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HiFiman HE-400 DAC/AMP combo? - Page 2

post #16 of 21
11/14/12 at 6:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kstuart View Post

I strongly doubt that the first sentence is true.   The second sentence is probably true.   I have no idea what the third sentence is saying. :)

 

The statement is mostly true. Meaning that the dac will make the least amount of difference...the amp more difference and of course the hp will make the most difference in the overall sound. I think that was the meaning of what was said. 

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post #17 of 21
11/14/12 at 6:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MattTCG View Post

 

The statement is mostly true. Meaning that the dac will make the least amount of difference...the amp more difference and of course the hp will make the most difference in the overall sound. I think that was the meaning of what was said. 

 

Going by the premise that an amp "amplifies" , it should also amplify any differences in DACs. If you cannot hear any, chances are those differences are already too minute.

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post #18 of 21
11/14/12 at 6:58pm

In my listening, the DAC has made the most difference in sound quality of any component over the last 10-15 years.

 

An asynchronous DAC (costing one-third as much as the HE-400) removes the "jitter" in digital audio that cause people to spend hundreds of hours fussing with vinyl, because they dislike the "cold hard digital sound" that is actually due to jitter.

 

Note that "sound quality" and "different sounding" are not the same thing.

 

The HE-400 and the HD-650 may have roughly the same quality of sound reproduction, while sounding quite different.

 

Whereas listeing to the HE-400 through a laptop's sound card and then through an asynchronous DAC may sound similar, but one has significantly better quality.

 

Those who are just starting out in music or audio, may easily be able to notice things that sound different, but not things that have better quality.   It takes practice.

 

Of course, generalizations don't apply to every situation.


Edited by kstuart - 11/14/12 at 7:10pm
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post #19 of 21
2/5/13 at 8:06am
Hello, I'm currently using an e17 with my HE400 and was thinking about getting an e09k for it. However, I may as well sell my e17 and buy something comepletely different. Some friends of mine have recmmended hifiman ef-5, hivewer the reviewers say, that it somewhat numbs the treble, while it's the part that these headphones lack in my opinion. Therefore I came to you for an advice, is it possible ro find DAC/amp that may be able to make higher frequency sound more distinguishable, if one can say so? Or should I just purchase e09k? I miss the clarity of my old K701's treble.
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post #20 of 21
3/2/13 at 2:00pm

How do you now like the e7/9k combo?  What music do you listen to mostly?  I'm getting my 400's on Monday and was considering the same FIIO set up.

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post #21 of 21
3/11/13 at 4:19pm
Thread Starter 

Shoot guys! Super sorry for the late response! Eichhorn!- Yes, the E09K is definitely worth it! I can't say it will make your trebles more clear on the HiFiMANs. You have to remember that the HE-400's are on the darker side, so highs aren't going to sound as clear no matter what. The E09K just adds that extra oomph to the impact, as well as makes things sound in general better. I'd recommend using your E17's to bump up the treble, and thankfully there are multiple EQ options on the E17. 

 

Jshap11- I love the combo a lot. I listen to Rock, electro, classical, instrumentals, solo piano... pretty much everything except rap, hip-hop, raggae, metal, and country. The set up sounds great and is all around great, however, if you have a little bit of a bigger budget, I'd recommend you look at some tube amps and DAC's instead. I hear the HE-400's sound amazing with tubes. 

Sorry for the late response, guys!!

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