purpleangel said:

   
The SB-Z's optical output port is digital, the ican SE is an amplifier only, no digital inputs (optical or otherwise), so the SB-Z's optical port can not be connected to the Ican SE.
You could get an external DAC with an optical input and connect it between the SB-Z's optical port and the ican SE.

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Oh boy...  This is why I referenced the Magni 2 / Modi 2 combo in my OP because in my head I was already envisioning how to connect everything.  Now my iCAN SE is on its way and I've got to find a DAC since the one my sound card has, though supposedly decent, has no optimal way of connecting it to the external amp.  

a8dr1an said:

   
Oh boy...  This is why I referenced the Magni 2 / Modi 2 combo in my OP because in my head I was already envisioning how to connect everything.  Now my iCAN SE is on its way and I've got to find a DAC since the one my sound card has, though supposedly decent, has no optimal way of connecting it to the external amp.  

Click to expand...

​Just connect the SBZ's analogue output to the iCan. You'll utilize the DAC and more importantly the DSP on the SBZ that way.

Could someone please recommend a good DAC to pair with the iCAN SE?  It HAS to have TOSLINK.  I was looking at the iDAC 2 by the same company but it unfortunately comes with USB 3.0 and no TOSLINK so that would leave my sound card out.
 
Thanks!

a8dr1an said:

  Could someone please recommend a good DAC to pair with the iCAN SE?  It HAS to have TOSLINK.  I was looking at the iDAC 2 by the same company but it unfortunately comes with USB 3.0 and no TOSLINK so that would leave my sound card out.
 

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Modi2 Uber

Ordered the Schiit Modi 2 Multibit and a pair of their PYST RCA 6" cables.  Now all I need is a good quality Toslink cable (they recommend no longer than 3 meters in length).  
 
Anyone have a preference for their Toslink cables?  If I'm spending this much on the amp and DAC, I might as well get a decent cable.

Thanks!
 

Nice setup!

Oh My God.... 
 
 
Got home from work to find out the iCAN SE was delivered today.  Not getting the Modi 2 Multibit till Thursday.  I decided to hook it up to my SB-Z sound card with the included 3.5 mm.  To my surprise I still had full control of the SBX Pro Studio software.  Hooked up the K702s to it and fired up some music.  Flicked the Xbass switch and nearly wet my pants.  HOLY BASS!  I really like that I can still fine-tune the sound with the software even further.  The sound is AMAZING and I can undoubtedly tell the difference.  And this isn't even the entire setup yet.
 
Thank you all!
Especially GearMe for recommending this kick-ass amp!!! 

Glad you like it. Mark my words, it's just the beginning -- bwahahaha!

Perfect example of this...just yesterday, I also ordered an iCan SE to replace my iCan/iTube yesterday. Looking forward to getting it as well! Hmmm, I've heard it can power the HE6

GearMe,
 
Which headphones do you use the most?  I've been reading on the Beyerdynamic T90 that PurpleAngel has and they're supposedly nice and bassy.  LOL, not gonna get em anytime soon.  Maybe there'll be a black Friday deal.  Here's hoping.
 
PS.  I think you're gonna love the iCan SE!

It really depends on a variety of things...music, mood, whim, location, etc. If I'm listening to jazz/classical probably the HD800s, T1s, HD600, AD900x, DT660. Blues and Rock...T1, HE400i, Amperior, D600, DT990, HD650, SR60. If the music has a strong bassline probably the D600s, DT770s, Q40, SZ2000s. If the player is on shuffle probably the HE400i, Q701, HD558, T1, HD700, etc

gearme said:

It really depends on a variety of things...music, mood, whim, location, etc. If I'm listening to jazz/classical probably the HD800s, T1s, HD600, AD900x, DT660. Blues and Rock...T1, HE400i, Amperior, D600, DT990, HD650, SR60. If the music has a strong bassline probably the D600s, DT770s, Q40, SZ2000s. If the player is on shuffle probably the HE400i, Q701, HD558, T1, HD700, etc

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That is a jaw-dropping headphone collection!  That's a bit... crazy!
 
What would you recommend for me if I wanted something that has really nice bass and is in the up to $600 - $700 price range?
 
Thanks!

a8dr1an said:

   
That is a jaw-dropping headphone collection!  That's a bit... crazy!
 
What would you recommend for me if I wanted something that has really nice bass and is in the up to $600 - $700 price range?
 
Thanks!

Click to expand...

While my headphone collection isnt quite as large as the previous poster's if youre looking for something with nice bass in addition to the rest of the sound spectrum being good as well I would recommend finding a used pair of HE-500s...i really love them,and having previously owned the T1+WA2 amp I prefer the meatier thick sound of the 500 over the leaner T1...the T1 has some advantages over the 500 for sure,but since you already own the K702 I think they would compliment what you already have more.

You can also look into Audeze headphones...I own the LCD-2 pre fazor and are known for their bass going really deep....I actually prefer the HE-500 as they slam harder than my LCDs.

If youre looking for just bass,the the SZ2000 is the hardest hitting headphone on the planet,bu the rest of the sound sounds like crap with anything other than hip/hop

Monsterzero,
 
Thanks for your recommendations!  I will check them out.

monsterzero said:

While my headphone collection isnt quite as large as the previous poster's if youre looking for something with nice bass in addition to the rest of the sound spectrum being good as well I would recommend finding a used pair of HE-500s...i really love them,and having previously owned the T1+WA2 amp I prefer the meatier thick sound of the 500 over the leaner T1...the T1 has some advantages over the 500 for sure,but since you already own the K702 I think they would compliment what you already have more.

You can also look into Audeze headphones...I own the LCD-2 pre fazor and are known for their bass going really deep....I actually prefer the HE-500 as they slam harder than my LCDs.

If youre looking for just bass,the the SZ2000 is the hardest hitting headphone on the planet,bu the rest of the sound sounds like crap with anything other than hip/hop

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I'm thinking the LCD 2's have gotten into that range in the last few months...$699 if I recall currently (http://www.adorama.com/aulcd2latc.html?sdtid=9001103&emailprice=t&utm_campaign=website&utm_source=sendgrid.com&utm_medium=email). I haven't heard them but from what I've read they sound like a very good possibility. The DT1770s are in that range as well...not sure how much better they are than the DT770s for the extra $400ish bucks though.

TBH, I've always liked my Denon D600's. Got them for $150 at Best Buy when they cleared them out...nice sound signature for my idea of a basshead can...solid bass but I can still hear the mids and there's some sparkle at the top.

On the SZ2000's, I second Monsterzero's comments. I personally don't like them and wish I would have purchased the SZ1000's as I've read that the mids/highs are better and the low end is still very solid.

Others...Massdrop/Fostex TH-X00, Fostex TH600/610...maybe Sony Z7's? FWIW, this thread is where Head-Fi's Bassheads live -- www.head-fi.org/t/716711/the-hardest-hitting-headphones-are-the-extreme-bass-club

There are two sets of cans on that thread I'm interested in the Fostex TH900's and the Yamaha HPH500's. I haven't heard the TH900's but everything I've read convinces me that if there was ever an TOTL basshead can I'd really like, they would be it. I've heard the Yammy's for about a half-hour with my music and am just waiting for them to dip back down to $200 before I snag them...really liked them for the $$$.

While you're mulling your expensive basshead cans over, take a lark and get a set of Q40's for $59 from Techrabbit...pretty darn good for the $$.
http://www.head-fi.org/products/m-audio-studiophile-q40-closed-back-dynamic-headphones/reviews

http://www.techrabbit.com/m-audio-studiophile-q40-over-the-ear-dynamic-wired-headphones.html?sku=MAU-Q40-A1&condition=270

gearme said:

I'm thinking the LCD 2's have gotten into that range in the last few months...$699 if I recall currently (http://www.adorama.com/aulcd2latc.html?sdtid=9001103&emailprice=t&utm_campaign=website&utm_source=sendgrid.com&utm_medium=email). I haven't heard them but from what I've read they sound like a very good possibility.

Click to expand...

 
The current crop of LCDs have Fazor,which have been met with a very mixed response,to say the least...supposedly they have less bass extension but more sparkle....AKA as HE-500!...except the 500s have better slam than even my pre-fazor LCDs...You can no longer buy either pre-fazor LCDs nor HE-500s new as both have been discontinued.

The difference between the two isnt night vs. day and either would be a nice contrast to the K702s,but I would take 500s in almost every situation.