Thanks for your help! So even though the manual says "The Left/Right Front Out ports have a built-in high quality amplifier to drive headphones"? I shouldn't worry about any quality loss from double amping?

I re-reviewed the manual and, in fact, under the section on how to connect speakers, it says the RCA outs are indeed amplified.    Thanks for the reply, but if you're going to give me the "read the manual" (which I had done, I just skipped the speakers part since I wasn't connecting...

I just bought an Asgard 2 to go along with my Xonar STX. I was expecting if I plugged the Asgard into the Xonar, the only volume control would be via the asgard. But I can also control it via the computer. Am I double amping? Google searches have not helped me determine whether the RCA outputs...

HD 598 have been my go to headphone for a year. HD 650 is coming in the mail today. I've also got an order in for an Asgard 2, so I'm going to reserve judgement on the 650 until I get that.   OP, if its soundstage you're looking for, the AKG Q701 is incredible from that standpoint. It lacks...

I know the Q701 have an impedance of only 62 ohms, but the normal gain setting on the STX just doesn't cut it for me. I can crank the volume to 100% and it still sounds a bit weak. On the high gain setting, 30% is uncomfortable loud. Is it just a bad amp match? I didn't have this problem with...

To be clear, I don't use the e9 with the STX, as I've read that the amplifier on the STX is plenty capable. I use the E9 with my other computer. 

I have a Sennheiser PC 360 headset that has volume control integrated into the right ear cup. I also have a Fiio E9 external amp (for my MacBook Pro), and my desktop has a Xonar Essence STX. My question is, which is better to control volume with? I've just been setting the PC 360 to half volume...

So I mostly listen to more laid back music, like Ben Folds, Elliott Smith, The Shins, etc. For this type of music, I have the HD 598 and the Q701. Sometimes though, I want something a little harder. So I go to Rage and other metal bands my brother is trying to get me in to. As versatile as the...

Yea, the 598 doesn't even need an amp. Of course it sounds a bit more full with one but its fine alone. Would the Q701 sound better plugged into a Denon A/V receiver?

If its the best for tis price, the LD MKIV would likely be squarely in my price range come Christmas. Should I order it early? It looks like the kind of thing that would become hard to find around the holidays. 

Seeing as I'm pretty happy with my V-DAC II, I'm looking more fore standalone amps. In the $250 range I'm thinking either the V-CAN II to complement the V-DAC, or a Matrix M-Stage, as someone said earlier in the thread it plays very nicely with the Q701. Although what I really want is a tube amp. 

I think I found a silver lining with the whole distant vocals issue. I was listening to a favorite album of mine, and suddenly found myself with goosebumps. Every other time I had heard a certain song, the vocals were SO forward that it caught 90% of my attention. On the Qs, it balanced out, and...

Sounding more and more like I just happened to get the perfect headphones for myself with my first try in the 598. Too bad, I'm not sure I've ever wanted to love something as much as I wanted to love the AKGs.

So I've been listening to them for an hour or so, and they sound fine on their own. The separation is great. I've never heard a headphone that allows you to hear each individual instrument so well. It's just when I compare them with the HD 598s that I notice the deficiencies. I guess I'm just a...

I actually ATH M50s for my bass needs. I have very indiscriminate musical tastes, so one minute I'll be listening to an orchestral score, the next minutes it'll be Rage Against the Machine. What I love about the HD 598 is that they handle any genre capably. I was hoping for similar performance...

Amp power almost certainly isn't a problem. Even with the gain switch on low, I don't go past 11 o'clock on the E9 dial without getting uncomfortably loud volume. Hell, I get enough volume on my iPod classic if I turn it all the way up. I'll give them another couple days I suppose. If I still...

I will, right off the bat, say that I have not given these the appropriate burn in period. They've been used for about 8 hours so far. I'm not a huge believer in significant burn in effects, but if someone thinks my issues will be solved by burn in, that would be great, because I am in love with...

Thanks for the answer. Your sig indicates you also have an HD 598. Do you like them both, or do you prefer one to the other? 

Hey all,   Right now I own a pair of Sennheiser HD 598. They sound great, but I despise the way they look, so I ordered a pair of AKG Q 701 which, from the pictures, look sexy as hell. If you want to comment on the sonic differences, be my guest. But this is about amping.   I know the...

I know this thread is a bit old, but in case anyone else stumbles upon it, I would suggest the FiiO D3 for someone who needs an optical audio DAC on the cheap. Only $25 bucks on amazon, goes from optical audio in to RCA out, works great with my A5+. Doesn't sound as good as my FiiO E17, but i...

I'm looking to get some nicer speakers for my apartment. Currently I have audioengine 2s connected to my iMac. Pretty decent sound when I'm sitting at my desk, but I'm looking for something with a more room filling sound. Those little guys just aren't big enough. Since I don't have an amp or...