Better amp for low impedance?

[CT007]

How about an amp with better low impedance performance than my Vali 2? Something like an O2/ATOM/EL, I guess? Preferably with some optional warmth?

My current hardware:
Modi MB = 75 ohm output
Vali 2 = 1.2 ohms(low gain), 5.8 ohms(high gain="sounds better")
Xonar STX = 10.7 ohms(?)

My main phones:
AD700X/900X = 38 ohms
Kanas Pro = 32 ohms @ 1Khz
Tin T3 = 16 ohms

Better hardware?
O2 amp = 0.54 ohms
ATOM = 0.1 ohms
EL amp = 0.1 ohms
Starlight = 2.5/34/72 ohm switchable
Dragonfly Black/Red = <1 ohm

 

[PurpleAngel]

The Vali 2 on low gain setting has an output impedance of only 1.2-Ohms.
A solid state headphone amplifier with an output impedance of less then 1.2-Ohms will not improve the audio quality of your headphones.
Even using the Vali 2 high gain setting, with it's output impedance of 5.8-Ohms, would not really be an issue with headphones that are only 30-Ohms.

 

[CT007]

x

 

[CT007]

x

 

[PointyFox]

I vote Atom or EL Amp. You need 2 Ohm or less. Why not just get the lowest impedance amp?

 

[CT007]

I vote Atom or EL Amp. You need 2 Ohm or less. Why not just get the lowest impedance amp?

Went with ATOM

Yeah, it's a good question why Schiit headphone amps don't seem to go below 16 ohms..? Maybe they do, but it's not listed on specs. I want to play it safe, anyway, and do some more comparison testing on this.

 

[PointyFox]

Went with ATOM

Yeah, it's a good question why Schiit headphone amps don't seem to go below 16 ohms..? Maybe they do, but it's not listed on specs. I want to play it safe, anyway, and do some more comparison testing on this.

Schiit does list the output impedances of their amps and they are below 16 Ohms. The Magni 3 is 0.3 Ohms.

 

[CT007]

Schiit does list the output impedances of their amps and they are below 16 Ohms. The Magni 3 is 0.3 Ohms.

Oh... I was reading the wrong specs all this time. x_x So my Vali 2 is already only 1.2 ohms. Woops lol

 

[PurpleAngel]

Went with ATOM

Yeah, it's a good question why Schiit headphone amps don't seem to go below 16 ohms..? Maybe they do, but it's not listed on specs. I want to play it safe, anyway, and do some more comparison testing on this.

The Vali 2 will work with headphones under 16-Ohms, a 8-Ohm IEM should work, plugged into the Val 2
Schiit just lists the power output for 16-Ohms, but 16-Ohms is not the limit.

 

[CT007]

Schiit just lists the power output for 16-Ohms, but 16-Ohms is not the limit.

So how would you know what the "safe" lower limit might be? Just assume output impedance x 8(1.2*8 = ~10 ohms), and add some weight to the power spec(1000mw @ 32ohms; 1300mw @ 16 ohms; == ~1500mw @ ~10ohms)?

Actually, according to Tom's Hardware here, it says that "a Damping Factor of 50 or more is typically considered excellent", so for the Vali 2 you would multiply output impedance(1.2) by 50 to get your "excellent" lowest headphone impedance pairing of 60 ohms(?). (Strictly for dynamic drivers)

 

[PointyFox]

So how would you know what the "safe" lower limit might be? Just assume output impedance x 8(1.2*8 = ~10 ohms), and add some weight to the power spec(1000mw @ 32ohms; 1300mw @ 16 ohms; == ~1500mw @ ~10ohms)?

Actually, according to Tom's Hardware here, it says that "a Damping Factor of 50 or more is typically considered excellent", so for the Vali 2 you would multiply output impedance(1.2) by 50 to get your "excellent" lowest headphone impedance pairing of 60 ohms(?). (Strictly for dynamic drivers)

Yes.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Yeah, it's a good question why Schiit headphone amps don't seem to go below 16 ohms..? Maybe they do, but it's not listed on specs. I want to play it safe, anyway, and do some more comparison testing on this.

 

[CT007]

Hm... I see that ATOM spec lists "0.1" ohms, but in testing it's apparently 0.7(seven times higher!!!) :\ But it still seems to be extremely low, considering all other amps shown here. Maybe 0.1 isn't realistic. And apparently Vali 2 sucks (loses bass and air) on low gain :/

 

[PurpleAngel]

So how would you know what the "safe" lower limit might be? Just assume output impedance x 8(1.2*8 = ~10 ohms), and add some weight to the power spec(1000mw @ 32ohms; 1300mw @ 16 ohms; == ~1500mw @ ~10ohms)?

Actually, according to Tom's Hardware here, it says that "a Damping Factor of 50 or more is typically considered excellent", so for the Vali 2 you would multiply output impedance(1.2) by 50 to get your "excellent" lowest headphone impedance pairing of 60 ohms(?). (Strictly for dynamic drivers)

The guy who designed the O2 (Objective 2) headphone did some testing and considered headphones that are 10 time the impedance (Ohm) is what is needed for good damping control.
I'll have to check out Tom's hardware about the 50X factor.
I'll plug 50-Ohm headphones (HD558) into a headphone jack with a 10-Ohm output impedance, headphones sounded good to me.

 

[CT007]

10 time the impedance (Ohm) is what is needed for good damping control.

10x as a minimum? Or for optimal/best performance?