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Originally Posted by heiste /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I have the hd650. I don't need to reterminate right?
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You are correct in that the HD650 cables are plug-in connectors, so you don't need hard-wiring to change the cable.
However a balanced HD650 cable ends in male connectors (with pins) while the rear outputs of some balanced equipment (like the DAC1) are also male -- because they are not really intended to drive balanced headphones directly. So you would need a female-female XLR adapter to use these outputs as balanced outputs into your HD650s.
More importantly, as mentioned in the thread, since these balanced rear outputs are not intended to directly power headphones, they have no attenuation/volume control so they require some way to limit the volume because the output signal is 100% strength (and could blow out your headphone drivers).
I agree with Compuryan in that something like the DAC1 is a good intermediate step toward a fully balanced listening chain (balanced from source to headphones) because it can be used both as a single-ended source with the internal headphone amp, and as a balanced source through the rear XLR outputs with a female-female adapter. You can therefore use it while you upgrade the rest of your chain over time.
I never owned the Lavry, but I own both a balanced and single ended HD650s (I have one of each), as well as the DAC1 -- I have since moved on to a different DAC that is balanced as well (I am still weighing the benefits of balanced drive); but I can confirm that the volume control on the DAC1 does in fact control both the headphone amp on the front as well as the balanced outputs on the back, so you would not blow out your drivers since the volume on the DAC1 can be adjusted for single or balanced outputs like you would on any standalone amplifier.
I will also add that the headphone amp on the DAC1 *to my ears* is a good match to the HD650; if I had the DAC1 as a standalone box on my desk I would not miss anything in terms of sonics vs. convenience. The sound is punchy and clean, I think in part because the dac, power supply, and built-in amp have more direct signal paths to one another as opposed to a multiple-component setup. Note that Benchmark sells this amp as a standalone amp so having it combined with the DAC1 is a nice addition; I expect the Lavry to be similar, or better in terms of performance and value.
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