Need a Better Amp? (LCD-GX)

[Asyrin25]

Edit: Wanted to put this here in case anyone else had the same issue in the future. It turns out the problem was that I was running 3.5 analog into the heresy and that just sucked. I picked up a $25 HDMI extractor from Amazon and added Modi into my stack. Not only do the headphones play beautifully at 40% low gain but there’s a body and richness to the music now that I thought I was going to have to EQ in.
Moral of the story, don’t headphone out to RCA in. At least not on the switch and asus zephrys laptop. Thanks everyone!

Original Post:

I have a Schiit Heresy and a pair of LCD-GX I’ve been listening to for about a month across two pairs.

Feeding an analog signal via 3.5mm to RCA into the Heresy has me running the amp at high gain 40%-70% of max volume for what feels like decent detail retrieval to me.

This seems really high for a 20ohm headphone. What am I missing here?

Thanks!

 

[silent-circuit]

What's your source?

Also, they're planars. Takes a lot of power. Though as I understand the G-X aren't /that/ power hungry in the greater scheme of things.

 

[Asyrin25]

What's your source?

Also, they're planars. Takes a lot of power. Though as I understand the G-X aren't /that/ power hungry in the greater scheme of things.

Headphone out on my Nintendo Switch and headphone out on my Zephrys g14 laptop.

 

[Tex Irie]

@Asyrin25 A Fiio Q5s/Q5 TC should do just fine. I used the one I used to own with my old Nintendo Switch. It performed admirably with all the Planars that I owned. I believe a Lotoo Paw S1 might also fit the bill as it has some settings for gaming audio.

 

[Asyrin25]

@Asyrin25 A Fiio Q5s/Q5 TC should do just fine. I used the one I used to own with my old Nintendo Switch. It performed admirably with all the Planars that I owned. I believe a Lotoo Paw S1 might also fit the bill as it has some settings for gaming audio.

The Fiio looks nice, especially if it works out if the box with usb dac on the switch.

So you suspect the Heresy may not run the planar well?

Would your recommendation be the same if I said I didn’t need portable?

I was hoping to add a Loki to the stack as I use a few non-pc sources and want to eq a bit.

Thanks for taking the time, @Tex Irie

 

[silent-circuit]

I think the real problem is you're using a headphone out to drive a headphone amp. The Heresy should be enough power, the source is (at least partly) the issue. Would recommend a Modi since you already have a Magni, or if you want something that'll also do bluetooth in and has a remote (say for use with powered monitors later) and are willing to spend a little more, a Topping D50s.

 

[Asyrin25]

I think the real problem is you're using a headphone out to drive a headphone amp. The Heresy should be enough power, the source is (at least partly) the issue. Would recommend a Modi since you already have a Magni, or if you want something that'll also do bluetooth in and has a remote (say for use with powered monitors later) and are willing to spend a little more, a Topping D50s.

I have a modi but the dac doesn’t work with the switch. I have an hdmi audio extractor coming this weekend which should allow me to use the modi.

It being the source is good news. I wanted to try and stick with the Schiit stack if I could.

The switch I can see. I’m surprised the asus headphone out also had the problem.

 

[Tex Irie]

The Fiio looks nice, especially if it works out if the box with usb dac on the switch.

So you suspect the Heresy may not run the planar well?

Would your recommendation be the same if I said I didn’t need portable?

I was hoping to add a Loki to the stack as I use a few non-pc sources and want to eq a bit.

Thanks for taking the time, @Tex Irie

I've only tried 2 Schiit Products.. They weren't lacking for power or the ability to drive Planars.. I suggested the mobile DAC/Amps for portability and versatility. But they are both capable of driving Audeze Planars to extremely loud volume levels.

 

[Tex Irie]

Always try to utilize what you have in any event an adapter may resolve your quandary. If all else fails at least you have reasonably priced options. I personally preferred the Q5s because sometimes I wanted to game in comfort. The Switch docked to the TV, with the pro controller and a Q5s while laying in bed or sitting on the couch was cool to me. I didn't feel "tethered" if you will.

 

[silent-circuit]

I have a modi but the dac doesn’t work with the switch. I have an hdmi audio extractor coming this weekend which should allow me to use the modi.

It being the source is good news. I wanted to try and stick with the Schiit stack if I could.

The switch I can see. I’m surprised the asus headphone out also had the problem.

So do you have the same problem with the laptop, using the Modi and Magni? I.E. do you have to turn it up just as high?

 

[Asyrin25]

So do you have the same problem with the laptop, using the Modi and Magni? I.E. do you have to turn it up just as high?

I did still have the problem, though to a lesser degree. It turns out the issue was the headphone out. The hdmi audio extractor came in so I hooked my modi up to the whole system and it’s night and day. Updating my post in case someone else has this issue in the future. Thanks!

 

[silent-circuit]

I did still have the problem, though to a lesser degree. It turns out the issue was the headphone out. The hdmi audio extractor came in so I hooked my modi up to the whole system and it’s night and day. Updating my post in case someone else has this issue in the future. Thanks!

Glad you found a solution!

Little confused though -- USB from laptop to Modi to Magni, that should work fine without the HDMI thing?

 

[Asyrin25]

Glad you found a solution!

Little confused though -- USB from laptop to Modi to Magni, that should work fine without the HDMI thing?

I was rarely using my laptop so I didn’t have the modi hooked up. I was just rubbing headphone out to make sure it wasn’t the switch’s headphone out.

The asus is a gaming laptop and I figured it’d be fine. I was incorrect.

 

[silent-circuit]

I was rarely using my laptop so I didn’t have the modi hooked up. I was just rubbing headphone out to make sure it wasn’t the switch’s headphone out.

The asus is a gaming laptop and I figured it’d be fine. I was incorrect.

It's not about the laptop having a 'bad headphone out', it's about running an amp off a headphone out. A headphone amp is generally designed to run from a 'line out' level, like off a DAC, CD player, tape player, etc. A headphone out is not a suitable source for a dedicated amp.

 

[alastairpei]

Audeze's really do scale well with better amplification. Don't let low impedances trick you into thinking a Magni will bring out their best. I'm currently running my LCD-3 off speaker taps (Acurus A250) and they sound infinitely better than they did off my old amps. I'm looking to continue to upgrade my amplification, and they'll most certainly benefit from it.