M-Stage vs Xonar STX vs HiFiMan EF2A
Dec 25, 2011 at 9:50 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 16
Derelict

Derelict

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I am thinking about getting either AKG K701's or the HD650. I listen to more of old school hip/hop, Trance, Jcore, Instrumental, Classical, and Jazz. I was wondering what would work best for either of these headphones. I am leaning towards the Xonar STX because of the price. What would be a better fit?

Thanks in advance :xf_eek:
 
Dec 25, 2011 at 11:21 PM Post #2 of 16
I would get the Essence STX, nice having everything inside the computer case.
Upgrade the op-amps.
 
Dec 26, 2011 at 12:39 AM Post #4 of 16


Quote:
derelict said:
Quote:
purpleangel said:
I would get the Essence STX, nice having everything inside the computer case.
Upgrade the op-amps.
Click to expand...


What would you recommend for receivers? I would like one that could power the K701's and would be good for surround sound movies
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"receivers"? are you talking about external headphone amplifiers? other sound cards? DACs?
 
If your talking about stereo receivers, the Yamaha RX-V700 (3 year warranty) is a good value, the Yamaha RX-V667 (2 year warranty) is a closed second.
 
 
 
Dec 26, 2011 at 12:42 AM Post #5 of 16
purpleangel said:
"receivers"? are you talking about external headphone amplifiers? other sound cards? DACs?

If your talking about stereo receivers, the Yamaha RX-V700 (3 year warranty) is a good value, the Yamaha RX-V667 (2 year warranty) is a closed second.
Click to expand...


Question since you own a couple of pair of Beyers and an STX. WOuld the DT880 600 Ohm work well with the STX + better OPAMP? If it will work well, what kind of OPAmp would you recommend?
 
Dec 26, 2011 at 12:52 AM Post #6 of 16
Yes, the STX will drive the 600 ohm Beyers plenty fine.
 
I don't see the point of upgrading the opamps. The stock ones are perfectly neutral. Anything else isn't likely to be optimal for the circuit and will just create coloration. Some people like that.
 
Dec 26, 2011 at 1:36 AM Post #8 of 16


Quote:
derelict said:
Quote:
purpleangel said:
"receivers"? are you talking about external headphone amplifiers? other sound cards? DACs?

If your talking about stereo receivers, the Yamaha RX-V700 (3 year warranty) is a good value, the Yamaha RX-V667 (2 year warranty) is a closed second.
 
Click to expand...


Question since you own a couple of pair of Beyers and an STX. WOuld the DT880 600 Ohm work well with the STX + better OPAMP? If it will work well, what kind of OPAmp would you recommend?
Click to expand...

Do not see any Head-Fi complaining much about 600-Ohm headphones used with the Essence STX, but feel free to search Head-fi yourself.
 
Three LME49860NAs are the safe upgrades, the stock buffer op-amp on the STX is the LM4652, which has been renamed the LME49720NA, the cherry picks (better voltage range) of the LME49720NA are labeled LME49860NA.
Lots of Essence STX (& ST) owners like the sound after replacing the two JRC2114 (I/V sockets) with the LME49720NA, I just decided to go for the LMR49860NAs (for all three slots)
A pair of LME49710 (single channel op-amps) are considered to have better sound then a then one (dual channel) LME49720NAs.
The two LME49710 need to be soldered to DIP-8 adapter for use in one slot.
 
There are all so LME49720HAs ("H") which are TO-99 (round metal op-amps) which have better sound, then the regular DIP-8 LME49720NA, but have to be soldered to a DIP-8 adapter before installing into the Essence.
I'm sure the metal housing of the "H" version cut electrical noise interference.
 
The best op-amp upgrade appears to be the AD797BR (or AD797BRZ), they are single channel, so to have to be soldered in pairs to a DIP-8 adapter.
But they are considered finiky op-amps, might have to do other mods to the Essence to work well.
 
Right now I have a OPA2107AP op-amp on order I want to try in the buffer socket.
 
 
 
 
Dec 26, 2011 at 1:43 AM Post #9 of 16


Quote:
derelict said:
Wouldn't there be bad dampaning with the STX being 600 ohms and the DT880 being 600 ohms?
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The Essence STX (& ST) and Fiio E9 all use the same headphone amplifier chip (made by TI).
I believe this TI amplifier chip is well like in the audio world.
I'm guessing it the best headphone amplifier chip you can find in the ($200) price ranges.
 
 
 
 
Dec 26, 2011 at 2:38 AM Post #11 of 16
I don't know what would be more worth it, a dedicated headphone amp or the STX. People on Head-fi claim that a regular headphone amp is better than the STX, so I am truly torn.
 
Dec 26, 2011 at 3:01 AM Post #12 of 16
First off, do not buy a 600-Ohm headphone, get something in the 250-Ohm (or less) range.
I've seem lots of post were people say the 600-Ohm version of a headphone is only slightly better then the 250-Ohm version.
If you were spending $500 or more for a nice tube or solid state headphone amplifier, the 600-Ohm version might be more worth it.
I would guess an external headphone amplifier in the same price range as the STX could sound better then the STX.
Something external with a digital (optical, coaxial, USB) input, a DAC and headphone amplifier.
It would not have to deal with the electrical noise in the computer case, unlike the STX.
 
Dec 26, 2011 at 3:39 AM Post #14 of 16


Quote:
derelict said:
I found this as I posted above. Will this suffice?

http://www.amazon.com/Hi-Fi-Man-EF2A-Tube-Headphone/dp/B004357WL8/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1324887963&sr=1-2
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Never use this, but looks good to me.
 
 
 
Dec 26, 2011 at 3:40 AM Post #15 of 16
I also heard this combo is good.

http://www.amazon.com/FiiO-Desktop-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B005C5IN98/ref=sr_1_25?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1324888184&sr=1-25

I might just get this since it seems it has enough power to power the DT880's. Any thoughts?
 
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