD-6. CVT-2030 is 30 watts of Class A EL34 goodness. Not great for inefficient speakers, but for power hungry headphones it's just the ticket; and on speakers of moderate efficiency it is also really good sounding. Designed by the guy that designed a fair number of NAD's amps.

I wouldn't buy the AMC integrated amp - CVT3030,  the preamp stage is solid stage and not the same quality as the power amp. You're better off just driving the CVT2030 power amp right off of a DAC with a passive level control.  The CVT-2030 has a 500k input impedance, so a 50K pot works fine as input level control off a high level source.

You can easily build a cable adapter to connect the HE-6 to speaker outputs on amps.

Go for an RSA Darkstar, pure magic with a HE-6. For less than that, the new EF-6 seems to be getting pretty positive reviews though I have yet to hear it. For even less, look no further than the Schiit Lyr, still makes the HE-6 pretty darn good.

Quote:

Originally Posted by eltocliousus 

Just got some HE-6s, I'll be honest all I have in terms of an amp is a FiiO E10, will the E10 atleast deliver a little of what the HE-6s give or am I being silly?

Thanks!

Definitely won't power them sufficiently. I would return the HE-6 and go for HE-500. Even the HE-500 likes a lot of power (roughly 1 watt), which the E10 doesn't output, at all. But, getting an amp that will do that for you is much easier. For example, for the price of the HE-6, you could have the HE-500 and a GD Audio NFB-12, together, for $900 brand new for both. Still less than the HE-6. And excellent, ridiculously, good sound. Otherwise, the HE-400 will run off your E10, if you want to save green.

Very best,

Like what others have said, you could keep the HE-6 (although that would be a bit dishonest, can't blame you though, Hifiman did send you the HE-6), and get something that can drive it appropriately.

I haven't had much experience, but below $1000 apart from the options from AudioGD, the Schiit Lyr will drive the HE-6 fine. Or you can return the HE-6, or even sell it and get something cheaper (again, selling it would be a bit dishonest), like the HE-500 or 400.

How I wish they would send me a Stax 009 when I order the Stax 007...

My DAC1 with gain reduction jumpers removed puts out good volume at 1.26W per channel into 32 ohms, so around 1W at 50ohms (the impedance of an HE-6).  

If you put out at least 1W I think you're temporarily OK but you will get a very significant noticeable improvement from that as soon as you can upgrade to a Lyr or so.  

I don't think Fiio sells anything that would really work too well. They Lyr is great, though. It's clear and strong and dead silent with the HE-6, as if it was designed to match specifically with it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by eltocliousus 

Just got some HE-6s, I'll be honest all I have in terms of an amp is a FiiO E10, will the E10 atleast deliver a little of what the HE-6s give or am I being silly?

Thanks!

eltocliousus.

It isn't your HE6, it was sent by mistake.  To on sell the HE6 is the same as selling stolen goods.  If your bank accidently deposited money in your account, it doesn't become your money. 

And the for sale thread?

http://www.head-fi.org/t/595896/mint-he-6

You are just one honest guy.  Remind me not to buy or sell to you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Draygonn 


A bank mis-deposited 24k into my checking account when I was a teenager. I moved it into savings and waited. Made $120 before they realized their mistake. That was a lot of beer money back then.

I am not familiar with US law, but once you moved it (from one account to another), you would have gone very close to edge of the law.  And that is not the same as where the OP is heading, he is making moves to deprive the REAL owner of their property.  Any way you look at it, that is theft, both morally and legally.  Just because the HE6 belong to a "company" doesn't make it right.  Companies are owned by stakeholders, people.

Anyway, each person has to live with their actions.