[squidman]

To clarify, I have 2 DAC's...the one on the mobo and the one on the m-audio black-box...both which support more than good enough audio for my purposes.  I even have a ****ty usb DAC (creatvie x-fi in stereo for the laptop) all of which should be more than good enough.  The question is why the output is so friggin' low?  I get a medium-volume output on the phones regardless of chosen output...which is loud enough for my purposes, but as this is max volume, just wondering why?  Do I really need to find some tube headphone preamp? My guess is that this set of cans just has a very high impedance or something...and only sound good when really driven by a proper set of phone-amps...or something. Open to suggestions...but can't see a pcie board being part of that solution...may have to resort to some line-out to tubeamp/solid-state solution...(wow last time I got this involved was when I used to play guitar! As you know, tubes are all-important there!)...

 

[Change is Good]

Well, what you are missing (obviously) is a proper amp to drive these to their full potential.

 

[squidman]

Such as? Sorry...should have read the specs and realized they needed an external headphone amp (do we call it a preamp or amp? dunno, from guitar world here...)...
 
Remember have tried them through both a black box and m-audio speakers, all set to max...result low-medium volume...maybe somewhere in the signal chain it needs to get boosted earlier...
 
Edit: or there is some stupid windows setting...that would be typical...

 

[Change is Good]

Try the Schiit Asgard 2 headphone amp ($250). The K612 absolutely shines off this baby.

 

[squidman]

To clarify again, everything at absolute MAX volumes, it's just barely over medium-loud listening volumes, perfectly ok for the average joe......whereas it should really be intolerable....

 

[Change is Good]

And to clarify, yet again, these headphones require more juice than the average headphone. That is why, at max volume on your regular source, it only sounds average (at best).

You need a proper headphone amp for these, my friend... nothing more I can say...

 

[squidman]

BTW change is good, you're not serious about the amp? Eller? a hahahahaha den var god! Uff da (ok I guess you are serious! But in Norwegian, the translation is **** Asgaard 2!....Classic name! You're a true viking!)...and the website is...you guessed it...http://schiit.com/products/asgard-2!  Sorry, will have to lie down laughing for a bit here!!!

 

[squidman]

Ok thanks mate...sent a post which may have been unsuitable for younger audiences (well you did have to reference the Asgard 2 amp! ahahaha...sounds great in Norwegian!)...but prbly got deleted by mod. Anyway, thanks for the heads-up, much appreciated. How on earth can they come up with a name like that?

 

[kman1211]

To clarify again, everything at absolute MAX volumes, it's just barely over medium-loud listening volumes, perfectly ok for the average joe......whereas it should really be intolerable....

They need an amp that can drive them well and has good synergy with them. There are various amps you can get with them to bring out their potential. The Hifiman EF2A is another good match for the K612. They are inefficient headphones and a powerful headphone amp is a must for them.

 

[Change is Good]

  Ok thanks mate...sent a post which may have been unsuitable for younger audiences (well you did have to reference the Asgard 2 amp! ahahaha...sounds great in Norwegian!)...but prbly got deleted by mod. Anyway, thanks for the heads-up, much appreciated. How on earth can they come up with a name like that?

 
Don't want to go off topic, but here's a great read about how they came about...
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/701900/schiit-happened-the-story-of-the-worlds-most-improbable-start-up
 
And did I mention the K612 absolutely shines on the Asgard 2?!? 

 

 

[squidman]

Ok thanks mate...anything around the 200 buck mark? Will check out links, back up on the laptop (beast is rendering away)...disappointed the black box doesn't have the juice to power them...hilarious story regarding asgard...akg should really let peps know that they need an external headphone amp...again extremely disappointed. Will have a go again at resoldering beloved 141's, they were really a great set of cans.
 
Srry my bad wil check out your suggestions...

 

[squidman]

Did Schiidt et al ever get off the ground? Did they (just perusing the links) ever get on to kickstarter? Great story anyway...

 

[Change is Good]

  Did Schiidt et al ever get off the ground? Did they (just perusing the links) ever get on to kickstarter? Great story anyway...

 
Ask those questions in that thread. Let's try to stay on topic, here, with the K601/K612...

 

[conquerator2]

The Matrix Mstage is around 200 bucks [the amp only model]

 

[kraken2109]

I don't understand the problem here. They don't need an amp. The run loud enough for me off an mp3 player! Maybe yours are defective or something.