Good AMP/DAC Reccomendations for AKG K601

[ksween93]

Just put in an order for a pair of K601's. I'm a newbie so I don't know my amps and DAC's that well, but I was wondering if i could find an Amp/DAC combo (preferably with a USb) for under $200 that could adequately drive a pair of K601's.

 

[TopPop]

If you can find one of the versions of Corda Move in the FS forum, I'd recommend it. I just got my 3Move yesterday, which I snagged here for $210, and even though it's a portable, it drives my HD-600 extremely well... lots of control throughout the frequency spectrum, and surprisingly good soundstage.

 

[K_19]

On a really really tight budget, the Total Bithead may be alright. It drives my K701 efficiently enough as a DAC (as an amp not really...) I feel so I don't see how it wouldn't drive K601 just as well if not better.

But since you can go up to $200 you can definitely do better, and I'll let the ones that own them do the talking.

Just mentioning a budget option.

 

[Miths]

Isn't the K601 supposed to be slightly harder to drive than the K701? I usually have my Cute Beyond amp set to high gain when I'm using my K601 - although that is admittedly not so much for listening to music as it is for movies, as they usually seem to have a slightly (or sometimes significantly) lower sound level.

In any case, the K601 are definitely harder to drive than any other headphone I've owned (which, until fairly recently, was admittedly mostly low to mid range Sennheisers), including my new HD650. The K601 needs a few extra notches on the volume dial to deliver a similar volume.

I tried them straight out of my PC once (just onboard sound on an Asus mainboard) - cranking the volume up to near full (media player and system) was below my usual listening levels.

 

[ph0rk]

My k601's certainly suck up all the power my M^3 provides.

 

[ksween93]

Anyone have any experience with the iBasso amps? The D2 is closest to my target price but I could stretch it for a D3 or D10 if I really needed to.

 

[Miths]

The Firestone Audio Fubar III DAC/amp looks like it might be in the same price range as well (in the US at least, it's over $300 here in Denmark).
The Cute Beyond amp I'm using certainly has more than enough power - even on low gain (and on high I could probably blow out my ear drums, or the headphone driver, before the amp starts clipping

). But it does look like the Fubar III is based on the battery driven Cute II amp instead (the iBasso line is battery driven as well, isn't it?), so I guess that could change things.

I just found this very short review of the Fubar III - it sounds like driving the K601 shouldn't really be a problem.

http://www.onheadphones.com/product-...amplifier.html

 

[ksween93]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miths /img/forum/go_quote.gif The Firestone Audio Fubar III DAC/amp looks like it might be in the same price range as well (in the US at least, it's over $300 here in Denmark). The Cute Beyond amp I'm using certainly has more than enough power - even on low gain (and on high I could probably blow out my ear drums, or the headphone driver, before the amp starts clipping ). But it does look like the Fubar III is based on the battery driven Cute II amp instead (the iBasso line is battery driven as well, isn't it?), so I guess that could change things. I just found this very short review of the Fubar III - it sounds like driving the K601 shouldn't really be a problem. Firestone Audio FUBAR III USB DAC and Headphone Amp Review

Thanks, this actually looks like a really good option. A little above my price range, but its what I'm looking for. The Corda 3Move seems like a good option too if I can find it used.

 

[mookowz13]

The Leckerton UHA-3 does a decent job driving my K601s (however its serviceable at best, you can tell the K601 want more power). The main problem is its a portable and lacks the power it needs to drive them to their full potential.

From what I've seen around here, between the K601 and K701, the K601 needs more to get to an adequate volume, but the K701 requires much more to be properly amped and controlled.

 

[TopPop]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mookowz13 /img/forum/go_quote.gif The Leckerton UHA-3 does a decent job driving my K601s (however its serviceable at best, you can tell the K601 want more power). The main problem is its a portable and lacks the power it needs to drive them to their full potential.

Agreed. A mighty fine amp/DAC, indeed. It was a bit too much on the warmish side for my HD-600, but it is a good contender among the possible options out there.

 

[Shike]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ph0rk /img/forum/go_quote.gif My k601's certainly suck up all the power my M^3 provides.

I wonder how that's possible. My Mini^3 drives my cans fine and it has substantially lower output.

Consider for example that the impedance of the k601 starts at roughly 100ohms and climbs to 250ohms at higher frequencies. The sensitivity is 101 db/mW . . . this isn't a super hard load to drive. The Mini^3 high performance can even put out 30mW at 300ohms . . . more than enough to kill your hearing with the k601. I find it hard to believe the M^3 would have problems . . . maybe it's making up for deficiencies at the source? Just a thought.

 

[ksween93]

I've been doing quite a bit of looking around through Head-Fi and Google, and the two cheaper desktop amps that have caught my eye are the Fubar III and the M^3 (made by YBM Audio). Any opinions on either of these? And is there a reason why the Rockhopper version of the M^3's are so much more expensive than the YBM version?

Also, how worth it is it to buy a DAC/Amp combo over just an amp for my laptop? I'm trying to stick to the combo to cut costs and avoid having to get a DAC further down the road, but the M^3 sounds tempting. Is it worth it without a decent DAC? Thanks for all the help and suggestions.

 

[ksween93]

Bump.

Still having a tough time finding a good USB combo in my price range for the k601's. Anyone have experience with either the Fubar III or Travagan's Green?

 

[jonathanjong]

I'm gonna go with TopPop. The K601s sure are hard to drive, but my 2Move does a really good job. For what it's worth, it's also one of the most highly rated portable amps here on Head-Fi. So, either hunt a Move/2Move/3Move down on the FS forums or email Jan for a 3Move.

 

[ph0rk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shike /img/forum/go_quote.gif I wonder how that's possible. My Mini^3 drives my cans fine and it has substantially lower output. Consider for example that the impedance of the k601 starts at roughly 100ohms and climbs to 250ohms at higher frequencies. The sensitivity is 101 db/mW . . . this isn't a super hard load to drive. The Mini^3 high performance can even put out 30mW at 300ohms . . . more than enough to kill your hearing with the k601. I find it hard to believe the M^3 would have problems . . . maybe it's making up for deficiencies at the source? Just a thought.

I'm not sure how you inferred that I was somehow unsatisfied with the paring. I do however listen to music that averages 89 dB - any modern brickwalled stuff is replaygained to where it should have been.

My mini3 didn't quite have the low end grunt on tap the M^3 did with the k601, but you'd have to pay close attention to notice.