Amp for Senn HD650's

[future_jack]

I also would like to know what sort of cd player I should be looking at.

I listen to rock, techno and some soft stuff aswell including abit of classical.

I am budgeting 5-600USD for the amp and in or around 700-750 for a cd player.

 

[Capunk]

Stretch your budget a bit, you'll get.
Headamp GS-1 amp & Cambridge Audio 840C

(or go to 740C if you don't plan to use balanced output on this CDP)

 

[jilgiljongiljing]

Graham Slee Solo is a good choice for a tad more than that price.

 

[Gradofan2]

Here ya go...

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/ben...51/index2.html

 

[future_jack]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gradofan2 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Here ya go... http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/ben...51/index2.html

I read a review about the benchmark dac1 at camerahobby and the review says it cold and sterile. Extremely accurate but without soul.

I want to be able to sit back, relax, enjoy and be moved by music. Could the dac1 possibly provide this?

 

[jh4db536]

think synergistically..

the 650 has all the weight, soul, and warmness built in it already.

the DAC1's strength is it emphasis on the highs, which is what the 650 needs anyway because the 650s are supposedly dark and people perceive it as a veil. A really good setup fixes this though.

Just remember, the DAC1 is still only a source. Running the 650 straight out of it isnt even getting close to the potential and the built in HP amp isnt going to blow anyone away. I'd probably second the DV + DAC1 for your price range. Make sure you try the 650 balanced too if you actually go this route.

 

[future_jack]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jh4db536 /img/forum/go_quote.gif think synergistically.. the 650 has all the weight, soul, and warmness built in it already. the DAC1's strength is it emphasis on the highs, which is what the 650 needs anyway because the 650s are supposedly dark and people perceive it as a veil. A really good setup fixes this though. Just remember, the DAC1 is still only a source. Running the 650 straight out of it isnt even getting close to the potential and the built in HP amp isnt going to blow anyone away. I'd probably second the DV + DAC1 for your price range. Make sure you try the 650 balanced too if you actually go this route.

When you say 650 balanced...How would I do this?

I was thinking of getting a zu mobius into an amp > probably darkvoice 332. Are the balanced cables then used between the amp and source?

 

[jh4db536]

you would connect the balanced cabled 650 (female ended) or adapted directly to the back of the DAC1.

It will give you a "preview" of the balanced sound. The DAC1 by itself is no way of reaching the potential of the 650 although i thought it sounded really good at the time.

Unfortunately, the DV is not a balanced amp so it will take sound out of the unbalanced RCA outputs. It will have its own flavor that you might already be very pleased with.

to get a fully balanced amp is going drive costs up a lot. It's a system, starting from the source all the way to the headphone cables.

Meier opera might be something to look at. I don't know how well it synergizes with a 650 though. It emulates balancing through the single ended cable, but it's still not 'true balanced'.

 

[future_jack]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jh4db536 /img/forum/go_quote.gif you would connect the balanced cabled 650 (female ended) or adapted directly to the back of the DAC1. It will give you a "preview" of the balanced sound. The DAC1 by itself is no way of reaching the potential of the 650 although i thought it sounded really good at the time. Unfortunately, the DV is not a balanced amp so it will take sound out of the unbalanced RCA outputs. It will have its own flavor that you might already be very pleased with. to get a fully balanced amp is going drive costs up a lot. It's a system, starting from the source all the way to the headphone cables. Meier opera might be something to look at. I don't know how well it synergizes with a 650 though. It emulates balancing through the single ended cable, but it's still not 'true balanced'.

What difference does balanced make? I thought it was just to remove noise etc.

 

[Godkin]

DV332 and HD650s - perfect combo. However, it's probably better to wait for the new 3322 which will be coming out towards the end of February.

 

[future_jack]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Godkin /img/forum/go_quote.gif DV332 and HD650s - perfect combo. However, it's probably better to wait for the new 3322 which will be coming out towards the end of February.

I have spent alot of time reading your thread on the 332 this afternoon. Very interesting and now I think I will go that direction.

I hate the design of the 3322 though and this going to affect my buying decision. What do you know will be the main differences between the 3322 and 332?

I could save myself alot of cash by picking up a 332 for much less after the 3322 comes out.

 

[jh4db536]

That's one of the benefits. The 650 specifically responds to balancing very well and it fixes some of the weaknesses. The flabby bass that people dislike the 650 for is brought under control. It will no longer interferes with the other frequencies (as much). It helps the 650 with speed. The 650 is very slow when it is underamped. However, that extra weight gives it the richness and emotion that it has - it Can still have the best of both worlds. The 650 is known to have just an average sound stage. The DAC1 will improve on this even single ended, balanced will take it up another level.

On the other hand, some people dont hear the benefits of balancing. That's why the DAC1 can give you a preview of it and still do a good job in an unbalanced setup for relatively cheap...all you need is the cable and adaptor

Quote:

Originally Posted by future_jack /img/forum/go_quote.gif What difference does balanced make? I thought it was just to remove noise etc.

 

[Godkin]

Then go for the 332 - superb amp with the HD650s: very detailed and dynamic. The 332 was described by DV as the "little 337." If anything, the 3322 is more like the 337. Design of the 332 and 3322 is basically the same, but like the 337 it has the dual volume controls. And while the 332 uses pretty anonymous components - the exception being the 2 x 33uF SOLEN/SCR output caps - the 3322 uses much more "boutique" parts - VISHAY output caps for example, 40uF per channel. Don't know yet whether the tubes are the same - the large tubes certainly look like 6S19Ps, but looks can be deceptive.

 

[decur]

of all the amps ive heard with the hd650s, headroom amps/dac sounds excellent! singlepower amps also a good match!!!

 

[Gradofan2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by future_jack /img/forum/go_quote.gif I read a review about the benchmark dac1 at camerahobby and the review says it cold and sterile. Extremely accurate but without soul. I want to be able to sit back, relax, enjoy and be moved by music. Could the dac1 possibly provide this?

I wasnt' referring you to the DAC1.

I was referring you to my post in that thread re: the DV332 and... more specifically the Monarchy M24 Tube DAC (with tube line stage), which needs no separate amp. There is no better value, or sound, than the Senns driven out of the M24 DAC and Line Stage, or with the DV332. However, I would complement the DV332 with a tube DAC and/or a tube buffer, if possible to add a bit more warmth... though... it provides enough for the HD650s.

Based on all the reviews of the DAC1, I would avoid it, unless you were going to team it with a rich, warm tube amp, and possibly a tube buffer.

I would have tried a balanced amp, but the good ones cost too much - I'm really into "value," more than that last 1% in SQ. And... to this point no one's been able to convince me that after $500-$1000, you're going to hear more than about a 5%+ improvement. That's not enough for me. Once you get past that price range... you get into serious "diminishing returns."