Need alternatives for my HD650!
Oct 30, 2012 at 7:37 AM Thread Starter Post #1 of 14
Greenmon

Greenmon

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Hello guys, I just registered and it's my first post, and I'm probably gonna sound like a total noob for the next few paragraphs but please help me out.
 
So I recently purchased an HD650 (it arrived today, in fact) and as I'd expected I really want an amp/dac combo for it. I've done some prior research and concluded that what I needed was the E7/E9 combo. I am on a tight budget as I recently bought a whole new desktop set what with the monitors and all, followed by the HD650s, my wallet is currently really dry so I've been looking into budget amps to go with my cans. Been reading here and there, I've read a lot of HD650 recommendation threads and a lot of people seem to like the E7/E9 combo. However I can't find any online retailers that sells the E9, believe it or not. I am in manchester, UK so websites from the US are kinda off limits since the VAT charges can be quite a burden... And I don't think local retailers would have them if even finding them online is this hard (I don't think we even have any specialist audiophile retailers around here?).
 
So can anyone recommend some other alternatives in or around the same price range which I can easily get from amazon UK or ebay UK? I've tried looking for the O2 ODAC combo, wasn't available either. Read a lot of good things about the Schiit line but way too expensive for me right now... Maybe a possible future upgrade but for now, yeah. Thanks in advance!
 
Oct 30, 2012 at 7:40 AM Post #2 of 14
Quote:
greenmon said:
Hello guys, I just registered and it's my first post, and I'm probably gonna sound like a total noob for the next few paragraphs but please help me out.
 
So I recently purchased an HD650 (it arrived today, in fact) and as I'd expected I really want an amp/dac combo for it. I've done some prior research and concluded that what I needed was the E7/E9 combo. I am on a tight budget as I recently bought a whole new desktop set what with the monitors and all, followed by the HD650s, my wallet is currently really dry so I've been looking into budget amps to go with my cans. Been reading here and there, I've read a lot of HD650 recommendation threads and a lot of people seem to like the E7/E9 combo. However I can't find any online retailers that sells the E9, believe it or not. I am in manchester, UK so websites from the US are kinda off limits since the VAT charges can be quite a burden... And I don't think local retailers would have them if even finding them online is this hard (I don't think we even have any specialist audiophile retailers around here?).
 
So can anyone recommend some other alternatives in or around the same price range which I can easily get from amazon UK or ebay UK? I've tried looking for the O2 ODAC combo, wasn't available either. Read a lot of good things about the Schiit line but way too expensive for me right now... Maybe a possible future upgrade but for now, yeah. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

 
Amazon.co.uk maybe?
 
Fiio E17 for a complete desktop & portable setup.
 
Alternatively, just output from your soundcard to a Fiio E9 (no need for the E7).
 
Notice shipping is free in the UK.
 
Very best,
 
Oct 30, 2012 at 7:49 AM Post #3 of 14
Yup amazon UK does have the E09K and E9i models but I've come to an understanding that these can't be combo-ed with the E7? And I don't actually have a soundcard, just integrated sounds so I guess I really will need a DAC of some sort? I'm sorry but I'm really really new to the audiophile world so there might be quite a number of concepts I haven't come to grips with so please bear with me.
 
Would the E17 alone be as good, or at least almost as good as the E7 E9 combo? Thanks for the recommendation.
 
Oct 30, 2012 at 7:52 AM Post #4 of 14
Quote:
greenmon said:
Yup amazon UK does have the E09K and E9i models but I've come to an understanding that these can't be combo-ed with the E7? And I don't actually have a soundcard, just integrated sounds so I guess I really will need a DAC of some sort? I'm sorry but I'm really really new to the audiophile world so there might be quite a number of concepts I haven't come to grips with so please bear with me.
 
Would the E17 alone be as good, or at least almost as good as the E7 E9 combo? Thanks for the recommendation.
Click to expand...

 
Heya,
 
You don't need the E7, the sound card on your computer is a DAC. Just output from it to the E9 and you're good to go. Alternatively just get a sound card that has a good onboard amp, like a Xonar STX or HT Omega Claro Halo.
 
The E17 by itself is great, it works fine with the HD650.
 
Hell, even the Fiio E10 (much less expensive) works well with the HD650. Granted, it seems to scale well and have synergy with higher powered sources, but I would wait to save up for a serious amplifier rather than getting something like the E9 just because you can afford it for now. Maybe go E10 for now, save up and eventually try and get something with some serious power behind it in the $300~400 range perhaps.
 
Very best,
 
Oct 30, 2012 at 8:07 AM Post #5 of 14
Contrary to what people say,a fiio set up will not power these cans to even close of what they can sound like on a good set up.
 
Oct 30, 2012 at 3:43 PM Post #7 of 14
Hey guys, thanks for the responses. After proceeding with a few more hours worth of reading and basic research, I've decided that I'll settle with an E17 for now, the portability could come in handy. It's not really that much trouble, when I get back to my home country I can sell it for not much less and by then I would have enough money (and resources, we've got a shop where we can try a lot of great amps) and then I'll think about going up a notch with my HD650. Thanks again!
Quote:
malveaux said:
 
Heya,
 
You don't need the E7, the sound card on your computer is a DAC. Just output from it to the E9 and you're good to go. Alternatively just get a sound card that has a good onboard amp, like a Xonar STX or HT Omega Claro Halo.
 
The E17 by itself is great, it works fine with the HD650.
 
Hell, even the Fiio E10 (much less expensive) works well with the HD650. Granted, it seems to scale well and have synergy with higher powered sources, but I would wait to save up for a serious amplifier rather than getting something like the E9 just because you can afford it for now. Maybe go E10 for now, save up and eventually try and get something with some serious power behind it in the $300~400 range perhaps.
 
Very best,
Click to expand...

 
Nov 4, 2012 at 12:23 AM Post #9 of 14
Fiio can make them sound loud enough for sure, but powering them to sound great is another question. 
 
My Ibasso struggles with them. 
 
Nov 4, 2012 at 3:08 AM Post #10 of 14
e17 will be find. MANY headphones scale with better amp and dacs. This does not mean the 650s "cant be powere" its just means that the more money you put in the better then can sound, which in my mind are the best type of headphones to have as they will stick with you longer. 
 
cheers
 
Nov 4, 2012 at 11:48 AM Post #13 of 14
Audio quest dragon fly is only a dac, isn't it? edit: I was wrong, it is a dac/amp!
 
E17 will probably do fine for the time being, and if you feel like you want to throw more money into headfi, grab a desktop setup later & sell off the E17 ^^
 
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