I Just pulled the trigger on the Mini-X A-100 amp and the XDA-2 DAC/Preamp. The early holiday sale was too good to pass up. At $468 for both, it was a no brainer hehe. Can't wait to try it out on my HE-500! =) Thanks for everyones advice on this thread!
I notice a very slight hiss with my he500 and a-100. Extremely minor though to the point that if there is anything else in the room (like the fan from a computer) you can't really hear it.
On another note, I notice that if I put my ear very close to the a-100, I can hear a buzz coming from the toroidal transformer. Is this normal? I just picked this up used and wondering if there may be an issue or if it is a common thing. It doesn't seem to affect the sound or function at all, and I have to literally put my ear to the case to hear it. Doing a google search, it seems this is common with toroidal transformers?
Oh right. I'll wait for a reply. I got the amp today. Been listening to my new setup foobar>nfb11.32>emotiva>blue dragon>he500 with jergpads v2. Based on the preliminary listening session, I must say that I'm quite impressed. It definitely sounds different from say listening to the he500 directly from the nfb11.32. More impressions to follow.
With my current setup,Optical output => Teac UD-501 DAC => Mini-x=> front plate mounted 1/4" TRS, I have no hiss no noise at all. The only time I could hear audible hum is when the volume knob passes 2 - 3 o'clock which is more than 2x the listening volume as I often listen at right around 9 o'clock.
On a slightly related note, I added a $17 Tripath TA2024 balanced push-pull amp card to my TEAC UD-H01 balanced DAC to drive my HE-500 headphones. The amp has lots of overhead, I listen at 9 - 10 o'clock position and it's dead silent at full volume. It sounds very good, even compared to the Schiit Mjolnir.
On a slightly related note, I added a Tripath TA2024 based amp card to my TEAC UD-H01 balanced DAC to drive my HE-500 headphones. The amp has lots of overhead, I listen at 9 - 10 o'clock position and it's dead silent at full volume. It sounds very good, even compared to the Schiit Mjolnir.
I notice a very slight hiss with my he500 and a-100. Extremely minor though to the point that if there is anything else in the room (like the fan from a computer) you can't really hear it.
On another note, I notice that if I put my ear very close to the a-100, I can hear a buzz coming from the toroidal transformer. Is this normal? I just picked this up used and wondering if there may be an issue or if it is a common thing. It doesn't seem to affect the sound or function at all, and I have to literally put my ear to the case to hear it. Doing a google search, it seems this is common with toroidal transformers?
I also hear a very slight hiss with the emotiva mini-x and HE-500. From reading this entire thread I believe they all have a small noise floor, but that the people claiming they hear nothing either don't have as sensitive hearing or have not actively listened for it at 0 volume. It does get much louder towards 2 on the dial, but with a normal dac you shouldn't need the volume that high. That's my take on it for what it's worth.
I also hear a very slight hiss with the emotiva mini-x and HE-500. From reading this entire thread I believe they all have a small noise floor, but that the people claiming they hear nothing either don't have as sensitive hearing or have not actively listened for it at 0 volume. It does get much louder towards 2 on the dial, but with a normal dac you shouldn't need the volume that high. That's my take on it for what it's worth.
+1. From my reading through the thread, it seems like a very common noise floor. But as Shazb0t mentioned, it has to be zero and listening for it. If you aren't looking for it, you would probably not notice it.
I read that some have put in resistors in the path to quiet the noise floor, but IMO, it isn't necessary for the HE500.
On a slightly related note, I added a Tripath TA2024 based amp card to my TEAC UD-H01 balanced DAC to drive my HE-500 headphones. The amp has lots of overhead, I listen at 9 - 10 o'clock position and it's dead silent at full volume. It sounds very good, even compared to the Schiit Mjolnir.
I also hear a very slight hiss with the emotiva mini-x and HE-500. From reading this entire thread I believe they all have a small noise floor, but that the people claiming they hear nothing either don't have as sensitive hearing or have not actively listened for it at 0 volume. It does get much louder towards 2 on the dial, but with a normal dac you shouldn't need the volume that high. That's my take on it for what it's worth.
Interesting. I will try to hunt for that noise at 0 volume when I get home tonite. While my ears are not the best but they are pretty decent at picking things up.
On a slightly related note, I added a Tripath TA2024 based amp card to my TEAC UD-H01 balanced DAC to drive my HE-500 headphones. The amp has lots of overhead, I listen at 9 - 10 o'clock position and it's dead silent at full volume. It sounds very good, even compared to the Schiit Mjolnir.
With my current setup,Optical output => Teac UD-501 DAC => Mini-x=> front plate mounted 1/4" TRS, I have no hiss no noise at all. The only time I could hear audible hum is when the volume knob passes 2 - 3 o'clock which is more than 2x the listening volume as I often listen at right around 9 o'clock.
As far as I can remember, I didn't detect an audible hiss. But my fan was on and this might have drowned the hissing. I listen at 10-11 o clock if I remembered right. I'll listen again later at night and over the weekend. I actually feel sad that I have to go to work and leave the setup at home. Maybe I can bring it to work...
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