Had a really bizarre experience with the DJ100 last night.
I've been using the M50 pads with it for the past year and switched to stock again for testing.
You know those stock pads aren't too terrible when they break in and you've stretched them out slightly.
First thing I thought last night is that maybe my ears were clogged up or something. The sound just didn't sound right. This was coming from M50 pads to using stock pads.
I used Clip+ to Airhead with stock pads. This normally sounds amazing with M50 pads.
This time around it sounded very, very slightly muffled. My idea was that the Clip+ is kind of warm and so are the stock pads.
Maybe this is kind of causing it to have a slight muffling. I didn't notice the Clip+ being slightly warm until I started using my KNS-8400 with my ODAC and it just wasn't the same.
Overall it sounded pretty good, but not like it's old self. Certainly not as crystal clear as using my Micro Amp from ODAC.
That setup with stock pads is really amazing..
So I tried the E11. Nearly the same thing and a somewhat similar sound compared to the Clip+ and Airhead.
I figured maybe using the headphone out jack was degrading the sound somewhat. It's never done this in the past at all. Yeah, despite people claiming a LOD cable is an absolute must. Not in my case.
I then switched to a Sansa Fuze using a LOD cable. Sounded pretty decent, but the sound was not as smooth and as full sounding as it should be. Almost felt like how my Q701 sounds without proper amping. A lot thinner and not as smooth and full sounding. This was from the Fuze to Airhead or E11. Here's the funny part...the E11 allows the DJ100 to be so loud as to cause hearing damage! The Airhead not so much. I think it's because the Airhead is better for the harder to drive headphones (IMO).
When I switched to the headphone out to both amps, the sound was instantly improved. Very clear and full sounding. The signature is pretty smooth without any frequency jumping out at me much. Pretty close, but not good enough. This is basically like double amping the DJ100. Internal Fuze amp plus the Airhead or E11.
Using the headphone out of my Fuze is way, way better than using a LOD cable. Why? Not sure. My idea is that the DJ100 likes the extra power.
I then switched to my Ipod Touch 2G using a LOD to E11/Airhead. PERFECT! If I thought the LOD from Fuze to E11 had TONS of volume, this is even worse. Enough to damage your headphones and hearing. I don't understand why it got louder than the Fuze when bypassing the internal amps? Strange.
When using the headphone out instead, it's even better. What the heck?
So it appears that the more power you give the DJ100 the better it sounds. Even if this means "double amping" it using portable devices. Headphone out to amp is perfectly OK in my experience.
I think it's safe to say that if you use a warm portable player or amp, it may not sound as crystal clear as it should or even too bassy on the wrong amp.
It seems to change it's sound slightly based on what it's connected to. It's almost like it's taking on the signature of it in a way.
Not sure why, but my Fuze+ doesn't sound nearly as good as my Clip+. They're supposed to have the same chipset too. Maybe mine is one that doesn't..
It's funny how the DJ100 with M50 pads is amazing with the Clip+ with no amp, but when using the stock pads it's bass is a bit wild. I guess the M50 pads make it seem less noticeable.
You'll all think i'm nuts, but for my DJ100 to sound as good as it can get, it needs the same portable setup as my Q701.
Fiio E11 with LOD from Fuze is a complete fail for me..or maybe i'm too picky.
Here's an interesting fact... despite my opinion that the LOD cable to a portable amp is just "good" with the DJ100, it's amazing when connecting that LOD cable to a Fiio E9 or desktop amp. More proof that the DJ100 loves all the power it can get. Bizarre. The DJ100 with stock pads from my ODAC to Headroom Micro Amp is nearly as full sounding as my HD-580, but even more clear. With that setup it's mids aren't too forward and everything is still pretty balanced. I bet O2 + ODAC would be impressive with the DJ100. It's on my list, but i'm pretty convinced my Micro is close to neutral and quite transparent as it is. E9 is pretty neutral too, but no detail monster or ultra revealing.