Is it enough with a receiver?

[Loxz]

Taction Kannon

I looked them up and my god what a beast... Never ever have I heard about these headphones before so I read a little and saw some reviews. So far they have really caught my interest and one day I will maybe buy them.

If you want to keep the receiver as an amp,try looking into the Beyer DT770 250ohm.

I actually happen to have a gift card for my shop which sells the DT770 250ohm so it would be no problem to buy them. I have never heard the DT770 and they are closed-back headphones so I need to ask do they have more bass than the X2 and is the overall sound still great? I am thinking of using these if you say they would match better with my receiver, and then wait with the other headphones and amps.

For the amp a Schiit Magni would work fine as the X2 is easy to drive.

I have read that there are Magni 2 and Magni 2 Uber and also that people recommend using the amp with the DAC Modi 2/Modi 2 Uber. The Uber version from what I have read should be better but is the difference that great? Would you also recommend using both the amp and DAC or is it enough with the amp only?

 

[ProtegeManiac]

That's exactly what I get when I do EQ.

That means you're not using it properly. You need to understand how it works and what it does waaaaay beyond Rock, Rap, Jazz presets, and what your goal is.

First you need to figure out how EQ parameters like center freq and Q factor work. Next, you'll need a baseline - look at response graphs of whatever headphone you're EQ-ing (or an RTA to measure the in-room response of any speaker). You have to know where you're coming from and how to get to where you're going.

In my case where I'm going is a smoother curve - flatten peaks, level 20hz to 50hz nearer to 1000hz without creating a new peak or dip between that range, etc - but in yours if it's a matter of boosting the bass look up the response chart and see where the bass trails off and boost there.

If anything what complicates your situation is the possibility that the receiver is EQ-ing the sound due to its high output impedance, but if the above method works without distortion, then no problem. Past that, either you take measurements of that headphone with that receiver, or the easier path, get a headphone amp and then EQ again if necessary.

 

[Monsterzero]

I looked them up and my god what a beast... Never ever have I heard about these headphones before so I read a little and saw some reviews. So far they have really caught my interest and one day I will maybe buy them.

Yeah,they look quite promising.I was a Kickstarter backer but wont be getting my pair for another couple months unfortunately.

I actually happen to have a gift card for my shop which sells the DT770 250ohm so it would be no problem to buy them. I have never heard the DT770 and they are closed-back headphones so I need to ask do they have more bass than the X2 and is the overall sound still great? I am thinking of using these if you say they would match better with my receiver, and then wait with the other headphones and amps.

A closed back HP typically will slam harder than an open backed.Thats an overgeneralization,especially with the bass heavy X2.The DT770 has good bass slam,and is comfortable.It doesnt have the wide sound stage and is very bright(lots of treble).
I am admittedly not too familiar with bass heavy headphones in the sub-300.00usd price point...the DT770 just happens to be one Ive owned,albeit briefly.

Essentially any headphone that is 250ohms and higher,or a planar HP will work better with your receiver than the X2.

I have read that there are Magni 2 and Magni 2 Uber and also that people recommend using the amp with the DAC Modi 2/Modi 2 Uber. The Uber version from what I have read should be better but is the difference that great? Would you also recommend using both the amp and DAC or is it enough with the amp only?

The Uber version has RCA outs so you can drive powered speakers from it as well.The Uber also has slightly more power than the standard version.
If you dont have a DAC,yes I would recommend getting one.

 

[Loxz]

A closed back HP typically will slam harder than an open backed.Thats an overgeneralization,especially with the bass heavy X2.The DT770 has good bass slam,and is comfortable.It doesnt have the wide sound stage and is very bright(lots of treble).
I am admittedly not too familiar with bass heavy headphones in the sub-300.00usd price point...the DT770 just happens to be one Ive owned,albeit briefly.

Essentially any headphone that is 250ohms and higher, or a planar HP will work better with your receiver than the X2.

I read that the 80ohms should have more bass than the 250ohms or will the receiver do the job and deliver the same amount of bass to the 250ohms as the 80ohms since u said the receiver would be powerful enough for the 250ohms? I've had this giftcard in 2 years so I could as well use it on some headphones before it expires, do you have other recommendation besides the DT770 or should I just hold onto the DT770 (there are more headphones on their website so that's why I ask)?

 

[buke9]

The Kannons are crazy for bass. I was a kickstarter supporter at first but got out as I was looking for something else kind of wish I didn't but still can buy some at a higher price . Kind of disappointed they were not at CanJam SoCal this year as I would liked to hear any improvements from SoCal 2016 when I heard them. They said the early prototypes could blur your vision and I don't doubt it but I'm sure they made them much safer for public use.

 

[Monsterzero]

I read that the 80ohms should have more bass than the 250ohms or will the receiver do the job and deliver the same amount of bass to the 250ohms as the 80ohms since u said the receiver would be powerful enough for the 250ohms? I've had this giftcard in 2 years so I could as well use it on some headphones before it expires, do you have other recommendation besides the DT770 or should I just hold onto the DT770 (there are more headphones on their website so that's why I ask)?

To be clear,I loathe the DT770,but you seem to crave bass. If given the chance,in that general price range,I'd grab an Sennheiser HD650 or HE-400i.Both will work with your receiver,but both will prolly have less slam than the DT770,but are both miles better headphones IMHO.

To reiterate,receivers tend to like high ohm headphones,thus I'd opt for the 250 ohm version if I were you.

 

[Loxz]

To be clear,I loathe the DT770,but you seem to crave bass. If given the chance,in that general price range,I'd grab an Sennheiser HD650 or HE-400i.Both will work with your receiver,but both will prolly have less slam than the DT770,but are both miles better headphones IMHO.

To reiterate,receivers tend to like high ohm headphones,thus I'd opt for the 250 ohm version if I were you.

The HD650 and HE-400i look nice but as you said it has less slam (i hope u mean bass with this word or else I misunderstood it hahaha) and they are also a bit expensive. I read that the DT770 have great sub-bass when the frequency response peaks at about 40 Hz. I have a feeling that they are not as bassy but then again I've never tried them before. If you can remember how the DT770 sound, how much is the bass different from DT770 and your X1?

 

[buke9]

The HD650 and HE-400i look nice but as you said it has less slam (i hope u mean bass with this word or else I misunderstood it hahaha) and they are also a bit expensive. I read that the DT770 have great sub-bass when the frequency response peaks at about 40 Hz. I have a feeling that they are not as bassy but then again I've never tried them before. If you can remember how the DT770 sound, how much is the bass different from DT770 and your X1?

Sub bass has nothing to do with bass slam. The mid bass is where that's at sub bass is the rumble down deep.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Sub bass has nothing to do with bass slam. The mid bass is where that's at sub bass is the rumble down deep.

"Something," or at least "sometimes less," just not "nothing." If it has nothing to do with the slam of the bass then a 4in monitor that starts rolling off at 70hz but has a peak at 70hz to 150hz like the Swans D1010 would have more slam at 1m away than a speaker that goes all the way down to 20hz with a flatter curve, like a Focal Stella Utopia (much less at 3m away). Both a midbass hump and low end response can help with how much "slam" can be heard from a bass drum, except the lowest frequencies of course has very little to do with influencing what the slam on the hits on the toms will sound like, since it has less frequencies in that region.

It just has slightly less to do with headphones since it won't help reinforce that kick in the chest sensation, which is why people perceive a stronger "kick" from an RS1i than the HE400i.

 

[buke9]

More less what I meant about slam and sub bass yes it could be there but not needed for the slam.

 

[Loxz]

More less what I meant about slam and sub bass yes it could be there but not needed for the slam.

Alright, I think I understand a little. I have contacted the shop and I will try out the DT770 250ohms before I buy them. I was thinking since I can't have my receiver with me (well I could but it will be a little bit troublesome) I will instead hear them on my Cayin C5 which can drive headphones from 8-300 ohms and hope it will sound good.