So a few days ago I got bored. A though entered my head "hey, the DAC1 has balanced output, and it is only 60ohms output impedance, why not use that to drive the HD650 balanced?"
A pair of neutrik XLR's and one spare stock cable (thanks Sennheiser!) later, I was ready to go.
The sound is a definite improvement over using the DAC1's headphone amp. The sound ismuch more impactful, and larger/more direct, more "live" if you will. It did not make the soundstage as wide as I recall the balanced Gilmore doing, but the soundstage is a bit wider, and just differently presented. Bass on bass-heavy or very dynamic songs is now very very powerful, to the point the bass of the E5's sounds disappointing by comparison. It is not a frequency response change though, because if anything the mids and trebles come through at least as well, if not better, than through the headphone jack using the Headphile silver cable. This is not a knock on that cable, more a testament to the power of balanced drive.
I highly recommend anyone with a DAC1 (or any DAC with balanced output) and HD580/600/650 to give this a try. Just chop the plug off the stock cable, pull the two cables apart a bit, strip down to bare wire, and solder an XLR to either side, putting signal to pin 2 and ground to pin 3. Total cost $6-12 for the XLR's ($30 or so if you consider the opportunity cost of the stock cable).
A pair of neutrik XLR's and one spare stock cable (thanks Sennheiser!) later, I was ready to go.
The sound is a definite improvement over using the DAC1's headphone amp. The sound ismuch more impactful, and larger/more direct, more "live" if you will. It did not make the soundstage as wide as I recall the balanced Gilmore doing, but the soundstage is a bit wider, and just differently presented. Bass on bass-heavy or very dynamic songs is now very very powerful, to the point the bass of the E5's sounds disappointing by comparison. It is not a frequency response change though, because if anything the mids and trebles come through at least as well, if not better, than through the headphone jack using the Headphile silver cable. This is not a knock on that cable, more a testament to the power of balanced drive.
I highly recommend anyone with a DAC1 (or any DAC with balanced output) and HD580/600/650 to give this a try. Just chop the plug off the stock cable, pull the two cables apart a bit, strip down to bare wire, and solder an XLR to either side, putting signal to pin 2 and ground to pin 3. Total cost $6-12 for the XLR's ($30 or so if you consider the opportunity cost of the stock cable).