sunneebear
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2002
- Posts
- 1,626
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- 161
It's a unwritten fact that orthos require at least 15 watts. 100 watts is acceptable.
The way you put it as "earned the right" shows that you are missing my point.
The audiophile terminology for what I am talking about is "high end" and "mid-fi". Someone who just listens to music casually - 99% of people - will actually find that mid-fi gear sounds better to them.
However, most people don't even use mid-fi gear. They use the Apple ear buds with their iPod, or their iPod in those little iPod cradles with two little cheap speakers. So, if you let them listen to high-end gear, they will find it sounds better. But they won't think that Alpha Dogs sound better than Sennheiser HD598 or AT M50.
First, replying to the replyier - I would say that the Essence ST(X) DAC section is good enough, but the amplifier section is not good enough for most planar headphones. So, you would need an amplifier. (The new Schiit Vali was released today ($119), but no one (such as I) has received a production model, so you ought to wait a few days for a Vali-with-Alpha-Dog review to appear.)
This is the amp in the sound card:
http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/slos431/slos431.pdf
If I am reading that doc right, it says it delivers 1.2W @ 32 ohms (page 8, lower left graph). The Schiit Vali delivers 1.2W @ 32 ohms.
What makes one amp better then the other for the AD's?
So, I know techie guys who spend hundreds of hours tweaking their video player to remove largely invisible tiny blurring, and then loudly insist that two amps with the same specs must sound exactly the same. Because you can point to a visual difference...
So, I know techie guys who spend hundreds of hours tweaking their video player to remove largely invisible tiny blurring, and then loudly insist that two amps with the same specs must sound exactly the same. Because you can point to a visual difference...
I wasn't questioning if they sound the same. I suspect dozens of factors go into an Amp that effect the quality of the sound. You just said my sound card could not drive my headphones properly. It looks like the watt output are the same (actually less on the Vali if I am reading things right), so I was wondering what else goes into an Amp to "drive" headphones. More of a question to educate me, not to question you.
You are projecting - you are the first to use "drive".
I stated: "I would say that the Essence ST(X) DAC section is good enough, but the amplifier section is not good enough for most planar headphones. So, you would need an amplifier."
@kstuart, just drop it. You are not going to get anywhere with this one.
I asked a question so I could learn from you guys, and these are the answers I get? I am projecting, and just drop it because you can't get anywhere with this one?
Wow, thanks guys for the warm welcome. So far you're not helping the stereotype that audiophiles are pretentious. Good thing there are others here to help you out in that regard.
There's a difference between "projecting" and out right twisting other people's words and misunderstood. Let's chalk this off to miscommunication, shall we?
My apology if your intention was pure. Posts can be misread quite badly.
@koiloco, @jeremyr, please take it to pm. Thank you.
Edited for politeness...
Let me guess ....
Sorry aamefford. We're all good. Just a little misunderstanding.
I was being even more of a dink and thought a bit better (just a bit). Must be cranky out tonight - me included.
Back to those Alphas! I think mine show up in a week or so, along with a Burson Soloist SL that I probably don't need but couldn't pass up. Add in my HIFI-M8, and it should be a fun holiday season.
Jeremyr, anyone said "sorry about your wallet" yet?