[joker97]

Please bear with me.
 
I love my Senn HD600.
 
When I use Samsung Galaxy S4 9505 using poweramp I can get moderately loud sub bass before it distorts. Is this clipping?
 
When I use laptop -> Fiio E17 DAC/Amp I can get mildly loud sub bass before it distorts.
 
When I use Dell Laptop Latest XPS 15 using a Dell MaxxAudio software i can get phenomenally loud subbass and it doesn't even clip/distort
 
Why is that?

 

[joker97]

Edit: yes i know my Senn has very high nominal impedence of 300Ohm at 1kHz and even higher impedence (probably around 600Ohm) at 100kHz approx

 

[castleofargh]

hard to tell what you're hearing without listening to it. but it could be clipping.
 
if you have foobar2000 you can try if you hear the same clipping in my 2 examples:
 
go to file-> preference >playback first attempt, the bad:you chose "none" as replaygain processing option. and keep the preamp slider at zero db. you should have your clipping after using some boost on the EQ.
 
second attempt, you go back to the playback menu and slide the preamp value down to nullify your EQ boost. for example if your maximum boost on the EQ is +6db, you slide the preamp to -6db. this should avoid clipping.
if it solves your problem then you can use replay gain as a solution. soft coded in the metadata or hard-coded (mp3) if your source doesn't read replay gain values.

 

[sonitus mirus]

The E17 provides 20mW into 300Ω.
 
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/839353-REG/Fiio_E17_E17_USB_DAC_Headphone.html
 
This is NOT optimal.  Chances are that the Samsung S4 is significantly under powered as a source for the HD600, too.  I'd have to say that the most likely culprit is clipping.  

 

[joker97]

Is it possible that my Dell (cost me over 3k for this top end model) internals is awesome.

Anyway can't wait till I fly across seven seas to my nearest audiophile shop and test out their gear and all will be revealed

 

[joker97]

I thought at 97dB per mW
20 mW would give you 117dB

I guess that is probably not measured at sub bass frequencies

 

[briskly]

I thought at 97dB per mW
20 mW would give you 117dB

I guess that is probably not measured at sub bass frequencies

That would yield 110db, give or take a couple db for manufacturing consistency. These measurements are usually taken at 1khz.
 

  The E17 provides 20mW into 300Ω.
 
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/839353-REG/Fiio_E17_E17_USB_DAC_Headphone.html
 
This is NOT optimal.  Chances are that the Samsung S4 is significantly under powered as a source for the HD600, too.  I'd have to say that the most likely culprit is clipping.  

 
This assumes that he/she listens to music with 110db peaks. The Galaxy S4 is limited to about 1 volt output, which yields about 102db into the HD 600.

 

[Me x3]

  The E17 provides 20mW into 300Ω.
 
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/839353-REG/Fiio_E17_E17_USB_DAC_Headphone.html
 
This is NOT optimal.  Chances are that the Samsung S4 is significantly under powered as a source for the HD600, too.  I'd have to say that the most likely culprit is clipping.  

As far as I know, Fiio E17 provides up to 35 mW into 300 Ohm load.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/587912/fiio-e17-alpen-first-impression-final-thought