[ACDragun]

Hello Head-fi, I've recently bought a pair of akg k702 and I currently don't have anything to drive them.
I currently have a zune HD and a Fiio e5.
Should I buy a ibasso dx50 or pb2?
I will also be using either with my other headphones/earphones:
Akg k550
Sennheiser hd598
Sennheiser amperior
Triplefi 10
ACS t15

Although my main concern is driving the k702s I wouldn't mind if my other headphones also benefit

I'm located in Australia so any other alternative options available here are also welcome

Thanks

 

[Claritas]

http://www.head-fi.org/t/682750/the-sad-state-of-the-so-called-audiophile-dap-market pretty much explains why I still use an iPod (at work). I'd have to try some more DAPs myself, but superficially it seems that there's currently a gap between Sansa or iPod and Astell & Kern, though I've read some encouraging reports about Fiio X3.

 

[ACDragun]

Thanks from the reply,
I've read a few pages of that thread and it doesn't seem like the dx50 is receiving that much negativity.
Do you think I should use my zune with the pb2 without an external dac instead of a dx50?
I'm also thinking of the Fiio e17 as another option.

 

[BillsonChang007]

Hello Head-fi, I've recently bought a pair of akg k702 and I currently don't have anything to drive them.
I currently have a zune HD and a Fiio e5.
Should I buy a ibasso dx50 or pb2?
I will also be using either with my other headphones/earphones:
Akg k550
Sennheiser hd598
Sennheiser amperior
Triplefi 10
ACS t15

Although my main concern is driving the k702s I wouldn't mind if my other headphones also benefit

I'm located in Australia so any other alternative options available here are also welcome

Thanks

Hello
 
The PB2 if you plan to balance mod your headphones. It also offer more power than the DX50. The K702 will benefit with more power
 
btw, add me at LoL US @ "TechnoHeadphone" xD 
 
Hope it helps
Billson

 

[ACDragun]

Thanks for the reply Billson,
I'm not to familiar with balancing mods, is that to do with switching the cables? Does the pb2 work with the akg702 without modding?

I transferred my main "iJanna" to the oceanic server already so I won't be able to play LoL with you unfortunately

 

[Claritas]

You watched the part of the video about DX50? I'm not so knowledgeable about portables. I have some curiosity about Fiio. Some members I respect and have met use their products, specifically: E5, E09K, E12, E17, & X3.

 

[ACDragun]

Oh yeah sorry I forgot to mention that my internet is currently capped so I was only able to read the text in the thread
Could you perhaps give me an overview?
It would be greatly appreciated

 

[Claritas]

What I remember is that the OS is very buggy and crashes. He calls the product "half-baked," good hardware with a (currently) bad OS.

It reminds me of a tech article I read that argued that Google had made only half a phone when it developed Android. That was written pre-Nexus 4.

 

[ACDragun]

I guess the pb2 is the better option at the moment.
Would it be a waste of money if I don't balance the akg k702?
Or should I buy a cheaper amplifier without the balancing compatibility

 

[BillsonChang007]

I guess the pb2 is the better option at the moment.
Would it be a waste of money if I don't balance the akg k702?
Or should I buy a cheaper amplifier without the balancing compatibility

the PB2 will work with the K702 without balance mod. Balance mod somehow improve the sound quality and of course as the name it self says "better balance" xD

 

[ACDragun]

the PB2 will work with the K702 without balance mod. Balance mod somehow improve the sound quality and of course as the name it self says "better balance" xD

Thanks for your help I'll probably get the pb2
Gonna read some more reviews/threads first to see if there are any other potential options

 

[Claritas]

  the PB2 will work with the K702 without balance mod. Balance mod somehow improve the sound quality and of course as the name it self says "better balance" xD

 
That's right so far as I know. (I once tried to buy it, but they were out of stock.)
 
It's definitely not a waste of time to use K702 unbalanced. Balancing will lessen distortion slightly if you have a fully balanced system. Regardless, there are probably weak links worth attending to instead, such as source and file format.

 

[ACDragun]

I guess I'll continue to use my zune with 320kbps files and will probably get a pb2
Thanks for your help Claritas

 

[BillsonChang007]

WAITTTT hold on sir! I just realized you have a pair of IEM... The PB2 may be too loud/powerful for it. I am not so sure but it is best to use your Triple-Fi 10 directly with your DAP not PB2 xD

 

[ACDragun]

WAITTTT hold on sir! I just realized you have a pair of IEM... The PB2 may be too loud/powerful for it. I am not so sure but it is best to use your Triple-Fi 10 directly with your DAP not PB2 xD

Haha yeah I don't think I'll be using the pb2 with my iems, but thanks for the concern