[DenverW]

I'm thinking of upgrading to the Sennheiser HD660s but I'm concerned about the 150 ohm impedance. I want to stay with the DV which likes high impedance 'phones. Does anyone have direct experience with this combination?

I don’t have direct experience, but from everything I’ve read it seems that the 650 or 6xx matches very well and is significantly less expensive.

I’ve tried both the 6xx and 800s and they both do great. Also the 250 ohm or above beyers do well. I have a dt990, and while it’s not as good as the senns imho it’s still a great headphone for around $100.

 

[Keno18]

I don’t have direct experience, but from everything I’ve read it seems that the 650 or 6xx matches very well and is significantly less expensive.

I’ve tried both the 6xx and 800s and they both do great. Also the 250 ohm or above beyers do well. I have a dt990, and while it’s not as good as the senns imho it’s still a great headphone for around $100.

I already run the 6xx's and am very happy with the sound. But I'm sure you know the feeling of what if there's better out there. It's like an itch that wants to be scratched.

 

[Keno18]

On occasion, I listen with my Audeze EL-8 and Grado SR80e both 32ohms impedence and they sound just fine on the darkvoice.

Good to hear that, thanks.I feel a bit more comfortable with the idea.

 

[sennfan83261]

Good to hear that, thanks.I feel a bit more comfortable with the idea.

I tried running a Grado HF-3 (32 ohms impedance) through my DV336SE (National Union 6F8G + Tung-Sol 7236) (+Fitz mod), and it sounded like ass. The bass was there, but the upper mids and treble were severely dampened, almost like a massive suckout. As a result, my Darkvoice made the HF-3's sound hollow.

 

[Keno18]

I tried running a Grado HF-3 (32 ohms impedance) through my DV336SE (National Union 6F8G + Tung-Sol 7236) (+Fitz mod), and it sounded like ass. The bass was there, but the upper mids and treble were severely dampened, almost like a massive suckout. As a result, my Darkvoice made the HF-3's sound hollow.

Okay, we have a no vote. At least for very low impedances. This is why I asked. Is 150 ohms enough?

 

[DenverW]

Good to hear that, thanks.I feel a bit more comfortable with the idea.

Boy do I ever understand that! The ‘could it sound better?’ bug is a dangerous one. The dark voice is powerful enough to run pretty much anything, but it’s impedance, like a lot of otl amps (such as the crack) pairs better with higher impedance headphones.

When audeze has their recent sale I was thinking about a classic for under $500. Great deal! But I held out because as much as I want them to have them, they just won’t be what they should with my current set up.

My advice if you’re looking at the upgrade bug is to skip the 660 and 700 and wait till you’ve saved for an hd800 or hd800s. Other options that cost less but sound good are the Beyerdynamic line up: 990, 1990, amiron home. I actually really liked the comfort and sound of the amiron home. Even slightly more than the hd600, which were my previous favorite.

Again, only you know what you like. There is no wrong move. Just don’t over pay in case you need to resell something.

 

[Keno18]

Boy do I ever understand that! The ‘could it sound better?’ bug is a dangerous one. The dark voice is powerful enough to run pretty much anything, but it’s impedance, like a lot of otl amps (such as the crack) pairs better with higher impedance headphones.

When audeze has their recent sale I was thinking about a classic for under $500. Great deal! But I held out because as much as I want them to have them, they just won’t be what they should with my current set up.

My advice if you’re looking at the upgrade bug is to skip the 660 and 700 and wait till you’ve saved for an hd800 or hd800s. Other options that cost less but sound good are the Beyerdynamic line up: 990, 1990, amiron home. I actually really liked the comfort and sound of the amiron home. Even slightly more than the hd600, which were my previous favorite.

Again, only you know what you like. There is no wrong move. Just don’t over pay in case you need to resell something.

Thanks for the solid advice. Okay, I'll keep looking. I'm not in a rush as I said I'm happy with what I have, I just don't want to make an expensive mistake.

 

[Slade01]

Good to hear that, thanks.I feel a bit more comfortable with the idea.

Okay, we have a no vote. At least for very low impedances. This is why I asked. Is 150 ohms enough?

Others do have a point. If youre gonna try a new headphone, might as well shoot for a high impedance headphone - skipping to the hd800 or the higher end beyers (1990, Amiron) are probably a better path.

 

[sennfan83261]

Okay, we have a no vote. At least for very low impedances. This is why I asked. Is 150 ohms enough?

Output impedance of the Darkvoice 336SE has been measured on ASR as being above 70ohms (variable across different frequencies). I personally would shoot for high impedance headphones with impedances of 300ohms and up like the HD600, HD650 (HD6XX), HD800(S), or any of Beyerdynamic, and older AKG offerings.

 

[Keno18]

Others do have a point. If youre gonna try a new headphone, might as well shoot for a high impedance headphone - skipping to the hd800 or the higher end beyers (1990, Amiron) are probably a better path.

Ok, it's official. I'm holding out for better.

 

[Slade01]

Output impedance of the Darkvoice 336SE has been measured on ASR as being above 70ohms (variable across different frequencies). I personally would shoot after high impedance headphones with impedances of 300ohms and up like the HD600, HD650 (HD6XX), HD800(S), or any of Beyerdynamic, and older AKG offerings.

So do your HE-500 / HE-6 cans also not sound good on the DV?

 

[Keno18]

Output impedance of the Darkvoice 336SE has been measured on ASR as being above 70ohms (variable across different frequencies). I personally would shoot after high impedance headphones with impedances of 300ohms and up like the HD600, HD650 (HD6XX), HD800(S), or any of Beyerdynamic, and older AKG offerings.

So I assume 150 ohms is doable. But I think I'll stick with 300 or above.

 

[sennfan83261]

So I assume 150 ohms is doable. But I think I'll stick with 300 or above.

I tried my AKG K501's (120ohms) across different tube pairings on my Darkvoice 336SE (mostly, Sylvania 6SN7GTA + RCA 6AS7G) and came away unimpressed compared to the Magni 3 and THX AAA 789 (1/4" TRS for both). It sounded a bit softer than the solid states, a bit more limp. I do not mean to discount what other's have experienced, it is just that, in my hands, my DV336SE appears not to pair well with lower impedance cans. Please don't feel like I'm dumping on the Darkvoice, as here and elsewhere I have praised its performance when paired with the HD650 (HD6XX in my case). The HD6XX+DV336SE (non-stock tubes) is audio bliss IMO.

EDIT: For lower impedance cans, there's the Darkvoice's big brother: La Figaro 339.

 

[sennfan83261]

So do your HE-500 / HE-6 cans also not sound good on the DV?

Personally, I haven't tried either of them on my Darkvoice yet. I just purchased my HE-6 recently, and they have taken over my HE-500 as my daily driver. I like the HE-6 on my THX AAA 789 (3.5W at 50ohms), but I ordered a Crown power amp (D-75A, 55W at 4ohms, guesstimating 13W at 50ohms) that is on its way right now. Prior to the HE-6, my HE-500 was my daily driver for several months, especially after getting a beefy solid state like the THX AAA 789, hence my absence here to the relief of my wallet, lol. Anyways, I can try them out and tell you guys what I think about them on the Darkvoice.

Also, Yuking has this under its product description for the La Figaro 339: "It's been well documented that the La Figaro 339 can be an excellent match for lower impedance headphones such as the HiFiMan HE-500's".

 

[Keno18]

I tried my AKG K501's (120ohms) across different tube pairings on my Darkvoice 336SE (mostly, Sylvania 6SN7GTA + RCA 6AS7G) and came away unimpressed compared to the Magni 3 and THX AAA 789 (1/4" TRS for both). It sounded a bit softer than the solid states, a bit more limp. I do not mean to discount what other's have experienced, it is just that, in my hands, my DV336SE appears not to pair well with lower impedance cans. Please don't feel like I'm dumping on the Darkvoice, as here and elsewhere I have praised its performance when paired with the HD650 (HD6XX in my case). The HD6XX+DV336SE (non-stock tubes) is audio bliss IMO.

EDIT: For lower impedance cans, there's the Darkvoice's big brother: La Figaro 339.

That seems to be the consensus. I'll wait.