Pico enough to power the d5000?

[renugaid]

Hi all!

Was planning to use this combination as part of my main set up as I'd use it on the go as well as for gaming on my PC. If it isn't going to be enough to power them I may go for a desktop amp but if the Pico is sufficient I really would like to save up and just go for that.

Any input would be appreciated especially from people who have tried the combo.

 

[Exediron]

I'm powering them from a Total Airhead right now, and I can't imagine that a Pico is weaker. It might not drive them to their very top ability, but that's a matter of debate.

 

[renugaid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exediron /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm powering them from a Total Airhead right now, and I can't imagine that a Pico is weaker. It might not drive them to their very top ability, but that's a matter of debate.

How do they do with the Total Airhead?

 

[GlorytheWiz825]

Pico provides plenty of juice for the D5000. I don't recall turning the knob past the 11 clock position when I had the combo.

 

[Exediron]

Quote:

Originally Posted by renugaid /img/forum/go_quote.gif How do they do with the Total Airhead?

They do fairly well out of it. I'm using the Airhead as a temporary solution until I get a better amp (GS-1), but right now it's the only headphone amp I have in the house. It sounds a lot better then straight out of the E-Mu 0404 headphone out.

 

[renugaid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlorytheWiz825 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Pico provides plenty of juice for the D5000. I don't recall turning the knob past the 11 clock position when I had the combo.

excellent! Thats a good relief. Can't wait to be rocking these wherever I go. Going to run them with a Cowon D2 as that seems to get pretty good praise.

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exediron /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm powering them from a Total Airhead right now, and I can't imagine that a Pico is weaker. It might not drive them to their very top ability, but that's a matter of debate.

I will add that the Pico also has great synergy with my D2000 (with APS V2 cable).

 

[odigg]

My onboard soundcard has enough power for the D2000 and so I'm guessing the D5000 as well. More importantly, the D2000 sounds lively, fun, and amazing though the soundcard.

A Basic CMOY has enough power to make you deaf with the D2000. The Total Bithead can do the same. So any amp can do it.

 

[thejoneser]

It depends on the source. From my experience, driving the Pico with an iPod (which has very low output) will require you to turn the volume up quite a bit when using full size cans. Not a good match...

However, when using an SACD player as a source through the Pico, the Pico does a much better job powering full size cans.

Also, FWIW, I have a Headroom Micro amp (similar to a Total Airhead) and it has twice the output power of a Pico. So it matches up much better than the Pico when using an iPod as a source and full size cans.

I hope that makes sense...

 

[uglijimus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by odigg /img/forum/go_quote.gif My onboard soundcard has enough power for the D2000 and so I'm guessing the D5000 as well. More importantly, the D2000 sounds lively, fun, and amazing though the soundcard.

I'll second that. At least for gaming that is.

 

[renugaid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by uglijimus /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'll second that. At least for gaming that is.

and what soundcards are those?

I'll be running a prelude soon but I'm still thinking about running it from that to the pico then to my phones.

 

[odigg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by renugaid /img/forum/go_quote.gif and what soundcards are those? I'll be running a prelude soon but I'm still thinking about running it from that to the pico then to my phones.

My soundcard is the onboard audio that came with my now 4 year old motherboard. Realtek 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 - I'm not sure as I've only ever used the 2 channel out. The sound is fairly clean - no discernible noise.

I tried the D2000 with the onboard sound, the Total Bithead dac->amp, and just the amp section of the Total Bithead. To be perfectly honest, the amp of the total bithead didn't add any "sound quality" beyond my sound card. It did add volume, but the sound card could push the D2000 well beyond any volume I wanted to listen to. When I used the Total Bithead DAC+AMP added some warmth to the already warm Denons. I didn't care for the combo it with certain types of music.

 

[uglijimus]

and what soundcards are those?
QUOTE]

Not sure. It's what came with the computer, but RealTek something or another sounds familiar...sorry. Though I do have to admit though, I'm not nearly as picky about sound when it comes to gaming as I am music.