[imac2much]

**I haven't heard the X1 to be honest... K712 has more of a clean midbass hump than the K612, but the K612 has deeper sub-bass extension. Honestly closer than their price difference belies, the main benefit of the K712 is the detachable cables, deeper Earpads of memory foam (nice but not crucial), more premium headband leather (no comfort difference IMO), and a little detail refinement. For first nice headphone I'd just get the K612, you can upgrade it with an amp and new pads later if you want. If you need closed headphones... Well, I don't end up needing them, so I defer to others' opinions. Any headphone will end up uncomfortable during the flight between USA & China, lol.

Thanks for your advice!  I did check out your video on YT and I'm amazed how little sound leakage open headphones actually give.  I'm eyeing the K612 now as well, though I think I'd need a better DAC/Amp than my U3 (so I will either get the Omni for all purpose PC usage, or the E17 so I can use that with my iPhone as well).  As for headphones, at this point I'm just looking for a good deal, so I'll probably snag any of the following if I can find a good deal : K612, HP100, HP200, or x1
 

  <snip>

Thanks again, Stillhart!  I feel like I cannot go wrong with any of these headphones.  I'm a bit upset that I didn't see this thread earlier this year when I could have potentially bought the x1 new for $150 on Amazon, haha.  Either way, I am just looking for a good deal on one of these, and if no deals surface, I will probably get the k612 and an E17/Omni since it seems to give me the most "bang for my buck."  

 

[martin vegas]

The akg550 have come right down in price in my local hifi shop, only a hundred quid. i think I will buy a pair and try them for gaming..if they are any good I will buy the mix amp for them!

 

[G3org3]

My akg q701 headphones came today they sound and feel great compared to my superlux 668b.
I tryed them with just the mixamp and had to turn mixamp to around 90% I without the mic on so they denffenetly need more juice! my superlux with mic was only at around 60-70%.

So what amp should I get seen quite a few around the £100 price fillo e9 schiit magni, schiit vali and the O2 are they the 4 main amps in that price range ? And what will go best with q701 I will be using the astro mixamp pro plus a blue snowball mic and only play on ps4.

 

[Murder Mike]

My akg q701 headphones came today they sound and feel great compared to my superlux 668b.
I tryed them with just the mixamp and had to turn mixamp to around 90% I without the mic on so they denffenetly need more juice! my superlux with mic was only at around 60-70%.

So what amp should I get seen quite a few around the £100 price fillo e9 schiit magni, schiit vali and the O2 are they the 4 main amps in that price range ? And what will go best with q701 I will be using the astro mixamp pro plus a blue snowball mic and only play on ps4.

 
A lot of people like the Vali on the Q701 thread, but the Magni, or O2 would also work nicely. 

 

[G3org3]

Is the O2 amp a desktop amp ? I'm not wanting a amp I need to charge

 

[Murder Mike]

Is the O2 amp a desktop amp ? I'm not wanting a amp I need to charge

Yes, it can be a desktop amp. The Q701 appreciation thread can be of better help I'm sure. 

 

[Stillhart]

My akg q701 headphones came today they sound and feel great compared to my superlux 668b.
I tryed them with just the mixamp and had to turn mixamp to around 90% I without the mic on so they denffenetly need more juice! my superlux with mic was only at around 60-70%.

So what amp should I get seen quite a few around the £100 price fillo e9 schiit magni, schiit vali and the O2 are they the 4 main amps in that price range ? And what will go best with q701 I will be using the astro mixamp pro plus a blue snowball mic and only play on ps4.

The Vali is the most recommended of those in the Q701 thread.  However, if you're going to be using it exclusively or gaming, you might not actually want that additional warmth from the tubes.  The O2 is also very highly regarded in that thread and might be a better choice for you.

 

[G3org3]

Yea my setup is for gaming only

 

[G3org3]

This is the only O2 I can find in the uk and it's the portable one http://epiphany-acoustics.co.uk/products-page/headphone-amplifiers/ehp-o2-portable-headphone-amplifier/

Does any1 have a link to a website that sells them in the uk ?

 

[Stillhart]

This is the only O2 I can find in the uk and it's the portable one http://epiphany-acoustics.co.uk/products-page/headphone-amplifiers/ehp-o2-portable-headphone-amplifier/

Does any1 have a link to a website that sells them in the uk ?

It can be used as a portable or a desktop.  Something like the Fiio E12 can't be used while it's charging so it's a portable only.  The O2 can just be plugged in with a wall wart and used like a normal desktop amp OR it can run off a battery.

 

[AUserName501]

This is the only O2 I can find in the uk and it's the portable one http://epiphany-acoustics.co.uk/products-page/headphone-amplifiers/ehp-o2-portable-headphone-amplifier/

Does any1 have a link to a website that sells them in the uk ?

 
You'll find some on ebay as well.

 

[AUserName501]

  Why DTS all of a sudden? Set Your console to dolby digital, asus cards decode it afaik, just find one with optical in. If You want to go hdmi route You can just use 7.1 lpcm and derive virtual surround from this (marantz receivers can do this, I don't know if there are any other devices on the market that can too)

 
Most sound cards can ENCODE to Dolby Digital but there are no new cards that can DECODE Dolby Digital input that I am aware of. The reason is copyright because they thought that the only reason you would want to decode DD is for piracy. There are some old Creative cards (PCI) that can decode DD but I'm not aware of any new cards. If I decode DD then I can run the PCM audio through whatever virtual surround sound I want.

 

[martin vegas]

This is the only O2 I can find in the uk and it's the portable one http://epiphany-acoustics.co.uk/products-page/headphone-amplifiers/ehp-o2-portable-headphone-amplifier/

Does any1 have a link to a website that sells them in the uk ?

Back order: shipped expected to resume 23/07/14 if you can't get one you could get a fiio e9 from amazon uk!

 

[AUserName501]

  Back order: shipped expected to resume 23/07/14 if you can't get one you could get a fiio e9 from amazon uk!

E9 has an output impedance more than 10x higher than the Magni or O2.

 

[Stillhart]

 
E9 has an output impedance more than 10x higher than the Magni or O2.

It's also warm, from what I hear, which is kinda the reason I didn't recommend the Vali for gaming.