Headphone/Amp/Dac Recommendation for an EDM/Trance Listener (Mainly in Office)

[gazzington]

Ultrasones would sound great with trance music

 

[Renato Fury]

Taking advantage of the topic I would like to ask a question, I intend to buy Schiit Fulla 2 and use it with Bravo Audio V2 to have a neutral sound and a colorful sound when connecting an amplifier (BAV2) to a preamp (Fulla 2), does the amplifier cancel the preamplifier sound, or is it possible to use both without disconnecting RCA cables ?

 

[stalepie]

250 ohms + E17K combo sounds interesting though... How would E17K compare to E10K for desktop use only??? I mean I know that E17K is a really good product for mobile, but since I am looking for a product which can give me optimum effectiveness with both applications. I just want to get a product that I can connect with my laptop at office and get the same effectiveness as E10K, but this product also needs to be portable that I can plug to my iphone/ipod to get a quality music listening experience while mobile.

I don't really know. I just was pointing you to some of those products, since some people strap an amp or dac-amp to their phones. Be careful about amplifying too much. You can lose your hearing over time. 250 Ohms probably does need extra amplification, but I doubt there's a lot of audible difference between the 32 ohm and 250 ohm models of DT770. For instance, Beyer has a page on this subject here: https://support.beyerdynamic.com/hc/en-us/articles/202503041-Which-DT-770-for-which-source- and here: https://support.beyerdynamic.com/hc...-and-DT-990-Edition-differ-in-terms-of-sound-

They say, "The sound differences between the various impedances are very slight and most people can only actually hear them when the sounds are compared directly. They are, in any case, smaller than the differences between any one of these variants and competitor products.
In general, it can be stated that the resolution and precision of the high mids and highs is slightly better at higher impedances. There are barely any differences worth mentioning apart from this."

And Tyll Hertsens, one of the experts that's well known in these circles, also did a comparison, and I think it may take an expert closely listening to hear the differences he's talking about:



But he says the 32 Ohm doesn't sound so good in comparison. These are DT880s though.

There's also an 80 Ohm variant:
https://www.amazon.com/beyerdynamic...=UTF8&qid=1504213711&sr=8-1&keywords=dt770+80

I'm not sure if it was mentioned already, but as you can see from one of the Q&As on that page, some people write:

Q: Given the prices $180 for 32 ohms, $278 for 80 ohms, and $170 for 250 ohms, which one should I buy for 98% amp-less listening?

A: If you want the best "dedicated amp-less" listening, then the 80 ohms is the best balance between low noise ceiling for listening devices like the iPhone, but not low enough to introduce unwanted noise interference. I have the 250 ohms pro, and although they sound best with a dedicated amp/dac, it still does a pretty good job reproducing sound when connected directly with a Macbook or iPhone.
By Jpongin on April 2, 2014
I have the 80 Ohm version. I use it directly with excellent results in Surface Pro, Surface RT, iPod Classic, Dell AiO and laptops, etc. I've had it for 6+ years with no quality issues. This headphone is very well balanced and beats more expensive headphones.
By mvis on January 13, 2015
Less resistance (32 ohms) should sound louder than higher resistance models at the same volume setting, regardless of using a typical device vs. a special headphone amplifier. I use the 250 ohms model with all my devices happily, but you'll want to research further or contact the manufacturer for suggestions based on your needs.
By S. Post on April 2, 2014

The top reviewer there also comments on the sound differences:

The differences between the two models I've reviewed (80ohm and 250ohm) are subtle but they are there. It's definitely true that the 80ohm version has slightly more bass whereas the 250ohm version has more pronounced highs. I personally love when the bass in a song really pulls you in and makes you want to dance on your desk. With the 80ohm version, I definitely get that. With the other, I kept thinking to myself that the bass was nice, but always a little less impactful than I wished for. If you are the kind of person that boosts the volume of your music until the bass is strong enough, then definitely go for the 80ohm version. I know it's the more expensive version (as of this writing) but you'll be glad you spent the extra.

He goes on to say,

Why would you consider these really nice headphones if you're not interested in good sound? The biggest improvement in sound quality I've ever noticed after getting nice headphones was when I bought a DAC/AMP. These things really do make a difference. Get a Fiio, Centrance Slim or something like that and you won't regret it. If you plan on using these on the go (which I wouldn't recommend because they are fairly big) then definitely go for the 80ohm.

...which reminds me, for a small dac-amp, the CEntrance Dacport Slim or Dacport HD are probably good choices for 80-250 Ohm range headphones, if not higher. They are Class A and put out a lot. I think they can be used with phones and desktop.
Oops, scratch that last thought... apparently Dacport uses a lot of battery from phones, so not the best combination. That's why they make the DACPortable and BlueDAC, but those are kinda pricey..

 

[Malfunkt]

You should be fine. It's easy to get carried away with amp and dac requirements. But at a certain level, for your music and headphones, you will have plenty of power. The E17K and a 250ohm headphone at 96db sensitivity should be fine.

Another option, is to get a dedicated DAP that has a good amp built in, and use that solely. You wouldn't even need to plug in at the office, just carry your music wherever you go. Unless you are streaming music, which then you'll need your iphone or PC.

Personally, for quality, I'd recommend lossless or high bit rate MP3. Streaming quality is fine, especially when you are the go and listening to EDM.

Sure the 32ohm version is out? Just think of the money you'd save

 

[laxman2001]

I'll bump this thread. Looking to upgrade from my ancient pair of ATH-M50s and my Momentums to something more in line with my Vegas.
-Mostly listening to EDM, and a bit of a basshead.
-Would mostly listen commuting in winter months, on planes, and some at home, so at least OK portability and closed-back preferred.
-Willing to consider a DAC/DAP but would prefer something I can use with my Galaxy as well.
-Budget: under $1k all-in