antcore
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2010
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After careful reading of numerous reviews, I decided that a good way to improve my music listening experience on my Lenovo X220 laptop was using a Fiio E19 DAC.
I use Sennheiser CX870 in-ear earphones and I have an AKG K172HD lying around that I don't use as I own nothing to drive it properly (Impedance: 55 ohms).
I received an E17 today and expected at least a marginal improvement in terms of the sound being less "cramped together on a small band". I suppose this is what is referred to as a wider soundstage. I mostly listen to classical music, hardrock and (progressive) techno. The sources I use are mostly FLAC files.
I played a variety of tracks through my laptop's DAC and through the E17 and I cannot say that I hear any difference (at all!). The E17 seems to be functioning normally.
Now, I seriously consider the option that I don't know what I'am talking about in the sense that there IS a difference but that I just cannot discern it due to my ears being "immature".
The trick then, I assumed, was to use the E17 for a while and then to switch back to my laptop's DAC. No difference for me. Given the amount of people that note a considerable difference and that explicitly mention that they are completely new to audio tuning, that seems odd to me. In addition, having the laptop at maximum volume and using 12 gain and +10 bass on the E17 (and the E17 at volume level 25) the AKG's barely produce any bass. This is how they always behave when they are underpowered.
As for the CX870's: they always were pretty heavy on the bass. I simply don't hear any difference with them. The E17 basically allows me to add loads of bass - without really doing anything about the soundstage.
Is my E17 broken (or did I miss a setting?), are my earplugs and headphones unfortunate picks or is it just my immature ears?
I use Sennheiser CX870 in-ear earphones and I have an AKG K172HD lying around that I don't use as I own nothing to drive it properly (Impedance: 55 ohms).
I received an E17 today and expected at least a marginal improvement in terms of the sound being less "cramped together on a small band". I suppose this is what is referred to as a wider soundstage. I mostly listen to classical music, hardrock and (progressive) techno. The sources I use are mostly FLAC files.
I played a variety of tracks through my laptop's DAC and through the E17 and I cannot say that I hear any difference (at all!). The E17 seems to be functioning normally.
Now, I seriously consider the option that I don't know what I'am talking about in the sense that there IS a difference but that I just cannot discern it due to my ears being "immature".
The trick then, I assumed, was to use the E17 for a while and then to switch back to my laptop's DAC. No difference for me. Given the amount of people that note a considerable difference and that explicitly mention that they are completely new to audio tuning, that seems odd to me. In addition, having the laptop at maximum volume and using 12 gain and +10 bass on the E17 (and the E17 at volume level 25) the AKG's barely produce any bass. This is how they always behave when they are underpowered.
As for the CX870's: they always were pretty heavy on the bass. I simply don't hear any difference with them. The E17 basically allows me to add loads of bass - without really doing anything about the soundstage.
Is my E17 broken (or did I miss a setting?), are my earplugs and headphones unfortunate picks or is it just my immature ears?