Hifiman HE-6 vs Audeze LCD-3
Apr 2, 2014 at 10:27 PM Post #391 of 410
The reality the listener runs into is that with the possible exception of the Apex Pinnacle, no pre amp section of a headphone amp can compare with a dedicated high-end pre amp. Obviously, pre-amps are designed to be used in conjunction with a power amp and since the HE-6 sounds best when plugged into the speaker outputs of a power amp my original statement stands.

Few speaker amps are equipped with a volume control. Those that are must have a pre-amp section which brings us back to square one.

The quality of sound reproduction will always be limited by the weakest link in the chain.


Dr. Roberts,

I like your taste in speakers.:wink_face:
 
Apr 2, 2014 at 10:36 PM Post #392 of 410
I think the reality is that the M9, as well as the M6/M8, are just far superior amps when compared to the DS.

Take away the expensive casework of the DS and build the M9 in US or EU and prices would be nearly reversed, which would be a better reflection on their respective abilities.


Absolutely +1
 
Apr 3, 2014 at 5:00 PM Post #393 of 410
I have been demoing both the LCD-X and the HD-800 for a few days on my Auralic Vega and Auralic Taurus MK.II. I know have a pair of HE-6's due in tomorrow. I am looking forward to hearing them in comparison
 
Apr 3, 2014 at 9:21 PM Post #394 of 410
  I have been demoing both the LCD-X and the HD-800 for a few days on my Auralic Vega and Auralic Taurus MK.II. I know have a pair of HE-6's due in tomorrow. I am looking forward to hearing them in comparison

 
Will be interested to hear your opinions. FWIW the HE-6 sounds great on the Taurus, that's what I have at home and I enjoy it a lot, but I've heard it better from speaker amps.
 
Apr 3, 2014 at 10:39 PM Post #395 of 410
Will be interested to hear your opinions. FWIW the HE-6 sounds great on the Taurus, that's what I have at home and I enjoy it a lot, but I've heard it better from speaker amps.


Great. Thank you. I am so back abd forth between the LCD-X and HD-800's. Perhaps the HE-6 will fit just right...
 
Apr 4, 2014 at 11:04 PM Post #396 of 410
Will be interested to hear your opinions. FWIW the HE-6 sounds great on the Taurus, that's what I have at home and I enjoy it a lot, but I've heard it better from speaker amps.


Obviously they need some break-in but they sound VERY good. I am a bit concerned the Taurus isn't enough power but an incredibly engaging and transparent sound initially
 
May 10, 2014 at 2:27 PM Post #398 of 410
How were headphones played before the advent of "headphone amps"?

About a couple dollars worth of resistors to drop the attenuation off the main speaker amp to a TRRS 1/4" connector.

Then guys started DIYing amps with just enough juice to run IEMs. Then came the full sized "headphone amp".

Speaker amps have and will continue to be used for headphones as a value to the hobbyist. Today's headphone amp industry are moving their power back into speaker amp range with pretty cabinets and leds and selling them for $thousands of dollars. Reality is they are just speaker amps packaged for the new suckers customers. Head Fi supports this as they are making a living off it. But as long as this is a hobbyist forum, they have to deal with the truth.

Happy Camper
 
You are absolutely correct.  I made this comment on Amazon regarding the HE-6.
 
Don't fight this exquisite "beast" with one hand tied behind your back. Think stereo integrated amplifiers and receivers. There are lots on the market such as Yamaha, Marantz, NAD, Cambridge Audio, etc with WATTS galore and fantastic specs for about the same prices as headphone amps. Plus when you get tired of listening through headphones hook up a pair of B&W 685's to that speaker amp with a powered sub and hear soundstage that will drive you soundly crazy.
 
May 11, 2014 at 3:20 PM Post #399 of 410
  One thing I have noticed with HE-6 is that it requires a bit of warm-up time. Maybe mine is not fully broken in (it should be), but if I listen after 15 minutes of warm up vs. 1 hour of warm up, there is a big difference. Don't have the same issue with HE-500 which I also have. 

Same for me.  I wrote about it on the HE-6 thread since I've noticed this after several occasions when in the beginning, the headphones didn't sound right, and it sounded phenomenal after half an hour or so.  
 
May 11, 2014 at 5:35 PM Post #403 of 410
I have SS amp, Beta 22.  I't hard to believe a SS taking time to warm up.  

Just for example, from a pass labs owners manual

People are interested in how long it takes for these amplifiers to break in. Depending on the resolution of the rest of your audio chain, you may or may not notice any break in of the amplifier beyond the first few hours of operation. You will very likely notice the difference in sonic character between cold and normal operating temperature over the first hour, so we recommend letting these amplifiers warm up before any serious listening.
 
May 11, 2014 at 10:18 PM Post #404 of 410
I guess these underpowered headphone amps need all the warm up they can get.  After all the have a heavy load to lift with these inefficient planar magnetic headphones.  For speaker amps it's just "another walk in the park".
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top