[LoveKnight]

I do not know but if we push too much power into ortho headphones, does that decrease the life span of these kind of headphones?

 

[preproman]

Nope - That's why the volume knob is so important.  IMO..

 

[zowki]

Alright, you guys got me curious enough to buy a powerful amp. I'm going to pick up a Violectric V100 amp which can power 2200 mW into a 50 ohm headphone: http://www.violectric.de/Pages/en/technical-data.php

 

[miceblue]

Nice!
 
Don't forget to volume-match the outputs of the amp via voltage-matching, and maybe use a switcher tool like this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FiiO-HS2-4port-stereo-swtich-selector-for-AudioTec-Shure-AKG-headphone-earphone-/231075527613?pt=US_Pro_Audio_Amplifiers&hash=item35cd2cbbbd
 
FiiO stopped making them, so they're hard to find.

 

[zowki]

Nice AB switching setup. Looks like you're comparing the C5 and O2. Could you hear the difference?

 

[miceblue]

Nice AB switching setup. Looks like you're comparing the C5 and O2. Could you hear the difference?

I could, but the differences were pretty small. The C5's bass seemed a bit less present than with the O2 (at gain 1.0x), and its soundstage wasn't as deep. I tried the amp switching with the really sensitive, relatively speaking, V-MODA Crossfade M-100 and I noticed the same differences.

So to me, the concept of a headphone being able to "scale up" is a myth upon doing this A/B comparison. If anything, it's probably the way the amp is designed and not necessarily the power that impacts the sound. Besides, at the volume levels I listen to music at, I probably don't need more than half the power the O2 delivers at 32 ohms.

 

[Lorspeaker]

  Alright, you guys got me curious enough to buy a powerful amp. I'm going to pick up a Violectric V100 amp which can power 2200 mW into a 50 ohm headphone: http://www.violectric.de/Pages/en/technical-data.php

http://www.head-fi.org/products/audio-gd-nfb-10es2-balanced-desktop-amp-dac/reviews/9481

 

[zowki]

I could, but the differences were pretty small. The C5's bass seemed a bit less present than with the O2 (at gain 1.0x), and its soundstage wasn't as deep. I tried the amp switching with the really sensitive, relatively speaking, V-MODA Crossfade M-100 and I noticed the same differences.

So to me, the concept of a headphone being able to "scale up" is a myth upon doing this A/B comparison. If anything, it's probably the way the amp is designed and not necessarily the power that impacts the sound. Besides, at the volume levels I listen to music at, I probably don't need more than half the power the O2 delivers at 32 ohms.

Interesting. I'll try to get a few audiophile friends to do blind comparisons with me. I'll be using this blind comparison method:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jxdOEpiCTs

  http://www.head-fi.org/products/audio-gd-nfb-10es2-balanced-desktop-amp-dac/reviews/9481

Lack of analog volume knob kills the deal for me.

 

[Lorspeaker]

http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/NFB1033/NFB10.33EN.htm

Guess what....kingwa just made a volume dial for u...?!! LOL

 

[zowki]

I didn't end up buying the Violectric V100. I did a brief non-blind AB comparison with my O2/ODAC and struggled to tell any difference.

 

[MattTCG]

Were you planning to add details about comparing the ma900 and AD? I'd be happy to pitch in and share thoughts and impressions on that comparison. 

 

[zowki]

  Were you planning to add details about comparing the ma900 and AD? I'd be happy to pitch in and share thoughts and impressions on that comparison. 

 
I'm giving my MA900 a longer listen before doing AB comparisons. Will try to get it done by tomorrow.
 
Feel free to share your thoughts on the MA900 and AD.

 

[ethan7000]

  Were you planning to add details about comparing the ma900 and AD? I'd be happy to pitch in and share thoughts and impressions on that comparison. 

Matt, did the AD sound closed to you compared to the HE500? Or what areas did it excel/fail compared to the 500?
 
I love the 500 but am seriously considering going for the AD just because it is much more comfortable to me. I just didn't like that it sounded closed compared to the 500.

 

[MattTCG]

I'm really not much of a sound stage nut. I think anatomically, my ears just don't allow the perception of sound stage as much as others ears do. I can however hear and appreciate the brilliant sound stage of the ma900. It's truly impressive in that regard. The difference between the AD and he500 was smaller in comparison. I can hear and appreciate aspects of the he500's sound stage that are somewhat better, but like I said it's a smaller difference. 
 
The AD is simply impressively flat. More so that the MD, he500 or any other hp that I've heard. People often misunderstand "flat" to mean boring and without excitement or musicality. Nothing could be farther from the truth. For example, the bass on the AD is addictively good IMO. It goes very deep, has appreciable texture and weight. Put on some EDM, crank the volume pot, and the AD will rock your world. But the bass doesn't hit like that on a jazz or classical piece. It's linear and true to the recording. 

 

[Lorspeaker]

But the bass doesn't hit like that on a jazz or classical piece. It's linear and true to the recording. 
 
i am getting the feel that there is less bite/attack/slam on jazz/classicals....from your description?