[baskingshark]

I'm thinking of picking up some 600ohm earbuds, just need to figure out how I'm going to drive them. haha

Has anyone tried any?

The most I've tried is a few 300 ohm buds, yeah they do need amping, but most desktop amps should be powerful enough. Though I realize that actually the sensitivity is the more important component in drivability, the impedance is of a lesser importance for drivability, and maybe another variable is the driver type.

Maybe some physics experts can advise, but I've tried a few IEMs that have sub 100 dB/MW sensitivity, and they were quite a pain to drive eg Final Audio E5000 - Sensitivity: 93dB, but impedance 14Ω, and let's not mention some planars like the Tin P1. On paper the E5000's 14 ohm impedance looks like a pushover to drive, but the low sensitivity is probably the one that is the power hungry component.

Buds are mostly DD, so maybe less variable in driver types, but even among DD they do use different materials, assuming they ain't marketing gimmicks.

 

[Sam L]

The most I've tried is a few 300 ohm buds, yeah they do need amping, but most desktop amps should be powerful enough. Though I realize that actually the sensitivity is the more important component in drivability, the impedance is of a lesser importance for drivability, and maybe another variable is the driver type.

Maybe some physics experts can advise, but I've tried a few IEMs that have sub 100 dB/MW sensitivity, and they were quite a pain to drive eg Final Audio E5000 - Sensitivity: 93dB, but impedance 14Ω, and let's not mention some planars like the Tin P1. On paper the E5000's 14 ohm impedance looks like a pushover to drive, but the low sensitivity is probably the one that is the power hungry component.

Buds are mostly DD, so maybe less variable in driver types, but even among DD they do use different materials, assuming they ain't marketing gimmicks.

I've been pondering a p1 purchase for some time but stayed away because I only have dongle dac/amps at the moment. I'll prob either get the ifi zen can or jds atom. Still debating if I'll actually use the zen can in a semi portable manner (usb --> barrel plug cable into battery pack) or just commit to a desktop amp through my computer.

 

[RikudouGoku]

I've been pondering a p1 purchase for some time but stayed away because I only have dongle dac/amps at the moment. I'll prob either get the ifi zen can or jds atom. Still debating if I'll actually use the zen can in a semi portable manner (usb --> barrel plug cable into battery pack) or just commit to a desktop amp through my computer.

The e1da 9038s should be able to drive the P1.

And maybe you can change the Atom for the Topping L30.

 

[mochill]

 

[superuser1]

Impressions please and do take your time. also, is the ear clip absolutely necessary for the bud to stay in?

 

[lackOfInspiration]

The most I've tried is a few 300 ohm buds, yeah they do need amping, but most desktop amps should be powerful enough. Though I realize that actually the sensitivity is the more important component in drivability, the impedance is of a lesser importance for drivability, and maybe another variable is the driver type.

Maybe some physics experts can advise, but I've tried a few IEMs that have sub 100 dB/MW sensitivity, and they were quite a pain to drive eg Final Audio E5000 - Sensitivity: 93dB, but impedance 14Ω, and let's not mention some planars like the Tin P1. On paper the E5000's 14 ohm impedance looks like a pushover to drive, but the low sensitivity is probably the one that is the power hungry component.

Buds are mostly DD, so maybe less variable in driver types, but even among DD they do use different materials, assuming they ain't marketing gimmicks.

If you don't know about it yet you can read the Solderdude's article which is very well made. You don't need much more physics than P=UI and U=RI. What I find very painfull nevertheless is to get accurate specs for amps and headphones from Aliexpress

 

[furyossa]

I'm thinking of picking up some 600ohm earbuds, just need to figure out how I'm going to drive them. haha

Has anyone tried any?

Yup. I build these two (400ohm graphene (102dB) and 600ohm beryllium coated (100dB) ). Graphene you can drive with an LG (Quad Dac) phone but 600ohm requires a bit more power.
But I mostly use them with iFi Zen DAC. Both are very well balanced (they have a similar frequency graph), but beryllium has an authoritative low end.
Who knows how theses would sound with yours compensation files

 

[mochill]

Impressions please and do take your time. also, is the ear clip absolutely necessary for the bud to stay in?

Definitely secure with earhook , sound without foam is natural with tight texutured bass and treble is clear and smooth mids are full , sound wide and airy

 

[Sam L]

version 1.5 target for the HE 150pro is up here.

**edit**
I don't believe the requester for this file has wavelet running yet. Anyone HE 150pro users with wavelet running, can you let me know how this file sounds? Thank you!

***edit***
This is what my compensation file is doing to the default FR, by the way:

 

[Sam L]

PC!

Then I'd recommend grabbing my v1.5 peq file for the monk lite 120ohm and importing that into peace / apo equalizer. You will likely need to tweak the PEQ with the "flatten" "compress" feature but in the end you will be rewarded with near TOTL tuning. There are 4 or 5 of us using v1.5 on android devices for that bud and they all agree that the results are pretty damn impressive.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/earbud-target-curve-tests.944006/page-5#post-15973252

 

[Sam L]

Yup. I build these two (400ohm graphene (102dB) and 600ohm beryllium coated (100dB) ). Graphene you can drive with an LG (Quad Dac) phone but 600ohm requires a bit more power.
But I mostly use them with iFi Zen DAC. Both are very well balanced (they have a similar frequency graph), but beryllium has an authoritative low end.
Who knows how theses would sound with yours compensation files

Does the zen dac drive the 600ohm well? You don't see usb powered amps driving 600ohm well that often.

 

[furyossa]

Does the zen dac drive the 600ohm well? You don't see usb powered amps driving 600ohm well that often.

I don't have 600ohm headphones for testing, but high impedance earphones (150-600ohm) have greater sensitivity and can be driven even on SE output (with or without high gain). 600ohm "Bery" love high gain mode for sure This is my daily setup. For now, I connect these two with 2xRCA to 3.5mm cable (SE). iFi has a 4.4mm balanced output on the backside and Samson QH4 has 2 x 6.35mm balanced input. I need to build this kind of cable to get the full potential of these two devices.
I have a few portable devices with Sabre and AK chips but IMHO, iFi's Burr-Brown chip is the "best of both world"

 

[rprodrigues]

These little babies arrived today (16ohm sr2 )...


I'm aware that they need some burn-in to reach their best sound...
Is there a proper way to do the burn-in? Is a pink noise track running for a long time all that I need?

 

[furyossa]

These little babies arrived today (16ohm sr2 )...


I'm aware that they need some burn-in to reach their better sound...
Is there a proper way to do the burn-in? Is a pink noise track running for a long time all that I need?

Refined sound, sure. See PM
Is this your first build?

 

[DBaldock9]

I dont write a lot of reviews on ear buds, but here's my latest one on the Smabat ST-10S Gold 150 Ohm
https://www.audiodiscourse.com/2020/11/smabat-st-10s-gold-ear-buds-review.html

When I checked my set with an Ohmmeter, they measured about 297-Ohms - which was a bit surprising, since they're advertised as 150-Ohms.