Emmeline SR-71 with HD650s or K501s

[blessingx]

Anyone running either of these power hungry phones with the Emmeline, and if so, any comments about the synergy?

 

[Jester]

Quote:

Originally Posted by blessingx Anyone running either of these power hungry phones with the Emmeline, and if so, any comments about the synergy?

I have HD650s just have not tried them with the SR-71. If I get a chance this weekend I will drop you a line and let you know my impressions.

 

[lextek]

I think the 650/SR-71 combo is very, good. I use it mostly with an ipod.

 

[john_jcb]

I tried it with AKG 401's which are very close to your 501's this morning. I listened with Nomad Zen Xtra and SR-71. The Nomad headphone out really was insufficient to adequately power the 401's. I added the SR-71 and they really opened up. I would not use 401's with this setup because they are too bulky but for home listening, however, the SR-71 has no problem with them.

 

[raaj]

Quote:

Originally Posted by blessingx Anyone running either of these power hungry phones with the Emmeline, and if so, any comments about the synergy?

I used the HD650 with the SR-71 for a few days (until my new MS-Pro came in..

). The gear was my home rig with the Integra -> Headphile BlackSilver ICs -> Rat Shack RCA-RCA coupler -> RCA-mini converter -> SR-71 -> HD650 w/ Blue Dragon cable.

My impression was that the SR-71 volume had to be turned past the 12 o'clock position for the HD650 to sound fuller.. Once the volume is turned high enough, the HD650 came to life.

Except requiring higher volume setting to flesh out the sound, I did not detect any compromise of the HD650 performance being driven by the SR-71. It is amazing how the little box drives the HD650 to acceptable head-fi standards !!

 

[Ray Samuels]

The SR-71 is designed with a lower gain to accomodate the very high sensative phones, ear canals, as it has a gain of 6 in comparison to the XP-7 & the HR-2 which both have the gain of 11. This is intentianal meant design, yet it is capable to drive the HD600/HD650 with out any problem, but you have to turn the volume a bit more,12:00 - 1:00 oclock to get the gain you want with these phones which are of a high impedance, but when using the amp with low impedance phones like Grados or Sonys then you are around 9-10 Oclock.
Being desined for portable use, the gain was lowered so it will allow the users to turn the knob a little more before the volume jumps at you.
Thanks.
Ray Samuels

 

[blessingx]

Bump for any other feedback. I know there is a difference of opinion with lesser amps as to what's needed to drive the Senns and AKGs. Anyone think the SR71 isn't strong enough to really bring alive either?

 

[ampgalore]

XP-7 drives the HD650/600 very well. If that's of any help.

 

[Fafner]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray Samuels The SR-71 is designed with a lower gain to accomodate the very high sensative phones, ear canals, as it has a gain of 6 in comparison to the XP-7 & the HR-2 which both have the gain of 11. This is intentianal meant design, yet it is capable to drive the HD600/HD650 with out any problem, but you have to turn the volume a bit more,12:00 - 1:00 oclock to get the gain you want with these phones which are of a high impedance, but when using the amp with low impedance phones like Grados or Sonys then you are around 9-10 Oclock. Being desined for portable use, the gain was lowered so it will allow the users to turn the knob a little more before the volume jumps at you. Thanks. Ray Samuels

Thus, if you use it with portables with so-so powerful headphone out and relatively quiet recordings, there is a risk that the SR71 won't give you enough gain.

I've a XP7 paired with HD650 and a SlimX 550 with lineout set to max (40).
Even with this, some very quiet recordings (one is Shostakowich's Eighth Symphony with Mariss Jansons conducting the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (EMI)-notice that this is all but quiet music!-...another one is Sibelius's Violin Concerto with Vänskä (BIS)) require me to crank my XP7 to a very high setting to have a "concert hall"-like sound (volumewise). Not that the XP7 gives the impression of being pushed to his limits, but...what about the SR71?
I wonder if with such (luckily few) recordings, the SR71 would have some problems giving the HD650 enough gain...