[Ali 93]

I'm considering buying the HD 650 as they have had great reviews but the only issue is I am a noob.
 
I've read they need an amp to get the best out of them. 
 
My budget is around £300. £250 for the headphones and £50 on a good cheap amp.
 
These headphones will be used on my PC. My PC has onboard 5.1 surround and is an ASUS motherboard.
 
I won't get a sound card as the onboard sound does a good enough job these days.
 
The headphones will be used for Music - Drum and Bass Movies - Movies like Iron Man and Transfomers 
 
Will I need an amp for these headphones? If so what's the best cheap option?

 

[bcg27]

Your computer should be able to drive them ok. I used my HD600s out of my computer for a while before I built an amp. They definitely improve with a decent amp, however I am not sure £50 is a large enough budget. I don't really keep up with exchange rates, but that is well under $100 these days right? I am not familiar with too many options in that price range. If you can up your budget to ~£100-150, I think there are a lot more options. If that is not feasible for you I wouldn't worry too much, if these are your first high end headphones they will still blow you away using your computer's onboard sound. 

 

[Ali 93]

Yeah they are my first high end headphones I tried out a pair a while back and was blow away by how detail the sound was!
 
As I a noob could you please tell me how these headphones are powered?

 

[Croozer]

Try a FiiO E7.

 

[bcg27]

Quote:

Yeah they are my first high end headphones I tried out a pair a while back and was blow away by how detail the sound was!
 
As I a noob could you please tell me how these headphones are powered?

Do you remember how they were powered?


Quote:

Try a FiiO E7.

I believe the e7 is ~$100, which is still over budget. That is why I recommended to up the budget a bit
 

 

[munchzilla]

maybe the FiiO E7 could be an option? should be had for a little above 50... or FiiO E9? E9 is I think around 90 though and I'm not really sure if it is a lot better... you get a decent DAC/amp with the E7, maaaybe enough for the HD650 to shine a bit... I really don't know, I used HD650 with the X-Can V3, and it was alright... might be a bit overpriced but I got them in a package-deal used.
 
check out FiiO E7, amazon should have it for around 50 GBP

 

[Ali 93]

I found the amp you listed and that price is find id be happy to pay that little bit extra

 

[Ali 93]

Id happily pay the little extra for the Fii0 E7 

 

[munchzilla]

well then, I think you're ready to order. hard to find anything good for that little money, and I have read great things about it. it also does DAC rather well it seems. can upgrade with FiiO E9 if amp isn't sufficient

 

[Markon101]

The Fiio E7 would be great, it's also got an on board DAC for a cleaner signal to your headphones. (A lot better than the sound coming off the motherboard) 

 

[olor1n]

Don't waste your funds on the E7 unless you're looking to get the E9 down the track. The E7 is more an entry level DAC than an amp you'd rely on to adequately drive the HD650.
 
If you have your sights set on the FiiO combo, but can only purchase separately, the E9 would be of more benefit to you first.

 

[Ali 93]

I found the E9 version on Amazon but there's no reviews or anything. Is there any great differance?

 

[munchzilla]

well if you can pay the extra for E9, do buy that one and afterwards upgrade with the E7.. that does seem like a better choice?
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmJlFBDNZrQ
 
here's a little video I found on it.. no part 2 yet it seems?

 

[ZARIM]

There few more options(AMPs)like Fiio E5, iBasso T3, Nuforce icon mobile, M3, Music Max LT1.

 

[Digital-Pride]

The E9 has a MUCH stronger amplifier section than the E7.  While the E7 may adequately drive the high impedence headphones like the HD650, the E9 will have no problems at all.