[DougD]

It's going to be an expensive option for UK/EU buyers with customs and excise taxes etc.

Said it will "LAUNCH AS a Drop exclusive" ... emphasis added ... which suggests it will be a regular iFi-Audio offering at some point.

 

[Cat Music]

That is marketing 101 right there lol!

Why do you consider it to be pure marketing? wait first for it to be available and buy it later, and check for yourself if this was a good idea or just marketing .... but don't get ahead

 

[Guidostrunk]

It's mind boggling that the "marketing 101" comment went over people's heads. Lol.
Google marketing 101 folks. They're catering to a particular market that is flooded with those particular headphones so users have a product specifically designed for those cans!

 

[iFi audio]

Said it will "LAUNCH AS a Drop exclusive" ... emphasis added ... which suggests it will be a regular iFi-Audio offering at some point.

At some point yes, it's possible.

That is marketing 101 right there lol!

An advanced analogue filter designed to significantly improve popular headphones (and some other similar models to an extent too!) I would label as practical and useful

They're catering to a particular market that is flooded with those particular headphones so users have a product specifically designed for those cans!

That is true of course, but realistically any similar cans will benefit from that EQ button, i.e. Senns HD600/650

 

[Bansaku]

Colour me interested! Best part is being a Drop exclusive the price should be fairly reasonable.

 

[ultraman31]

Colour me interested! Best part is being a Drop exclusive the price should be fairly reasonable.

I read on Drop.com discussion and price of the unit is $250.

https://drop.com/talk/45001/i-fi-au...o-maximise-your-sennheiser-hd-6-xx-headphones

 

[tcellguy]

They had a non drop branded prototype at CanJam NY this year that sounded great. Not sure if it was the same amp or not. It was a “transparent” sounding amp but warmer treble vs. THX and sounded better to me. The rep told me it would be a wide release at some point. I hope get a chance to hear this again.

 

[erics75]

Might be a nice option for ZMF dynamic owners, given their 300ohm impedance. I'll have to keep an eye on this one, sounds interesting for a secondary setup for me.

 

[LordBorg]

No DAC? For the purported price, this would be a killer setup if it came with a Burr Brown like the Zen DAC!

 

[Ronion]

Wish there were more specifics on this as it sounds like a great idea (to me).

 

[Cevisi]

With out a build in dac this device is pretty expensiv compared to the zen dac/amp and you will not be able to find a optically suiting dac

 

[MLGrado]

I am in... Right now my HD650 are on workhorse duty for late night practicing on my Roland F-140R Digital Piano. They sound better than they ever have in that application, making uncannily realistic full range piano sound in both timbre and dynamics.

I loved my experience with the HD650 in hi-fi audio, but it was not a plug n play type experience. In my case, it took a LOT of tube rolling and possible combinations to really make them a pair of cans that I looked forward to listening to. Never getting rid of those HD650 because I know what they CAN sound like. I'm not sure if everyone that owns a pair has heard them at their best. When they are singing along at their best, they really do sound like a real flagship product as they were once marketed back 10 years ago or so. Back when a $600 headphone belonged in the exclusive 'high end forum', and we thought that kind of money was really stretching what the hobby could maintain

Oh how times have changed! Much for the better, but certainly not all for the better

Very much looking forward to these

 

[RONJA MESCO]

I wonder if this better than the regular one in keeping things powered without the use of the USB? I got the OG Zen Dac and that thing couldn't run a thing with the powercord hooked up to it.

 

[Cat Music]

With out a build in dac this device is pretty expensiv compared to the zen dac/amp and you will not be able to find a optically suiting dac

It's funny, I think it's convenient for it to just be an amplifier, since converting it to dac / amp would increase costs and could also harm the purpose it was intended for: making it sound good with the 600 series ... what I mean is that it is better to have a device dedicated to a single specific function, they work better since all efforts are dedicated to that objective: be it to amplify or convert, I do not want to open a thread, it is not necessary ...

 

[MarkSubsonik]

Awesome idea. My very first rig was a Zen DAC with the 6XX's and always though it was a fantastic combo but lacked in the power department. I bought a 4.4 Pentaconn cable and ran then balanced not long after and at that point, I thought it was the best synergy I'd heard. Will be interested to see everyone's thoughts on this after release!