raybone0566
Headphoneus Supremus
Will join this club tomorrow. My he-400's should hit my doorstep sometime tomorrow. My first planar headphone. Really stoked!
I haven't seen that one before, looks like their entry level amp. Seems like I would be better off just getting a used Asgard again if I went that route.
I'm just wondering if the Asus Essence doesn't make more sense because it takes care of the DAC nonsense more or less as well as being a decent enough amp. I'll keep your suggestion in mind though
Will join this club tomorrow. My he-400's should hit my doorstep sometime tomorrow. My first planar headphone. Really stoked!
O2. You will know how the HE-400 was designed to sound like. Unless you have the HE-6, the O2 is a very powerful amp. Don't base your decision solely on price and size of the amp. Listen to it.
What you should invest in is in an excellent DAC, I suggest with multiple digital filters. Because the amp is only as good as the DAC.
So my honest advise is buy the O2 for around $150, then save later for a DAC with multiple digital filters. My honest 2 cents.
Any recommendations?Play it on an amp with bass to sub-bass extraction capability (not saying tilted to bass, just capable). The sound signature is so enjoyable, especially if you factor in the price.
I've heard talk of the O2 for years, but I seem to remember it being refereed to a dry/analytical? I don't need a super warm tube sound (though I do miss it!) but I don't want to turn my he400's into K702s either.
I don't think O2 was referred to as dry/analytical, more of a transparent amp that will output what your source is feeding in it.
Just joined the club!
Got a pair of used (perfect condition) HE-400 from ebay for $185.
I love the sound and the build quality. The only thing I am not super happy with is the headband. I have a really 'tall' head and i feel like the top of the headband presses down quite hard even at max extension. Does anyone have experience with the wool headband cushions that I can get for a few bucks on ebay?
Any one have a suggestion for an affordable case that fits the he400?
Just joined the club!
Got a pair of used (perfect condition) HE-400 from ebay for $185.
I love the sound and the build quality. The only thing I am not super happy with is the headband. I have a really 'tall' head and i feel like the top of the headband presses down quite hard even at max extension. Does anyone have experience with the wool headband cushions that I can get for a few bucks on ebay?
Any one have a suggestion for an affordable case that fits the he400?
That goes into what I was saying about Asus Essence being a good idea for a DAC, I don't see a ton of talk about it being used as one and I don't see why it wouldn't be on par with more expensive ones. Plus if I got that, I would still have an amp in the meantime until I get a better one so I think it sounds like a good course of action.
I've heard talk of the O2 for years, but I seem to remember it being refereed to a dry/analytical? I don't need a super warm tube sound (though I do miss it!) but I don't want to turn my he400's into K702s either.
Anyone else here have experience with the O2+HE400 combo?
HE-400 + O2 + ODAC has been my go-to setup for going on 2 years.
I have also used my HE-400s with a Realtek Chipset (~2010 vintage can't remember the exact version but it wasn't their best) and the more recent 892 chipset. I have also tried a Yamaha reciever, 2 Nokia Phones, 1 Asus Tablet and so on.
In addition to listening to all those devices standalone, I've also used them as the input for the O2.
In addition to that, I've plugged every headphone I had around into the O2 to "see what happens".
So, I am your HE-400 authority
Yea, the headband is too thin. I've not used the wool ones but aren't they only a cover for the headband? I don't think they provide much cushioning, unless I'm mistaking which product you're referring to. I usually see people using it to cover other cushioning mods they did, such as attaching the cushion of a HD-600 (can be purchased by itself). I can however, say the universal headband works pretty well http://www.amazon.com/Replacement-Leatherette-Universal-Sennheiser-Beyerdynamic/dp/B00862522A
Not sure how tall your head is, but if you're already using the cans fully extended, adding cushioning might prevent you from getting a good fit. You might want to take note of that.
As for case, the case from Hifiman themselves?
Wow thanks for the detailed input. The O2 certainly sounds like it could be what i'm looking for, but many have said it's only as good as the DAC. You mentioned you tried it with the realtek chip which of course I have too on my mobo and it still sounded ok? That would be a huge plus if it was usable out of the box and into the speaker/line out jack.
How does the ODAC compare if you A-B it with just jacking into your mobo with the O2?
+1 for the Beyer headstrap, it's a must own IMO and completes what's missing on these set of cans. I have no idea what they were thinking making the headband so thin, this helps a lot.