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Headphones driven properly = poorer results.

post #1 of 9
5/1/12 at 3:26pm
Thread Starter 

Ok I know this is controversial but I recently owned some Superlux HD660s and the best they ever sounded to me was using my little Fiio E1 out of my iPod.  These are 150 ohm headphones so they were surely being under-driven, however the sound seemed just right. Every other amp I've tried made the bass boomy and the sound was just underwhelming. Anyone else experienced this?

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post #2 of 9
5/1/12 at 4:07pm

The E1 probably rolls off in the bass like its older siblings E5 and E6. I can't say for sure. You might like that.

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post #3 of 9
5/1/12 at 4:11pm

They just have too much bass, so you they sound better under powered. Use an amp, but also EQ them.

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post #4 of 9
5/1/12 at 9:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Head Injury View Post

The E1 probably rolls off in the bass like its older siblings E5 and E6. I can't say for sure. You might like that.

So you're back smily_headphones1.gif
Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain Magenta View Post

Ok I know this is controversial but I recently owned some Superlux HD660s and the best they ever sounded to me was using my little Fiio E1 out of my iPod.  These are 150 ohm headphones so they were surely being under-driven, however the sound seemed just right. Every other amp I've tried made the bass boomy and the sound was just underwhelming. Anyone else experienced this?

The biggest issue with the expression "driven poorly" is that most people define it as "sounds bad/underpowered" which is not a definition at all, by that non-definition, the Superlux were properly driven with the Fiio E1.
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post #5 of 9
5/1/12 at 11:46pm
E1 specs in fiio website states that it will output 12mW into 300ohm. The HD660 needs only 8mW at 150ohm to reach 108dBSPL.

So I would say that they were properly driven.
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post #6 of 9
5/2/12 at 9:36am
Thread Starter 

Thanks for the input guys,  I guess all these comments make sense of the matter. 

Now here is a good tip for unsatisfied HD660 owners - if they sound rubbish try them with a Fiio E1!
 

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post #7 of 9
5/2/12 at 11:17am

Boomy bass could be a few issues... including bad impedance mis-matching. I don't know what other amps you tried, but its possible that was at play.

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post #8 of 9
5/2/12 at 11:58am

Boomy bass almost always means the output impedance of the source is way too high, from what I understand.  The higher the output impedance the lower the electrical damping factor will be, meaning the driver will be more likely to go out of control.

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post #9 of 9
5/2/12 at 5:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaBomb77766 View Post

Boomy bass almost always means the output impedance of the source is way too high, from what I understand.  The higher the output impedance the lower the electrical damping factor will be, meaning the driver will be more likely to go out of control.

Makes sense, learning to under stand impedance is one heck of a tough subject for me without actually being able to hear how "proper" and "improper" impedance sounds

 

On that note EQ is fun stuff, takes some time though espically when you have a few programs used to modify the sound >.>

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