fiio e11 or fiio e17? (sennheiser hd598)

[hummel]

hi,

i did some research on the forum but couldnt find my answer.
im looking for an amp for my sennheiser hd 598. i will mainly use it with my imac but im a strungle between the fiio e11 and the fiio e17? i read the e11 is more powerfull than the e17?
is this a better choice then? i really cant decide.
i mainly listen to house, techno, dance music

can someone help me with this? perhaps someone who has the same setup?

grtz

 

[PurpleAngel]

Quote:

I did some research on the forum but couldn't find my answer.
I'm looking for an amp for my Sennheiser hd 598. i will mainly use it with my iMac but im a struggle between the Fiio E11 and the Fiio E17? I read the E11 is more powerful than the E17?
Is this a better choice then? I really can't decide.
I mainly listen to house, techno, dance music
Can someone help me with this? perhaps someone who has the same setup?

The Senn HD-598 are only 50-Ohm and the E11 & E17 can drive headphones that up to around 250-Ohms.
Technically the E11 is a slightly better headphone amplifier.
But the E17 should have a better DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) then your iMac,
So the E17 should be a better choice.

 

[hummel]

Thx for the help!
Sorry for the question but how do u notice of it has a better dac? In what way do u hear this. I have no idea what a dac is or what it does

 

[Darkblade48]

Quote:

Thx for the help!
Sorry for the question but how do u notice of it has a better dac? In what way do u hear this. I have no idea what a dac is or what it does

A DAC is required to change the digital signal into an analog signal so that you can hear it.

 

[PurpleAngel]

Quote:

Thx for the help!
Sorry for the question but how do u notice of it has a better dac? In what way do u hear this. I have no idea what a dac is or what it does

Audio is stored and processed in a digital (zero & ones) form, amplifier and headphone jacks are analog (wave), we hear in analog (wave).
DACs (Digital to Analog Converter) are in everything, cell phones, computers, TVs, receivers, iPhones. iPads, iPods, mp3 players, etcT
The better the DAC, the better the audio signal is reproduced (converter from analog to digital) to it's intended audio quality.
Most stuff we buy comes with low cost DACs that barely do the job.
Apple products seem to come with decent DACs
Aftermarket stuff like the Fiio E17 come with a DAC (WM8740) that is usually better (maybe way better?) then what Apple uses in their products.

 

[hummel]

Aha nice to know. So the fiio e17 is obviously the better choice for me then?

 

[PurpleAngel]

Quote:

Aha nice to know. So the Fiio E17 is obviously the better choice for me then?

Yes,

 

[m50man]

The E17 is fantastic.  Just fantastic.