Decent amp for k7xx?
Feb 22, 2016 at 9:50 AM Thread Starter Post #1 of 26
audiophizile

audiophizile

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I just joined the drop for the red k7xx's and am looking for suggestions for an amp in the $100 and under price range. 
 
The headphones will be used 70% gaming and 30% music on my computer. My current setup that I've used for a couple years is brainwavz hm5's being driven straight from my old Astro mixamp (i do not use the dolby)that I've had for ~5 years from my console days.
 
Assuming the k7xx will be a big upgrade but I know I will need some better amping. Obviously my budget is not large so this may not be a fun one for people but I would appreciate any recommendations! :smiley_cat:
 
In case any of this info helps... My sound preference leans away from overly warm and more toward analytical. I enjoy tight, clean, open sound. I absolutely love the way focal tweeters sound for cymbals. 
 
Feb 22, 2016 at 12:39 PM Post #2 of 26
audiophizile said:
  I just joined the drop for the red k7xx's and am looking for suggestions for an amp in the $100 and under price range. 
 
The headphones will be used 70% gaming and 30% music on my computer. My current setup that I've used for a couple years is brainwavz hm5's being driven straight from my old Astro mixamp (i do not use the dolby)that I've had for ~5 years from my console days.
 
Assuming the k7xx will be a big upgrade but I know I will need some better amping. Obviously my budget is not large so this may not be a fun one for people but I would appreciate any recommendations! :smiley_cat:
 
In case any of this info helps... My sound preference leans away from overly warm and more toward analytical. I enjoy tight, clean, open sound. I absolutely love the way focal tweeters sound for cymbals. 
Click to expand...


schiit magni 2 uber
 
Feb 22, 2016 at 1:24 PM Post #3 of 26
The regular Schiit Magni 2 also has sufficient power for the k7xx. But if you have the extra money, you should certainly consider the Uber version. Especially if you plan on also hooking up a pair of powered speakers.
 
Feb 22, 2016 at 2:40 PM Post #4 of 26
audiophizile said:
  I just joined the drop for the red k7xx's and am looking for suggestions for an amp in the $100 and under price range. 
 
The headphones will be used 70% gaming and 30% music on my computer. My current setup that I've used for a couple years is brainwavz hm5's being driven straight from my old Astro mixamp (i do not use the dolby)that I've had for ~5 years from my console days.
 
Assuming the k7xx will be a big upgrade but I know I will need some better amping. Obviously my budget is not large so this may not be a fun one for people but I would appreciate any recommendations! :smiley_cat:
 
In case any of this info helps... My sound preference leans away from overly warm and more toward analytical. I enjoy tight, clean, open sound. I absolutely love the way focal tweeters sound for cymbals. 
Click to expand...

 
O2 (Objective 2) or Schiit Magni or Bravo Ocean.
 
Feb 22, 2016 at 6:27 PM Post #5 of 26
larsjuhljensen said:
The regular Schiit Magni 2 also has sufficient power for the k7xx. But if you have the extra money, you should certainly consider the Uber version. Especially if you plan on also hooking up a pair of powered speakers.
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I figured magni would be the most common response. I do have powered speakers that I've been too lazy to hook up since I moved and the uber would help my laziness. Thanks for the input.
 
Feb 22, 2016 at 7:38 PM Post #7 of 26
Do you think the Vali 2 will sound much different from the Magni 2/M2U?  I've never listened to a tube amp and the Vali 2 gets a lot of recommendations with the K7XX.  
 
Feb 22, 2016 at 7:58 PM Post #8 of 26
It's a hybrid not pure tube amp.I have the Valhalla 2 and it sounds real close to solid state to me. The K7xx's are nice though.
 
Feb 22, 2016 at 8:20 PM Post #9 of 26
Right, I knew it was a hybrid.  I've heard that Valhalla 2 is an incredible amp with the right headphone.
 
Feb 22, 2016 at 8:27 PM Post #10 of 26
mtnman307 said:
  Right, I knew it was a hybrid.  I've heard that Valhalla 2 is an incredible amp with the right headphone.
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I like it for my HD-700's.
 
Feb 23, 2016 at 12:02 PM Post #12 of 26
audiophizile said:
Would getting an SMSL SD-192 pro as a dac defeat the purpose of getting a magni 2 uber or is the modi worth more than double the price? Or any other good cheap DACs I should consider?
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Comparing the SMSL SD-192 pro to the Magni 2 Uber doesn't really make a lot of sense to me. The former is a DAC and the latter is an amp. They do entirely different things.
 
A relevant question, though, is what you are planning to feed into your amp? Do you plan to connect it to a computer? To a TV? Which outputs do your computer/TV have?
 
Feb 23, 2016 at 12:44 PM Post #13 of 26
audiophizile said:
Would getting an SMSL SD-192 pro as a dac defeat the purpose of getting a magni 2 uber or is the modi worth more than double the price? Or any other good cheap DACs I should consider?
Click to expand...

 
SMSL products are not the most reliable, years ago I bought 4 of their DACs, one stopped working after about 15 minutes of use, another one only 50% of the inputs functioned (straight from the box).
A few months back I bought the SD-192 Pro for use with my nephew's gaming console TV setup, i just did not want tp spend a lot for a DAC that for something that was not that important.
 
Anyway, for your $100 budget, you might be better off buying the Creative Labs Sound Blaster Z sound card, DAC & amp & headphone surround sound, all in one device.
 
Feb 23, 2016 at 1:19 PM Post #14 of 26
purpleangel said:
SMSL products are not the most reliable, years ago I bought 4 of their DACs, one stopped working after about 15 minutes of use, another one only 50% of the inputs functioned (straight from the box).
A few months back I bought the SD-192 Pro for use with my nephew's gaming console TV setup, i just did not want tp spend a lot for a DAC that for something that was not that important.

Anyway, for your $100 budget, you might be better off buying the Creative Labs Sound Blaster Z sound card, DAC & amp & headphone surround sound, all in one device.
Click to expand...


I did consider that option but did not think it would get as much out of the cans. The only virtual surround I've used is the Dolby headphone built into the mixamp but I'm not a fan of it vs the stereo sound. Stereo sounds much cleaner and easier to pinpoint things to me. Would the sound blaster z DAC be as good as sub $100 external DAC if putting it to a magni 2 uber? I wanted to keep DAC and amp around $150 or so but am considering spending a bit more for the magni 2u for the preamp outs... I guess I'm wondering how much difference am I going to notice between something like a SD793-II,SD-192 pro, sound blaster z, etc for use as a DAC vs getting a modi for roughly double the price? Sorry I'm a bit new to the headphone area :scream_cat:
 
Feb 24, 2016 at 12:02 AM Post #15 of 26
I'm actually in a similar position. I'm in the same drop, and currently looking to replace my Soundblaster Omni (which i believe is an external Sounblaster Z). I got it to try virtual surround, yet concluded that I prefer stereo. Does anyone know how the Soundblaster DACs and amps compare to sub 100$ options?
 
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