[qsk78]

The issue was the battery which was almost empty by that time and I could not get enough loudness with BL in Normal mode ), just tried it again with the full battery - can be painful

I was wrong - the reason was the iMatch ultra-sensitivity mode which I turned on ocasionally together with Normal mode))

 

[xenoVa]

Hello

I am searching for a dap (around $500) to use with AFC. I want a neutral sound, the dap must sound neutral.

Is Onkyo DP-X1A okey ?

 

[qsk78]

Is Onkyo DP-X1A okey ?

It's maybe a little bit on the brighter side of neutral but close.
DP-X1A is 150 mW per channel only in balanced mode.

 

[xenoVa]

It's maybe a little bit on the brighter side of neutral but close.
DP-X1A is 150 mW per channel only in balanced mode.

In Onkyo's spec sheet, it shows its impedance 16-300 ohms unbalanced and 32-600 balanced. But AFC is 13 ohms, outside of the both ranges. Will this cause a problem ?

 

[qsk78]

I'm running them at around 1000 mW and I believe in "the more the better".
It is also stated in many reviews that Aeon need power to perform at their max potential.
So you can listen to them with the DAP keeping in mind that they can perform better with a serious amplification - these are planar-magnetic headphones)

 

[x RELIC x]

In Onkyo's spec sheet, it shows its impedance 16-300 ohms unbalanced and 32-600 balanced. But AFC is 13 ohms, outside of the both ranges. Will this cause a problem ?

The impedance is not the whole story. One needs to look at the sensitivity of the headphone, which is the more telling specification for required power. The impedance will change the amount of Current vs Voltage drawn, but the sensitivity will show you how difficult the headphone actually is to drive. The AEON is 93dB SPL/mW so it requires more total power than many other headphones.

However, to check the ballpark of the power needed you can always use a headphone power calculator like the following (hint - the Onkyo likely won’t cut it for the AEON):

http://www.digizoid.com/headphones-power.html

 

[xenoVa]

The impedance is not the whole story. One needs to look at the sensitivity of the headphone, which is the more telling specification for required power. The impedance will change the amount of Current vs Voltage drawn, but the sensitivity will show you how difficult the headphone actually is to drive. The AEON is 93dB SPL/mW so it requires more total power than many other headphones.

However, to check the ballpark of the power needed you can always use a headphone power calculator like the following (hint - the Onkyo likely won’t cut it for the AEON):

http://www.digizoid.com/headphones-power.html

Thanks

According to the calculation, it needs 6.47 mW for 100 dB(moderate) and 63.7 mW for 110 dB(loud).

Onkyo's power: 75+75 mW for unbalanced( I don't know if this means a sum of 150 or just 75) , 150+150 mW for balanced. Both of them are more than enough anyway.

AEON comes with both unbalanced and balanced cables and Onkyo has both inputs. I can use either one in the setup. So, balanced is better for the sound quality ?

 

[x RELIC x]

Thanks

According to the calculation, it needs 6.47 mW for 100 dB(moderate) and 63.7 mW for 110 dB(loud).

Onkyo's power: 75+75 mW for unbalanced( I don't know if this means a sum of 150 or just 75) , 150+150 mW for balanced. Both of them are more than enough anyway.

AEON comes with both unbalanced and balanced cables and Onkyo has both inputs. I can use either one in the setup. So, balanced is better for the sound quality ?

Consider that those figures are for rms, so when listening to music I would look at those figures as a reference to peak levels instead. If you want to listen at an average level of 80-85dB, which is good, there may be some dynamic peaks at 100dB or more, depending on the music. I’m a big advocate for not wasting money on unused power specs, but I also recognize that there should be some headroom to avoid distortion. Depending on the design of the player you may run out of clean amplification sooner than the max spec which is why I’d go for something with a bit more than the Onkyo. Of course, YMMV.

Regarding balanced, often times the balanced output is more powerful than the single ended output (SE) and many people don’t accurately volume match when comparing. A louder signal typically sounds better to us humans, it’s how we are wired in the brain. When accurately volume matched the balanced output could sound better than SE but it all depends on the topology and implementation of the design.

 

[Poganin]

AEON comes with both unbalanced and balanced cables

Strange, when I bought my open AEON in April it came with an unbalanced cable only. Has something changed in the meantime and MrSpeakers started adding a balanced cable to the set?

 

[bose301s]

Strange, when I bought my open AEON in April it came with an unbalanced cable only. Has something changed in the meantime and MrSpeakers started adding a balanced cable to the set?

Nothing has changed, they definitely only come with one unbalanced cable.

 

[JLoud]

I have the AFC and a new Astel & Kern se100. It drives them very well in single or balanced modes. The balanced outputs 4v and the AFC reaches very loud levels at 60% volume on the A&K. I believe the standard line would also power them nicely. The se100 is very detailed and neutral sounding. Also exceptional UI and beautiful to hold as well. But you do pay for it.

 

[bose301s]

I have an iBasso DX150 driving my AFC with the balanced output and it gets plenty loud, enough to hurt my ears.

 

[xenoVa]

The impedance is not the whole story. One needs to look at the sensitivity of the headphone, which is the more telling specification for required power. The impedance will change the amount of Current vs Voltage drawn, but the sensitivity will show you how difficult the headphone actually is to drive. The AEON is 93dB SPL/mW so it requires more total power than many other headphones.

However, to check the ballpark of the power needed you can always use a headphone power calculator like the following (hint - the Onkyo likely won’t cut it for the AEON):

http://www.digizoid.com/headphones-power.html

Thanks

According to the calculation, it needs 6.47 mW for 100 dB and 63.7 mW for 110 dB.

Onkyo's power: 75+75

Strange, when I bought my open AEON in April it came with an unbalanced cable only. Has something changed in the meantime and MrSpeakers started adding a balanced cable to the set?

Sorry, I read it wrong.

So should I buy a balanced cable ? I never used a one and I don't know if it really makes a difference in the sound.

 

[bose301s]

Thanks

According to the calculation, it needs 6.47 mW for 100 dB and 63.7 mW for 110 dB.

Onkyo's power: 75+75




Sorry, I read it wrong.

So should I buy a balanced cable ? I never used a one and I don't know if it really makes a difference in the sound.

I would try workout first, if you're happy without it why spend the money on one?

 

[x RELIC x]

Thanks

According to the calculation, it needs 6.47 mW for 100 dB and 63.7 mW for 110 dB.

Onkyo's power: 75+75

Yes, I know, but it's close and I'm just saying it may not be enough for clean distortion free listening on dynamic passages. By the way, do you know how much Current the Onkyo outputs? That will be a huge factor in sound quality because the AEON has such low impedance and is a planar magnetic headphone. It's not just a matter of Power (P=Voltage*Current), but also the right kind of power delivery.

If you love the Onkyo then by all means give it a shot. Let us know how it sounds to you.