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Best budget amp for the hd650

post #1 of 19
8/4/12 at 10:41pm
Thread Starter 

Hey everyone, i've been thinking about getting the 650s, but i'm not sure what amp i should use. I have the e17 right now, and from what i've read, it has nowhere enough power to drive them. What would be the best budget amp with the best price/performance. I'm currently looking at the schiit asgard and the asus xonar stx. The stx would be much cheaper because it has a dac and an amp, but the asgard has much more power. Also, suggestions for other amps 250 dollars and under are welcome. 

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post #2 of 19
8/5/12 at 12:00am
The O2 would do great with them, and the E9 also does very well with High Z headphones like the HD 650s...
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post #3 of 19
8/5/12 at 12:00am

I would gladly take the Fiio E9 over the Asgard for the HD-650. With the HD-600..no way.

 

IMO the Asgard felt like a weakling, especially with the K601. I know it's probably not, but I was fooled.

 

Why not try the O2? I haven't heard it and don't like suggesting products I haven't heard, but it's dirt cheap.

 

Not sure how it compares to the E9.

 

Don't let people tell you the E9 is horrible with the HD-650. It's quite good for it (for the money!).

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post #4 of 19
8/5/12 at 12:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jwusoccer View Post

Hey everyone, i've been thinking about getting the 650s, but i'm not sure what amp i should use. I have the e17 right now, and from what i've read, it has nowhere enough power to drive them. What would be the best budget amp with the best price/performance. I'm currently looking at the schiit asgard and the asus xonar stx. The stx would be much cheaper because it has a dac and an amp, but the asgard has much more power. Also, suggestions for other amps 250 dollars and under are welcome. 


Asus Xonar STX isn't good match because they gonna lack deep sub-bass most noticeable on classical and jazz but akso affects other music styles. But HD650 and Maverick Audio TubeMagic D1(DAC/AMP in one) are made in haven for each other but you still should get cheap Xonar so you can use SPDIF input instead of USB

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post #5 of 19
8/5/12 at 12:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by olegausany View Post


Asus Xonar STX isn't good match because they gonna lack deep sub-bass most noticeable on classical and jazz but akso affects other music styles. But HD650 and Maverick Audio TubeMagic D1(DAC/AMP in one) are made in haven for each other but you still should get cheap Xonar so you can use SPDIF input instead of USB

 

Why would it lack sub-bass with that card? Doesn't make much sense. It's not like the thing is some cheap generic soundcard. The HD-650 isn't that difficult to drive.

 

Check out this review i've seen yesterday. Seems to measure extremely well:

 

http://goldenears.net/board/index.php?mid=GR_Amp_DAC&search_target=title&search_keyword=asus&document_srl=1797437

 

It's output impedance is also 10.31 ohm, so it should be fine with the HD-650.

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post #6 of 19
8/5/12 at 12:48am
Thread Starter 
So out of the o2, e9 and the stx, what would be the best choice? Im leaning towards the e9 or stx right now because i could pair the e9 with my e17 and the xonar has and amp and a dac while the o2 is purely and amp.
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post #7 of 19
8/5/12 at 10:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by tdockweiler View Post

 

Why would it lack sub-bass with that card? Doesn't make much sense. It's not like the thing is some cheap generic soundcard. The HD-650 isn't that difficult to drive.

 

Check out this review i've seen yesterday. Seems to measure extremely well:

 

http://goldenears.net/board/index.php?mid=GR_Amp_DAC&search_target=title&search_keyword=asus&document_srl=1797437

 

It's output impedance is also 10.31 ohm, so it should be fine with the HD-650.


I trust my ears not graphs and numbers. I also heard HD650 with O2 and Burson 160D and heard same problem

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post #8 of 19
8/5/12 at 11:22am

Neco Soundlab V3 will drive them better than anything i have heard so far....
 

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post #9 of 19
8/5/12 at 11:47am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by tdockweiler View Post

I would gladly take the Fiio E9 over the Asgard for the HD-650. With the HD-600..no way.

 

IMO the Asgard felt like a weakling, especially with the K601. I know it's probably not, but I was fooled.

 

Why not try the O2? I haven't heard it and don't like suggesting products I haven't heard, but it's dirt cheap.

 

Not sure how it compares to the E9.

 

Don't let people tell you the E9 is horrible with the HD-650. It's quite good for it (for the money!).

Was the asgard really that bad for the hd650? I'm considering it now since it looks better than the o2, and it seems to have more than enough power to drive the 650s.

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post #10 of 19
8/5/12 at 12:07pm

http://www.head-fi.org/t/621125/jds-labs-c421

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post #11 of 19
8/5/12 at 2:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jwusoccer View Post

So out of the o2, e9 and the stx, what would be the best choice? I

The O2 measures better than the other two, and will do a better job with Low Z cans than the other two amps will. The E9 and STX will do fine with Higher Z 'phones like the 650s.

Honestly, imo there should be little audible difference between these three amps with the HD-650s, or other headphones that are above about 80 Ohms.
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post #12 of 19
8/5/12 at 7:34pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by olegausany View Post


Asus Xonar STX isn't good match because they gonna lack deep sub-bass most noticeable on classical and jazz but akso affects other music styles. But HD650 and Maverick Audio TubeMagic D1(DAC/AMP in one) are made in haven for each other but you still should get cheap Xonar so you can use SPDIF input instead of USB

Which version is best for the hd650?? Theres the d1 but they also have an a1 on their website.

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post #13 of 19
8/5/12 at 9:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jwusoccer View Post

Which version is best for the hd650?? Theres the d1 but they also have an a1 on their website.


A1 is an amp only while  D1 is DAC and AMP in one

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post #14 of 19
8/6/12 at 12:23am

i drive them just fine from a fiio e10/e17 dont even need an e9 imo

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post #15 of 19
11/11/12 at 5:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tdockweiler View Post

I would gladly take the Fiio E9 over the Asgard for the HD-650. With the HD-600..no way.

 

IMO the Asgard felt like a weakling, especially with the K601. I know it's probably not, but I was fooled.

 

Why not try the O2? I haven't heard it and don't like suggesting products I haven't heard, but it's dirt cheap.

 

Not sure how it compares to the E9.

 

Don't let people tell you the E9 is horrible with the HD-650. It's quite good for it (for the money!).

tdockweiler,

I have both the HD650 and HD600 units, why the E9 for the 650, but not the 600 (just curious, not disagreeing)?

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