[max6293]

Hey guys, I've had the K550's for around 4 months now, and I've just started to notice how weak they sound when connected to my desktop.
Compared to when they are connected to my Iphone, they are much quieter and just weaker in all respects. What could be the issue with my desktop?
Do I need a headphone amp? Upgraded sound card? At the moment I'm using the on-board sound card on a Asus Maximus iv Gene-z.
 
Thanks in advance.

 

[Tsujigiri]

It sounds like an amping issue. Weak sound is usually the fault of the amp, and background noise is usually the fault of the DAC. I'd suggest you get a good amp rather than a new soundcard, so you could use it with your iphone as well. Despite being marketed as a portable headphone, the K550's do respond to amping above what the typical portable device can provide. Even a budget portable amp will make a difference.

 

[max6293]

Thanks for the reply! Do you have any recommendation for a amp? Apparently you need one with a low output impedance due to the k550's low impedance(32 Ohms). Maybe an Objective2 amp? 

 

[zackzack]

Agree. At 32 Ohm, the 550 seems to be very easy to drive. This is not like the Grado 60 or 80s. This one has a peculiar taste for a certain kind of amplifier. To this day I don't know what.

 

[BillsonChang007]

My iNano 3rd can't even drive these K550 at all! I nearly though it broke until I connect it to my iPhone 1! It really does scale well with a good WARM amp! I like how it sound with the iBasso D7!

Billson

 

[GREQ]

I really liked the sound of the K550 through my PA2V2. Very smooth sound. 

 

[max6293]

Any other amp suggestions? My budget is around £80, and in the UK, obviously.

 

[Tsujigiri]

I'm not enough of an amp expert to tell you what the best option would be, but I can tell you that I use them with the Fiio E12 and they improve noticeably.